A regular beachfront stroll turned into a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter when fitness and lifestyle creator Randall Mitchell spotted humpback whales breaching just off Umhlanga’s shoreline.
Screenshot from Randall Mitchell TikTok video
Mitchell captured the 17-second clip during one of his daily walks, and the moment has since gone viral on TikTok with more than 200,000 views. In the video, the whales launch dramatically out of the water as a crowd of beachgoers erupts into applause and cheers.
“It was a total surprise,” Mitchell told East Coast Radio. “I saw the peak of something coming out and realised there must be something big here. The energy of the crowd was amazing—it was almost as if the whales were saying, hey, I’m gonna give you guys a free show today.”
For Mitchell, the experience was grounding. “It literally feels as if there is something bigger than you on this planet,” he reflected.
Durban’s wild side
@randallmitch Wait for it… #fyp #viral #whale #tiktoksa #durbantiktok ♬ original sound – Randall Mitchell
While the sighting left many online with a serious case of FOMO, it’s not unusual to see whales along Durban’s coast. Humpback whales migrate annually from Antarctica between May and November, passing through KwaZulu-Natal’s waters en route to Mozambique and Madagascar, where they breed and calve.
According to Whale and Dolphin Tours Durban, the migration makes this stretch of coastline one of the best spots in South Africa to witness the giants of the ocean without venturing far from shore.
Locals cheer, whales perform
Social media reactions poured in after Mitchell shared the video. One user quipped: “Durbanites have the best vibes, clapping and cheering like it’s an Ushaka Marine World show.” Another added, “South Africans must be the luckiest people on Earth. Imagine minding your business, suddenly … magic!”
For Mitchell, who often encourages South Africans to travel more within their own country, the moment reinforced his message: “As South Africans, we must travel the entire South Africa and see these hidden gems.”
So next time you’re in Durban between winter and spring, keep your eyes on the horizon—you might just get your own free front-row show.
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