Experience Nhatundwe
Tales of Tails: A Whales' Symphony
SWIM WITH HUMPBACK WHALES
july to november
Every year, when winter tightens its chilly grip on Antarctica, a remarkable journey begins beneath the cold waves. In a breathtaking display, many humpback whales, Earth's gentle giants, follow nature's call. They travel from the icy southern realms to the warmer waters of southeast Africa's coast.
It's a journey of life, seeking the safety of tropical waters to give birth and care for their precious calves., that spans thousands of miles, driven by an instinct as ancient as time itself.
Over the last decade, we've noticed a fascinating change in the behavior of these majestic beings. While they keep a safe distance, encounters have become more frequent, and their curiosity occasionally leads them to approach us for inspection. Imagine them swimming calmly beside our boats, arching over the waves, and blowing air from their nostrils.
8 days/ 7 nights
breakfasts
accommodations
pick up & transfers
whale specialized guide
5 ocean days
your language
snacks & drinks on boat
hydrophone
price upon request
This is an experience we encourage every nature enthusiast, whether you're an experienced diver or snorkeler. It's a moment that leaves us all completely captivated.
Why do these whales migrate in the first place? What is their history in Mozambique? What about their biology and the songs they sing? What is that called when they jump with their tail out? Learn all the answers to your questions here and then book your trip to be a part of it 2024!
As pioneers in cautiously entering the waters with these gentle giants, we take responsibility not only for your safety but also for the whales themselves. We do this with certified guides, always ensuring your safety and that of these magnificent creatures.
We enter the water with a maximum of four people and one of our dedicated guides. Our guidelines on how to behave around these gentle giants are carefully crafted, a testament to our commitment to responsible tourism.
To make the most of this extraordinary encounter, we've designed a program recommending a minimum of 5 days at sea, though we can certainly tailor it to your desires and needs. Join us on this extraordinary journey, where nature reveals its most majestic secrets in the company of giants.
Join us on this transformative adventure with tales of tails; a symphony of whales, where the magic of the humpback whale migration awaits, leaving you with memories that last a lifetime.
Our 2025 Dates
HOW YOU CAN ETHICALLY SWIM WITH WHALES
© Tomas Kotouc
On this programme, the daily departures are snorkelling excursions, so the Whale Swimming Experience is suitable for everyone. Entering the water to swim with the whales is not compulsory, so those less daring can also enjoy the show from the safety of the zodiac.
Entering with scuba diving equipment with the whales is almost impossible as they move quite fast, and keeping up with them is very difficult.
Even so, on our dive trips, we see them quite often while we are at depth.
For those willing to go in and swim with them, you should have a minimum of snorkelling experience, and have a minimum level of fitness as there is sometimes a lot of swimming involved in these excursions.
We usually get in the water with whales almost every day, but the idea is to have safe and unforgettable encounters first and foremost. Our aim is to have a couple of quality experiences on each of the trips, where quality means encounters of more than 10 minutes and close to the whales.
Each trip is composed of a maximum of 8 people, and only 4, together with the guide, will go into the water at a time. With this we want to invade the whales' space as little as possible and optimise the encounter with them.
Swimming with the whales is not easy, 'it's an art', some experts say, and at Mozambique Experience we have some of the best guides with years of experience between Mozambique and South Africa, and even in French Polynesia. And believe it or not, the difference between an experience and an unforgettable experience is often there.
The encounters require a lot of concentration, a lot of attention, and to strictly follow the instructions of our guides. At Mozambique Experience we have been working all these years on various strategies to achieve the desired results, and we are succeeding, and all our clients take with them magical and unforgettable moments.
© Tomas Kotouc
BALEEN
EYES
VENTRAL PLEATS
BREACHING
DORSAL FIN
FLUKE
DORSAL RIDGE
PECTORAL FIN
KNOBS
BLOW HOLE
MIGRATION
Humpback whales are true globe-trotters, undertaking one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. They travel from cold, nutrient-rich feeding grounds in polar regions to warmer breeding and calving areas closer to the equator. The exact routes vary between populations, but they often traverse vast ocean expanses.
Migration serves multiple purposes for humpbacks. They feed in cold waters during the polar summer, accumulating the necessary fat reserves. As winter approaches, they migrate to warmer waters for breeding and calving, where the calves have a higher chance of survival in the milder conditions.
