I Finally Went to Tonga to Swim With Whales… After 41 Years of Dreaming About It
Jana Vanana
Sep 19, 2026 22:00
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After 41 years of dreaming about it, I finally made it to Tonga to swim with humpback whales! 🐋🇹🇴
This is the story of my long-awaited trip to Tonga, including the journey from Australia, a tiny 7-minute flight to ʻEua, island life, Tongan food, plenty of animals, some serious travel chaos… and, of course, swimming with whales.
The whales didn't always cooperate, but day three turned into one of the most incredible days of my life. Getting into the water with these enormous animals and seeing them up close was something I will never forget.
The trip wasn't completely smooth sailing, though. There were cancelled ferries, broken boats, questionable amounts of peanut butter, a surprisingly difficult search for beans, and a moment when we weren't even sure how we were going to get off the island! 😅
I also share my thoughts on the ethics of swimming with whales in Tonga and the rules in place to minimise disturbance to the animals.
And just when you think the adventure is over… I'm not actually on the plane home. 👀 That's a story for next time!
Have you ever travelled somewhere specifically to swim with whales? If so, where was it, and what was the experience like? 🐋
Thanks so much for watching! ❤️
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