September 24th, 2008
Our next stop was St. Lucia, another Nature Reserve and a UNESCO world heritage site. We pulled up at dusk and pitched our tent as quickly as possible noting the ‘Danger Hippo’ signs. The next day we wandered around town and signed up for a whale watching tour. We weren’t sure what to expect but the lady at the booking office assured us it would be worth our while. Setting out, wearing our swimsuits, cameras in hand, we got onto the most ‘I’m a tourist- take my money’ wagon I’ve ever seen in my life with the rear of the wagon reading ‘a whale of a time’. Upon arriving at the beach, disembarking and climbing into the boat, we were instructed to put on some bright orange raincoats and old-school style lifejackets which tie at the waist and the neck. We were then given specific instructions as to how to cling to the boat for dear life as it made its way across the water. It sounded far worse than it was as we were easily manoeuvred across the waves.
The boat suddenly stopped and our guide Benro, a tanned and stocky man wearing crocs with socks, pointed his finger. We all got up, holding on to the rails as directed, and there they were. Absolutely amazing, two humpback whales breeching, my jaw literally dropped down in awe. For about an hour we saw the whales jumping out of the water, displaying their white bellies and then showing us their tails. After they disappeared into the water they left behind a ‘footprint’, a circle about 2m in diameter without any ripple of a wave, which lasted for several minutes. One whale even swam directly under our little boat. Belly side up you could see its perfect outline. Karel and I both agree it was one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever been privileged to see. Whales are our new favourite mammal. We’re currently considering making a sign for the back of our car reading ‘St. Lucia- it’s a whale of a time’.
Our next stop was St. Lucia, another Nature Reserve and a UNESCO world heritage site. We pulled up at dusk and pitched our tent as quickly as possible noting the ‘Danger Hippo’ signs. The next day we wandered around town and signed up for a whale watching tour. We weren’t sure what to expect but the lady at the booking office assured us it would be worth our while. Setting out, wearing our swimsuits, cameras in hand, we got onto the most ‘I’m a tourist- take my money’ wagon I’ve ever seen in my life with the rear of the wagon reading ‘a whale of a time’. Upon arriving at the beach, disembarking and climbing into the boat, we were instructed to put on some bright orange raincoats and old-school style lifejackets which tie at the waist and the neck. We were then given specific instructions as to how to cling to the boat for dear life as it made its way across the water. It sounded far worse than it was as we were easily manoeuvred across the waves.
The boat suddenly stopped and our guide Benro, a tanned and stocky man wearing crocs with socks, pointed his finger. We all got up, holding on to the rails as directed, and there they were. Absolutely amazing, two humpback whales breeching, my jaw literally dropped down in awe. For about an hour we saw the whales jumping out of the water, displaying their white bellies and then showing us their tails. After they disappeared into the water they left behind a ‘footprint’, a circle about 2m in diameter without any ripple of a wave, which lasted for several minutes. One whale even swam directly under our little boat. Belly side up you could see its perfect outline. Karel and I both agree it was one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever been privileged to see. Whales are our new favourite mammal. We’re currently considering making a sign for the back of our car reading ‘St. Lucia- it’s a whale of a time’.
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