Enjoy the marine life of the Western Cape coastline as you sail across the water at Gansbaai. With endless sealife to spot, this tour is one of the best things to do on a Cape holiday. Whether you’re watching from the shoreline, or taking a cruise across the bay, seeing Southern Right Whales breaching is an absolute delight! Be sure you don’t miss the most amazing whale watching tours that Cape Town has to offer.
- Seeing Southern Right Whales
- Spotting an array of marine life
- Boat ride along the cliffs of De Kelders
Know before you book
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Seeing a whale up-close is one of the most amazing sights on Earth. If you’re looking to experience the marine life of the Western Cape coast, choose whale watching in Gansbaai.
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Best Whale Watching Tour Prices Near Cape Town
Hop aboard a boat and sail along the stunning cliffs of De Kelders, as you keep your eye on the waves. This amazing tour offers visitors to the tiny fishing harbor an unforgettable experience. The boat trip takes you through Walkerbay Nature Reserve, a semi-aquatic conservancy with the highest concentration of whales in South Africa.
Look out for Southern Right Whales, as well as humpback, minke and Bryde’s whales. You can see an array of Cape marine life including majestic orcas, False Killer Whales, dolphins, sharks, Cape fur seals, and tiny African penguins.
The Southern Right Whale is the star of the tour, as they are famously rare. The gargantuan creatures are playful in nature and provide an amazing addition to the Cape Whale Coast family. These fascinating creatures live to a very old age and have distinctive markings, including unique patches of callosities (that look similar to barnacles), which function like fingerprints.
Boats can travel as close as 50m to the whales, but the animals’ safety and comfort is the number one priority. Southern Right Whales are easy to spot as well, as they release a distinctive V-shaped spout of mist, which can be seen from quite far away.
Feel the sea spray on your face as you watch whales in their natural playground. For the best show in Gansbaai, head out on the whale watching tour of a lifetime.
Time
Whale watching tours from Cape Town generally take place a few times a day, so you have the option of going early morning whale watching, an afternoon tour or an evening/sunset whale watching tour.
Prices
Prices range between $70 USD and $280 USD. You can compare these prices here:
Best Time to Go Whale Watching
The best time to go whale watching is between July and November. This is mating season for the Southern Right Whale. They do this all along the Western Cape coastline but the best place to go whale watching is in Hermanus or Bettys Bay.
Gaansbaai: Whale Watching by Boat
What we liked: The opportunity to see the Southern Right Whale up close in its natural environment.
On this 2-hour whale watching tour, you’ll navigate around the cliffs of De Kelders looking out for these mighty sea creatures. During whale watching season, these massive creatures frequent the area with their babies, making for an excellent show.
This incredible experience allows you to get up close to the Southern Right Whale in their natural habitat. As well as the whales, you can expect to encounter many other forms of Western Cape marine wildlife. This is considered to be one of the best day trips from Cape Town.
- Entrance fees
- Boat ride
- Professional guide
- Parking fee
- Gratuities
Be sure to join in on one of the best whale watching day trips in Cape Town!
Check Price & bookWine Tasting and Whale Watching Full-Day Tour From Cape Town
What we liked: Enjoy incredible views and the wonders of nature while sipping on the finest local wines.
On this full-day trip from Cape Town, you’ll get the opportunity to discover the best that South Africa has to offer. Not only in the scenery and natural beauty but in fine tasting wines too. On this tour, you’ll stop off in the quaint fishing village of Hermanus to watch the whales breaching, before heading inland to enjoy some of the best South African local wines. You’ll get the afternoon to enjoy the luscious Elgin Valley.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Driver/tour guide
- Transport
- Wine Tasting
- Food and drinks
- Boat cruise ticket
- Gratuities
Be sure to book your spot on one of the best whale watching trips in Cape Town!
Check Price & bookWhale Watching Day Trip From Cape Town
What we liked: See Southern Right Whales breach from one of the best land-based viewing spots in the country.
Between July and November, the Southern Right Whales come to breed in the Hermanus bay, which means there is plenty of activity to be seen. You’ll get the opportunity to witness these massive creatures breaching above the water before plummeting into the depths.
Your first stop for the day will be in Bettys Bay, before heading on to Hermanus. Both viewing spots offer unique sights that could keep you entertained for hours.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport
- Proffesional tour guide
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Admissions to Stony Point Penguin Colony
Book your place on a whale spotting adventure in Cape Town!
Check Price & bookSpecification: Whale Watching Ganbsaai Tours (Day Trips Near Cape Town)
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Priyank K –
The trip was very beautiful, passing through amazing landscapes. The guide Rodney was knowledgeable, though not a very good listener. Nevertheless, he made sure we got the best spots for each activity. We saw Whales and Penguins. Wine tasting was also done, though in short.
Larisa L –
Not enough time for the lunch in Hermanus!
James L –
I booked the Full day whale watching in Hermanus trip from Cape Town. Not up to the usual Viator standards, by far. The tour as advertised in the UK is not what we got. We were not taken to the cliff top walk we were given restricted time in the town, which had to include lunch we did visit / tour an industrial estate we were taken to a hill top overlooking the town, but miles from the coastal pass. To see the whales, we had to take the boat trip, which was expensive, and many Japanese tourists found it much too rough. There was no time to visit the penguins, or the Nature Reserve, or the botanical Gardens but time was made to visit a winery. Conclusions – The whales were an exciting experience, but I would not recommend this particular trip to anyone.
Jacquelyn S –
A full day tour that brought us to many scenic places along the coast, with a 2hour boat ride out to catch the whales basking in the sun, followed by a yummy lunch in a quaint village. A perfect day!