Gannet Safaris Overland Ltd is a fantastic overland tour to the mainland gannet colony, a must do activity while visiting Hawkes Bay. Cape Kidnappers is a large, accessible mainland gannet colony. Visitors to the colony will see adults and young nesting in serried rows carrying out daily routines. In the air above, the amazing birds with their six foot wing span swoop and dive as they bring back fish. On the ground, just a few feet away, the pairs preen and perform the dance of the gannets’ recognition ritual. The birds can be seen from September to early April. In September they return from their winter escape to build their nests ready for the arrival of the chicks during December and January. The chicks are then fattened up and made ready for their first and departing flight in late April when they go off on their annual ritual to warmer climates.