Humpbacks exhibit remarkable fidelity to their breeding and calving grounds. Each population has specific areas where they return year after year, forming distinct communities. For instance, whales from the Antarctic might travel to warmer regions like Mozambique or Hawaii for their reproductive activities.
Despite the grandeur of their migrations, humpback whales face various challenges. Human activities, such as ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, pose threats to their journey. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring safe passage for these majestic travelers.
Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
SURFACE BEHAVIOUR
Delve into the intriguing world of whales as we unveil the characteristic acts and their meanings. In the following text and illustration, discover the captivating behaviors that researchers attribute to these majestic marine creatures. From playful splashes to purposeful movements, join us in decoding the mysteries of whale behavior.
SPY HOP
PEC SLAPPING
BREACHING
BLOW
HEAD SLAP
LOB TAILING
FLUKING
PEDUNCLE THROW
Day 1
ARRIVAL TO MOZAMBIQUE
Arrival at Inhambane Airport (Mozambique), where we will be waiting for you. Transfer by road to Praia do Tofo (20 min).
Upon arrival, we will check in at the activity center and accommodation.
Free afternoon to explore the fishing village of Tofo and the nearby Praia da Barra.
Dinner (not included) can be arranged at the accommodation or a local restaurant.
Day 2 to day 6
SWIM WITH WHALES
Daily breakfasts at the accommodation, and transfers to the activity center as needed.
Daily 6-hour outings to spot humpback whales and attempt to swim with them.
We will also look for other marine wildlife, including whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and turtles.
Lunches and dinners (not included) at the accommodation or local restaurants.
Accommodation in Praia do Tofo.
Day 7
RELAXATION DAY
Breakfast at the accommodation.
A free day for relaxation or optional additional activities: an excursion to the Inhambane estuary to look for flamingos and snorkel with seahorses, kayaking, sailing on a dhow or catamaran, visiting the islands of the bay, surfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, quad biking, visiting local villages, cultural guided tours, massages, and relaxation.
Accommodation in Praia do Tofo.
Day 8
DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the accommodation. Free morning to rest.
Road transfer to Inhambane Airport (20 min).
***Optional transfer to Vilanculos Airport (not included, 4 hours).
International flight back to your destination.
These are the various accommodation options that we have in the different destinations where we will be during the stay of the aforementioned program. Depending on the budget we recommend one or the other. For more detailed information on each one, you can visit the accommodation section. All options include en-suite rooms with the possibility of a double bed or separate beds, cleaning service, Wi-fi, 24-hour security, and some with a swimming pool, bar and restaurant.
INCLUDES:
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Assistance at the arrival airport
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Round-trip transfers from Inhambane Airport
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7 nights of accommodation (double or twin room) in Praia do Tofo
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5 days of 6-hour ocean safaris to swim with megafauna in Praia do Tofo
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Snorkeling equipment (wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, and weights)
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Hydrophone onboard to listen to the whales
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Refreshments and snacks on the boat
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Government tax
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Private divemaster and whale expert
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Daily breakfasts during the trip
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Local guide
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Trip t-shirt
EXCLUDES:
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International and domestic flights
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Mozambique entry visas (approximately €10)
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Meals not specified in the previous section (average €15 per day)
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Optional activities during the trip
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Travel insurance (recommended)
request
price
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
• 50% deposit required to confirm the booking of the Experience, and remaining 50% to be paid 30 days prior to arrival • All payments done by providing bank card details will carry an extra 5% (bank fees) • All payments done through PayPal will carry an extra 5% • All payments done by bank transfers to be done using “banking our instructions” (client pays all bank transfer charges) • By paying the deposit you are deemed to have accepted our terms & conditions • Cancellations before 60 days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of total booking amount (during local public holidays will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of total booking amount) • Cancellations after 60 days prior to arrival will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of total booking amount • Dive trips being cancelled due to bad weather not refundable • If, due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, the trip cannot take place on the scheduled dates, the paid amount is non-refundable, and the trip will be rescheduled to other dates in accordance with the availability of the client and Mozambique Experience •
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Frequently asked questions about Humpback Whales
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Why are humpback whales known as humpbacks?The humpback whale has a distinctive body shape, with very long pectoral fins (up to 6 metres have been documented) and a head covered with nodules. It is known as humpback because of its habit of arching its back before diving.
