Humpback Whale Breeding

About this spectacle

Off the shores of Tofo Beach near Inhambane, the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel draw humpback whales each austral winter to breed and nurse their young. Visitors watching from small boats may witness breaches that send tonnes of whale crashing back into turquoise water, accompanied by the resonant boom felt in the chest. Mothers and calves surface close to shore, with calves practicing rolls and spy-hops while their mothers rest at the surface. Land-based watching from the dunes above the beach offers a sweeping panorama, and the sounds of exhaled blows carry across still morning air. Escort males occasionally compete noisily around receptive females, creating dramatic, churning surface activity. The channel's clarity means underwater colours remain vivid even from a boat gunwale, rewarding photographers and snorkelers alike with encounters rarely matched elsewhere on the African coast.

When to go

Jun — Nov, peak Jul — Oct

Getting there

Nearest airport: INH. Nearest city: Inhambane.

Booking options

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