Welcoming of the Whale Festival to take place on the 4th of June 2023

Welcoming the Whales to Nelson Mandela Bay

It is fitting to start the Whale Migration Celebrations in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) this year as we are now 1 of only 6 Whale Heritage Sites in the World. This achievement was announced at the 2021 festival. Last year’s Welcoming the Whale Festival was the biggest to date after the spate of Covid postponements.  This year the festival has grown and we hope to make it the showpiece for the rest of the Southern African festivals.

Last year we increase the number of festivals in Southern Africa to 30, all the way from Libreville in Gabon on the West Coast to Watamu in Kenya on the East Coast. This route and these celebrations are put together by Raggy Charters and Algoa Baywatch under the banner of The World Cetacean Alliance, and all whale enthusiasts and conservation organisations along the African coastline.

All 30 locations will be celebrating the Humpback Whales who make this long journey, the longest migration of all mammals. It is about creating awareness of the importance of migrating whales in the ecosystem.  The whales feed, poop, migrate, and dive deep (which circulates essential nutrients throughout the ocean).  This behaviour supports healthy marine ecosystems and the growth of phytoplankton, which locks in a huge amount of carbon from the atmosphere. We are very happy to inform all that due to becoming protected, the humpback whale population has recovered from near extinction.  There is a current population of about 80,000, up from a very a low 10,000. 

The event being held on 4th June here in PE is way more than just a get-together, it is to celebrate these magnificent marine mammals who visit our beautiful Algoa Bay on during their migration journey. The day will be a family orientated educational experience intended for all to learn something and of course have fun at the same time. 

Visitors will be welcomed by the sounds of African drums and marimba’s.  Interesting talks will be presented in the function room at the Willows Resort.  First one starting at 9.15am by SST on the History of Whaling in Algoa Bay. 9.45am Second talk by NSRI on whale disentanglements with a demonstration on the disentanglement process. 10.15am Third talk by Dr Julien Benoit, a French Paleontologist currently working at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng at 11am about " A history of cetacean communication and diversity”. Followed with final talk by Lloyd Edwards owner of Raggy Charters at 11.15am talking about the Whale Migration and Whale Communication.  

Visit the Welcoming the Whales Facebook Page for the program.

We look forward to seeing you all there.