As it happens every year between the months of July and August, in Watamu have been sighted the first whales migrating in this season from Madagascar, through the coasts of Mozambique and Tanzania, towards east.
A show that attracts many fans from all over the world, and that the Watamu Marine Association invites to observe with respect, from boats or even often from the beach or from privileged positions (better if with binoculars) like the headlands that divide the inlets of Blu Bay, Watamu Bay and Love Beach, or the Ocean Sports with its raised veranda.
The whales migrate in search of seas and barriers with warmer temperatures, to favour the reproduction and give birth to their cubs, which remain with the mothers for about two years, until the complete weaning. Then they will make the return voyage in October, swimming for more than 4.000 km till when they return to the cold seas rich of food of Antarctica, their main feeding area. These magnificent marine mammals can reach 15 meters in length and weigh about 30 tons (about six times the weight of an elephant). Observing them in their natural environment, when they jump out of the water, sometimes in pairs or in larger family groups, is an unforgettable sight. It is also surprising that these marine giants feed mainly on small fish such as sardines and shrimps. According to experts and enthusiasts, this spectacle is comparable to the sight of the great white shark in South Africa.
To learn more about whales and dolphins in Watamu or Kenya, contact Steve Trott or Jimmy Kahindi Yaa, coordinators of the Watamu Marine Association on 0721275818.

(Photo: Global Vision International)