Port of Call: Simon's Town Guest House & Self Catering Accommodation

This amazing footage was shot by Jacques Obermeyer in July 2008.  It is filmed off the coast of Struisbaai (Struis Bay), South Africa.  Struisbaai is approximately a 3 hour drive from Simon’s Town along South Africa’s east coast and very close to the Cape of Agulhas, Africa’s southern most tip.

Up close and personal under water with a Southern Right Whale

Southern Right Whales under water

Click this link above to watch the video.

Read a Whale’s Tale or Whales & Snow Capped Peaks

Tags: Southern Right Whales, whale watching

A tale?  I think we meant tail.  Have a look at the royal wave we got!

The most common types of whale found in False Bay are the Southern Right Whales.
Other types known to visit the bay are the Bryde’s Whale, the Humpback (which ‘sings’) and the Killer Whale, also known as the Orca.

The royal wave from a Southern Right Whale

A Southern Right Whale

Tags: Southern Right Whales, whale watching, whales

Spring was a little delayed last September and we experienced some cold spells here in Cape Town.  So cold that we had actually had some snow on the high mountain peaks.  The view from our balconies across False Bay to the Hottentots Holland was spectacular!

In about the 3rd week of September, long after the whales had begun calving and temperatures were more often than not in the mid 20’s again, my daughter snapped these wonderful photo’s from one of our Simon’s Town beaches.

These lucky sailors came very close to this whale. She was frollicking in the bay for hours.

A little closer and you can see how big the whale is.

Tags: whale watching, Whales in False Bay

REI’s Latest Haul.

Back with family and friends for Xmas at Port of Call young Rei Imada repeated last years fishing feat by once again catching a Yellow Fin Tuna , two yellow tails as well as rock cod and crayfish. The pictures show the proud fisherman with some of his catch and its transformation into magnificent sashimi,what a feast was that !

Tags: fishing

News From Port of Call.Bed and Breakfast/ self catering guest house

We are now well into the Green Season with its typically  glorious crystal

clear days between the cold fronts. Ideal conditions for beach-combing

and hiking . Pictured is secluded Windmill beach which offers safe

bathing and  is within easy walking distance of our Bed and Breakfast.

Tags: guest house, self catering

Image via Wikipedia

Our Simon’s Town Chacma baboon troop ( some 20 individuals, led by the alpha male) together with his harem of females, some babies piggy backing & playful juveniles,  marched up our road this morning.

They were on the lookout for raiding opportunities much to our guests delight. (They followed the Baboons at a safe distance.) They found a neighbours window open & proceeded to warily enter the house, only to almost immediately be ejected by the terrified occupant.

Although fascinating to watch, Baboons present a problem in Simon’s Town & although NOT dangerous unless cornered, they can be very destructive if they manage to gain entry into a house.

You can read more here on our famous baboons.

Tags: baboon, baboons

Image by Steven Turner via Flickr

If you’ve ever watched a documentary on penguins, no doubt you’ve seen them seemingly fly through the water.

While they are agile surfers at sea, they make real jackasses of themselves on land with their inherent clumsiness!  But that’s not how they got their name. It is because of their donkey-like braying on land that they inherited their unfortunate common name, Jackass Penguin.

Worldwide there are just over 20 sites where you’ll find Jackass Penguins (or African Penguins) and we are fortunate enough to have a colony here in Simon’s Town at Boulder’s beach.

What  is unique about this colony is that it wasn’t always a place of preference for them as they preferred the outlying islands, however, in recent years the colony has grown from a few groups to over 1000 penguins.  They chose to roost on this secluded beach that is popular with many sun bathers during summer.  This is largely due to the Penguin Man, a retired naval officer who has worked to grow awareness among the locals as well as a reduction of natural predators in the area.

As the colony grew, the residents found their growing numbers a bit of a headache as penguins chose to roost in their homes, gardens and even under cars.  Ask any long time resident of Simon’s Town about the penguins and they’ll have a funny or interesting story to tell.

One evening as I was coming home along the main road, three penguins were standing under a bus shelter.  I had a good chuckle at them as it looked like they were waiting for the bus!

The National Parks Board maintains the area surrounding Boulder’s beach and has provided fencing and educational signage.  This has ensured the preservation of our wonderfully clumsy feathered friends.

Camilla Hazell © 2008

things to do

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Tags: African Penguins, Boulder's Beach Penguins, Jackass Penguins, things to do

Rae, one of our Simon’s Town Self Catering guests, with his long fin tuna.

There is tons to do while on holiday in Simon’s Town

Rae, the Son of our Japanese Embassy guests, had a very successful day fishing out in False Bay.

He rushed upstairs & gushed,

“Come and see the huge fish I caught!”

To this ten year old’s delight, he caught a Yellowtail & Longfin Tuna, both of which he had difficulty lifting for the obligatory photos.

Our keen fisherman subsequently caught Calamari & Rock Lobster,  that together with his prize fish, (frozen rock hard in our neighbours deep freeze),  he took back all the way to Pretoria.

It was a great day for fishing.

Simonstown harbour hosts a number of  businesses offering fishing excursionsinto False Bay for  holiday makers and locals alike.

Rae holding his long fin tuna

To do.

Tags: fishing, self catering, simonstown