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Run on its way past Durban. Trips were charged at R150-R200. Trips on the Dolphin Coast were
generally around 1hr long due to a lack of onboard toilet facilities and consisted of general guided
tours focusing on dolphins, shark nets and general attractions in the area. No refreshments were
served on these trips due to their relatively short duration.
Seasonality and demand
Peak demand for all operators was around December, when Durban operators described 80% of
clients as South African. This was also peak season for tour busses which passed through the city.
As noted in previous regional overviews, tour busses represent an important opportunity for boatbased
whale watching operators to develop a regular high demand at certain times of year thus
guaranteeing trips and income. After this, the next best season was linked to the winter months and
Sardine Run in June to November. This second peak was dominated by foreign tourists due to the
increasing demand associated with viewing the Sardine Run. Other peaks were associated with April
school holidays, attracting mostly locals, in the Dolphin Coast and January to March in Durban Metro,
which was characterised by a majority of foreigners. Demand in Ballito was described as minimal due
to a general lack of tourists and relatively difficult conditions for boat launching.
Perceived trends and opportunities
The potential for boat-based whale watching appears to be highest in the Durban Metro Region,
where good harbour facilities and high tourist numbers exist. This is however constrained by a lack of
local and international visitor awareness of the availability and quality of boat-based whale watching
opportunities in the area. The lack of activity by the most recent permit holder is not considered to be
a reflection of the potential of this area. Marketing appears to be essential to the viability of having a
permit
6.4.3 Zululand (Area 23; Permits: 0 of 1)
This region effectively includes one designated whale watching area (Area 23). The permit was
withdrawn from the most recent holder by MCM in 2003 due to a lack of activity. This permit holder
also held the permit for Area 25 in the Maputaland region, where he was based, but no trips were
recorded in either area. Prior to this, Aurora Marine CC had occupied the permit and operated for the
2000 and 2001 seasons. Neither of these past permit-holders was available for interviews at the time
of writing and information presented here was based on information from the neighbouring permitholder
and MCM logbook data. The lack of success by these permit holders was attributed to
difficulties in operating from what is effectively an industrial harbour. Information on the level of
policing and awareness of regulations were unavailable but are likely to resemble that found in the
remainder of the KZN coast where no permit holders are present.
No existing boat-based whale watching operator could be found in the area although it is possible that
opportunistic viewing in season may exist on an unofficial level. This conclusion is supported by a
lack of information or knowledge of any whale watching operations in the areas by two of the larger
tourist information services contacted. The trend of opportunistic viewing throughout the country
coupled with a lack of policing is evident from much of the information presented elsewhere, and it is
unlikely that this region would differ significantly from this. Demand was described as low by
operators in neighbouring areas and attributed to the lack of tourist marketing about the presence of
whales in the area and the general public perception of Richards Bay as an industrial harbour. This
factor would probably be the main constraint on any non-permitted activity.
6.4.4 Maputaland (Area 24-25; Permits: 1 of 2)
The Maputaland region includes the St Lucia area and the coast of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
and associated marine protected area. It includes the popular diving centres of Cape Vidal and
Sodwana Bay.
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