southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)

Was there only one on the entire beach?

Yup, only one! My first male Southern elephant seal too!

So I guess it is the largest carnivoran you've seen in your life !
Apparently they're vagrants to South Africa, and only during the moulting season (summer), so it's rather odd and lucky that you saw one there, especially in November

OMG a Elephant seal.

They used to have some in Wilhelma in the late 90 s but the Last one. died a few jears before i was born.

I think it must have been cool to See such a amazing Animal in the wild.

Have you ever Seen Elephant seals before or was this one your First Elephant seal?

@German Zoo World
I suspect @Giant Eland has seen one before...
In fact I suspect he has seen both Northern and Southern elephant seals before (though only female/calf Southerns), given his first comment on this media

@amur leopard your suspicions are indeed correct! I had seen a female and calf Southern at Mar del Plata Aquarium in 2013. And I had seen a rescued Northern calf at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in 2011.

I was lucky enough to see 20-30 adult males and females in the wild in California in January earlier this year, quite an epic sight!

@Giant Eland
Were the wild Northern elephant seals near Morro Bay/San Jose?

@amur leopard Point Reyes National Seashore