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Why do humpback whales come to Mozambique?The humpback whale population migrates annually from the Antarctic, where they have been feeding during the polar summer, to tropical and subtropical waters during the polar winter, in search of warmer waters in the Mozambique Channel to give birth to their calves and to mate.
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Do they always migrate to the same area?y
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How long are they pregnant?The gestation period of a humpback whale is approximately 11 months. Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between 4 and 10 years of age, and females usually give birth to a calf every 2 to 3 years, although females have been documented to give birth annually.
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What is the size and weight of a humpback whale?The humpback whale is one of the rorqual whale species, and the only one of the genus Megaptera. It is one of the largest of the fin whales, and adults can measure between 14 and 17 metres (females tend to be the largest), and can weigh up to 40 tonnes. Calves at birth can measure between 3.5 and 5 metres, and weigh about 1 tonne.
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What do humpback whales feed on?The humpback whale is a species of mysticete cetacean of the family Balaenopteridae, and is distinguished from other families of mysticete whales by the presence of folds in the throat and ventral region that expand enormously when they feed by swallowing water that is filtered through the baleen plates. The species feeds mainly on krill and small fish, and does so exclusively during the polar summer.
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Do they feed during migration?No, during the polar winter, as they migrate to warmer areas, they fast during that time, basically subsisting on their fat reserves.
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And how do the calves feed during the first months?The humpback whale calf feeds on its mother's milk for the first half year of its life. According to experts, the mother, when nursing, flaps her wings with less propulsion to align herself with the calf, which has positioned itself above the mother, and to whom she spurts a rich, thick milk directly into her mouth.The calf is thought to gain between 45 kg and 60 kg per day, feeding on around 500 litres of mother's milk daily.
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What predators do humpback calves have?Mostly killer whales and large sharks, such as white, bull and tiger sharks. It is believed that if the calf manages to survive its first migration en route to Antarctica, once there it will feed during the polar summer, it will increase in size to about 9 metres within the first year, and its chance of survival will be much higher.
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What is the humpback whale mating ritual like?We usually see the males (identified by the fighting wounds) following and competing with each other as they follow a female. They blow bubbles at each other to show aggression and excitement. They head-butt each other to show their size and strength. It is not well known what criteria the female uses to choose the male to mate with, but it is well known that the humpback whale is not monogamous, meaning that when the male fertilises the female internally and once the mating is over, there is no longer a close bond between them, and during each season they will have different partners.During foreplay, the male blows bubbles from below and they will go to the female's genitals.
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Did you know that humpback whales sing?The male emits long, loud and complex "songs" for which the species is famous, consisting of verses with whistles, chirps and sonorous calls. Each humpback whale population has its own unique songs and they are passed down from generation to generation.The humpback whale has no vocal cords, and emits sounds by forcing air through its huge nasal cavities!
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Why does the humpback whale sing?Scientists believe it is mainly to communicate with each other, to find each other, and in polar areas to find food. During migration it is understood that the male uses song to attract females. He can sing continuously for more than 24 hours. These low-frequency songs can extend over long distances and communicate with each other over thousands of kilometres
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Do we hear whales sing?Without a doubt! Just by sticking our heads under the surface of the water, we can hear them! That song will never be forgotten!!!!We even carry a hydrophone in the zodiac and listen to them too!!!!
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How many humpback whales are there approximately?Like other large whales, the humpback whale was targeted by the whaling industry, and hunted by man for years to the brink of extinction (its population was reduced to around 5,000 in the 1960s). Although the species has now partially recovered to around 135,000 animals worldwide, entanglements in fishing nets, collisions with ships and noise pollution continue to affect the species.
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What do we most expect to see on the surface?• Lobtailing, where the whale lies vertically in the water with its head down. • Sailing with the head down and only the tail sticking out. • Pectoral fin slapping, where the whale surfaces on its back and slams its pectoral fins noisily into the water. • Heads sticking out, where the whale sticks its head out of the water as if it is not peeping. •Acrobatics and jumps, where the whale exposes itself completely out of the water.
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