Matroosklip Whale-Watch Viewpoint
Matroosklip is Afrikaans and means Matroos = Sailor(’s) Klip = Rock, which seems to be the name of a rocky outcrop some 1.3km out in the bay @ a bearing of 54o from the cache location – although I don’t recall seeing anything out there
The cache is hidden in the Cape Point Nature Reserve at a stunning location on the edge of cliffs overlooking False Bay a mere 5 minutes detour from the main road to the lighthouse. To the left looking north-west up the coast some 400m away you can see waves crashing over a rocky shelf outside the entrance to Antoniesgat (an enormous sea cave) with the impressive row of 3 mountains beyond (Paulsberg, Die Boer and Judas Peak) rising steeply from the sea. To the right you can see the start of the amazing Rooikrans Angling Ledges.
There is deep water close to the coast here and in season (from June-November and especially around the peak in August-September) you may be lucky to see whales directly below you in the clear cold water.
There are 2 types of whales - baleen and toothed. Baleen whales include the blue, sei, fin, Bryde’s, humpback, bowhead, minke, grey, right, and pygmy right whales. All but the bowhead and grey whales can be found in South African waters. They have a filter (baleen or whalebone) in their mouths which filters tiny shrimp-like animals (zooplankton) from the seawater. These, with occasional fish, are the whales’ food. Toothed whales include the sperm, beaked, killer (or orca), beluga, narwhale, and pilot whales, as well as all dolphins and porpoises. They eat fish and squid.
The most likely whale to be seen here is the Southern Right Whale - so called because they float when dead and so were the ‘right’ whales to be hunted. They swim up from Antartica to spend the winter in quiet bays (like False Bay) between the West Coast and Port Elizabeth , mating, calving and generally having some quality time with their families.
They usually stay around till October, with stragglers leaving towards the end of November. Out of season sightings suggest that there may be enough krill off the West Coast to support a very small population which seem to be staying almost all year.
Female grow to around 15m (max 18m) long on average (males 14m) and typically weigh up to 45 tons (the heaviest recorded was 117 tons!). They can stay under water for about 6 minutes and can reach 11 kph over short distances. They are thought to live up to 50 years.
Other whales sometimes seen in False Bay include: humpback, Brydes, killer (orca) and sperm whales.
Although Hermanus is often touted as the heart of the whale-watching route, this is a debatable point. False Bay is a fine place for dolphin and whale watching, with great viewpoints on Boyes Drive above Muizenberg & Kalk Bay, on the slopes of Else’s Peak overlooking Fish Hoek, along the M4 near Clovelly & Glencairn where whales can come within 10m of the shore and Red Hill Viewpoint above Simon’s Town.
If you spot a whale or if you need to know if the whales are around, call the local Whale Hotline number on 079 391 2105 or 021 782 4531. Please report any whale harassment or disturbance by calling 021 788 8313 or 021 782 0333.
For further whale information:
See here for detailed descriptions of the different whales seen in False Bay.
See http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/wildlife/whales/right_whale.htm for a description & photos of the Southern Right Whale
See here for an amazing account of recent observations of killer whales hunting dophins in False Bay
See here a comprehensive site which amongst other local information provides details of current and past whale sightings in False Bay and links to numerous other whale topics
See here for a great selection of whale photos
See here for some great southern right whale video clips
Finally check out here for a video of a southern right smashing into someone’s yacht near Robben Island!
To reach the cache:
From the entrance gate (entry fee: R80 or free with a Wildcard) drive straight through the Reserve to the Rooikrans parking area @ S34 20.472 E18 28.262. After checking out the upper (official!) whale view-point, follow the track down a mere 100m or so to the cache site.
The cache, a small pharamceutical camo-container is hidden within a half metre of the path on the right going down in a small depression in a large slab of rock and covered by a small rock.
Notes:
- Be very careful near the cliff edges
- No risks need to be taken to locate the cache
The track is part of the Overnight Trail and continues on past Matrooskop to the Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre. In the other direction, from the car park, the trail continues over the flanks of Vasco Da Gama Peak along the knife edge to the Cape Point lighthouse car-park. All highly recommended – and more caches along the way!
Congratulations to Zambesiboy on his dawn FTF - the early bird . . . !