South Africa · WHALE WATCHING IN CAPE TOWN
The 15 best whale watching trips in Cape Town you can book today, with what each one costs, how long it takes and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there and work down.
Speedboat whale watching from Gansbaai to the Hermanus area, with commentary, small group size, and chances to see southern right whales and more.
“The day was incredible, it was sunny and a little cold! We saw a lot of whale, we were lucky! The driver was very good and kind. All was according to the schedule. If there is something I would have like was to return by the coast road.”
Cape Town to Hermanus guided tour with coastal photo stops, Southern Right whale viewing, urban wine tasting, and Peregrine farm treats.
“What a wonderful experience and interesting stops along the way! It's a beautiful drive with interesting stops and nuggets of information along the way. Hermanus is a beautiful town any day of the year. 'Opted for the additional sightseRead more”
Full-day Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town, with seaside towns, Harold Porter Gardens, and optional close-up boat views.
“Nice trip. Hermanas is lovely. Nice coastline. Unfortunately no whales and no boats as it was windy. Still a beautiful place”
Morning drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai, then a 2-hour whale-watching boat trip with expert guidance and scenic stops.
“I had a great time with Aretha. Saw lots of delphins and Southern Right whales. Couldn’t be any happier. Definitely one of the highlights of my adventure in South Africa.”
Full day from Cape Town for Southern Right whale watching in Hermanus, Stony Point penguins, and Hemel-en-Aarde wine tasting.
“I loved this day out. Our private driver was excellent and full of knowledge. He drove us to see penguins at Stony Beach and then onto Hermanus to see 6 whales (its end of the season now as well) and then to a lovely wine Estate called Benguela Cove where we did some wine tasting and had a charcuterie board.”
Coastal drive to Hermanus for shore whale watching, Rotary Way views, Hemel-en-Aarde wine tasting, plus an optional whale cruise.
“Entertaining and informative guide. Just the right amount of time in beautiful Hermanus.”
Watch Southern Right Whales from the shore in Hermanus, enjoy a guided coastal drive from Cape Town, and finish with a Bouchard Finlayson tasting.
“Our tour guide, Armoy Olivier, was absolutely fabulous. He talked with the locals about best places to see the whales and made sure we had a wonderful day. I recommend you contact him about any trip you want to take.”
Boat whale watching from Hermanus with a 6:30 am specialist briefing, guided catamaran ride, possible humpbacks, dolphins, and seals.
“We recently went on a whale-watching tour, and while we couldn’t see any whales, the experience was still memorable. Our guide, Paul, was friendly and knowledgeable, making the trip enjoyable despite the circumstances. He even went the Read more”
See Southern Right Whales near Walker Bay on a 4-hour boat trip from Cape Town, with hotel pickup, snacks, and time in Hermanus.
“The boat was far too small for the number of people take onboard... much too small especially since the weather was not good and the seas were rough bouncing passengers around, many got seasick and there was no way for all to sit and get away from the vomit.... waveRead more”
Early Cape Town pickup for Hermanus whale watching and Stony Point penguins, with boat time, bottled water, and round-trip transport.
“One of the best trips I have taken in Cape Town, this is not 5 star since the operator after I arrived to Hermanus Harber asked me to pay extra money and claimed that the price I payed according to the website is outdated…! So this reduced tRead more”
Small-group whale watching from Yzerfontein with an expert-led hunt for humpback whales, plus breakfast snacks, picnic lunch, and a debrief.
“Amazing trip I'd highly recommend, especially photographers! Small groups of people which makes the trip so much nicer. Although we didn't get to see a super group, we saw a lone juvenile Humpback and then a mother with her calf. PleRead more”
Hermanus private whale watching with hotel pickup from Cape Town. Air-conditioned transport, boat time, and optional Betty’s Bay penguins.
“Tingo guided us on an awesome whale watching trip at Hermanus. It was a memorable experience thanks to the crew's expertise and enthusiasm. The whales were really close to us. The curious penguins at Betty Bay never fail to amaze me Read more”
Shark cage viewing in Gansbaai plus a whale watching cruise, with breakfast, lunch, snacks, gear, and Cape Town pickup available.
“Responsive and qualified staff; perfectly organised activities and schedules; good value for money. I managed to do both shark cage diving in Gansbaai. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for sea adventures in South Africa.”
9-hour Hermanus whale watching from Cape Town with coastal towns, gardens, cliff views, and an optional boat ride in season.
“The only reason this didn't get five stars from me is because I could only book the boat trip on the day, which relied on there being spaces. Since the whole reason for me booking this was to get on the boat trip, this was disappointing because at one point, it looked likRead more”
Ride a trike along Cape Town’s Whale Route to Hermanus for possible whale sightings, with hotel pickup, helmet, and scenic photo stops.
“Fantastic day! A must do if you want to see the countryside up close and not from a bus! Willem is cool. He’s very knowledgeable and drives safely. You’ll take multiple photo stops and have lunch right on the sea!”
From the cableway to the Kruger gate, sorted by the kind of day you want.
