Where to see the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin in South Africa

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin at stays in or beside Goukamma Nature Reserve, Garden Route National Park and Robberg Nature Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

The Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin is most recorded in Western Cape (89% of records), Eastern Cape (9% of records), based on 82 iNaturalist observations. 11 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin on site or nearby.

The Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Garden Route National Park: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Robberg Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

The Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin (Sousa plumbea) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Humpback dolphins are members of the genus Sousa. These dolphins are characterized by the conspicuous humps and elongated dorsal fins found on the backs of adults of the species. They are found close to shore along the coast of West Africa (Atlantic species/variety) and right along the coast of the Indian Ocean from South Africa to Australia (Indo-Pacific species/varieties).