Orcas
WILDLIFE
Encounters with the Ocean’s Giants
Commonly referred to as killer whales and, less often, blackfish, orcas are the largest of the dolphin family and one of the world's most powerful predators; their only enemy being humans. Orcas are highly social, intelligent and immediately recognizable by their distinctive black-and-white colouring.
Where do Orcas Live?
Orcas are found in oceans all over the world but are most abundant in colder waters like Norway and Antarctica.
When is the Best Time to see Orcas?
One of the best times to see orcas in the ice-cold waters of Norway is between November and January - see our safari itinerary for more details
WHERE TO SWIM WITH ORCAS
Join us on an incredible ship-based safari with the unique opportunity to swim with orcas in Northern Norway. Surrounded by icy fjords and imposing glaciers, this unforgettable trip offers you an incredible opportunity to witness pods of colossal orcas and humpback whales. Leaving dry land behind, you'll travel on our very own private chartered boat, the M/V Kinfish, for the duration of your marine adventure. This gives you the advantage of versatility in your routing while sailing through the Norwegian waters.
Orcas
Highly trainable, these beautiful creatures have controversially been featured in many aquarium shows, as well as blockbusters such as ‘Free Willy’ back in 1993. They have stable family groups of five to thirty, hunting together to bring down tasty prey that ranges from squid and fish, to seals and sea lions. They work together to tip animals resting on floating ice into the water, deliberately beach themselves to scare prey and even hunt other whales.
Killer whales are known to use advanced levels of communication with different dialects used by each group, passed down through the generations. They use echolocation, making noises that travel underwater, reflecting back the size and distance of any given object.
When it comes to movement, they can dive as deep as a hundred feet in search of prey, often swimming as fast as possible to the surface, breaching and making noise as they pierce the waters. They can also be seen slapping their tails and spy-hopping (poking their head out of the water to look around) which can be excellent to witness.
