WHALE SHARKS
When on a safari in St Helena, the main activities are snorkelling and swimming with whale sharks. The world’s largest living fish, these giants migrate to the seas around the island during the summer months of January and February, where they filter plankton with their cavernous mouths. Despite their colossal size, reaching up to 40 feet in length, whale sharks are very docile and pose no threat to humans - allowing you to swim freely alongside them as they graze the ocean's surface.
Whale sharks each have a unique colouration pattern of white spots and stripes, allowing researchers to identify and keep track of individual sharks. Relatively little is still known about whale sharks, but they are believed to have a lifespan of over 100 years and have been recorded migrating thousands of miles each year.
Interaction with the whale sharks is strictly regulated on St Helena, with only a handful of visitors able to experience this incredible opportunity each year.