A dramatic encounter between a humpback whale and a small boat was captured on video off the coast of South Africa, showing the whale swimming directly beneath the vessel before striking the water's surface with its tail.
Footage shared on social media shows the whale emerging close to the boat, prompting alarmed shouts from children aboard the craft. The incident occurred during one of the best periods of the year for whale watching along South Africa's coastline.
According to the International Whaling Commission, the months between June and December offer prime opportunities to observe southern right whales and humpback whales along the country's southern coast. These species migrate to local waters specifically for calving and raising their young.
The Western Cape region is particularly renowned as a whale-watching hotspot, with the viewing season typically running from June through November. Southern right whales arrive in coastal waters after migrating from Antarctic regions, and observers sometimes spot them just dozens of meters from shore as they breach the surface or slap their tails against the sea.
