Cape Cross- named after a Portuguese explorer who was sent on a mission to follow the winds around the southern tip of Africa (after discovering that they changed directions at the equator). He landed here instead (luckily for him, there were many seals for food). He and his crew planted a limestone cross on shore, where a replica stands today- hence the name, Cape Cross. I could smell the Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) much before seeing them. There were over 500,000 seals in both the water and on the shore. The females are smaller than the males and cannot stay under water as long (7 minutes versus 10-12 minutes). The pups are born during the months of December and January. I was happy we were here to see the babies! The gestation period is about 51 weeks, although 4 months of this time is non-developmental due to delayed implantation. Mating takes place about 5 or 6 days after the mother has given birth. The seals eat shoaling fish such as pilchards, squid, and crustaceans. The massive numbers of seals reminded me of the San Francisco Bay.
