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Gans Bay Dolphin & whale watching

Our most recommended Gans Bay Dolphin & whale watching

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

1. Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

Visit the Dyer Island ecosystem and have the opportunity to spot the Marine Big 5: whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Every year from June to December, the southern right whales arrive to mate and calve.  Witness mating displays, breaching, tail slapping, spy-hopping and more. You may also see Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, the elusive humpback dolphin and the common dolphin. An incredible array of seabirds and a sighting of the almost 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock is guaranteed as the boat cruises down the famous Shark Alley. An onboard marine biologist will be on hand to teach you more about the amazing animals that visit these shores. On the day of your trip, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cape Town or Hermanus, if you have selected an option with transfers included. Upon arrival in Gansbaai, enjoy coffee/tea and muffins while listening to a dedicated safety briefing.  Once you're fitted with inflatable life jackets and wet-weather gear, take a 200-meter stroll down to the harbor to board the whale-watching vessel. Time spent out at sea on average is two hours depending on sea conditions and marine life activity.  Upon return to land, receive an informative debrief while enjoying warm soup and bread. Professional trip footage is also available to purchase after the trip so that you can have a permanent memory of your sightings.  If you have chosen the option with transfers from Cape Town, a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary is also included on your way back. You'll see the important efforts being made to rehabilitate injured and sick animals.

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

2. From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

Join a whale-watching tour in Hermanus and visit the area with the highest concentration of whales on the South African Coastline. Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders to see these magnificent creatures. Along the way hear commentary about whales, and facts about right whales. Learn about the habitats and their feeding processes. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals, and other marine life. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke, and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, false killer whales, and enchanting African penguins. This tour offers a great selection of marine life and allows you to get an up-close look at wild animals. Relax without an ethical dilemma as you support businesses that celebrate animals in the wild. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

3. From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

In just 20 minutes you’ll be out of Cape Town’s city center and traveling along the Overberg south coastal route to Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and Betty’s Bay. The route is picturesque and is an enjoyable way to set the mood for the full day ahead. Travel beneath Sir Lowry’s Pass and see the sheer cliff faces that drop into the Indian Ocean below. As you near Betty’s Bay, you’ll have views of unspoiled beaches stretching for miles. Stop to see the breeding ground of the African penguins at Stony Point or visit the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Continue the drive through Hermanus to the seaside town of Gansbaai. The magnificent cliffs of De Kelders and the unspoiled beach provide for perfect land-based whale watching. In Gansbaai, you’ll head out on a 2-hour whale-watching journey. The purpose-built boat and restrictions on the number of passengers make it possible to fully enjoy the experience of observing these creatures at play. Afterwards you’ll head back along the coast to Hermanus for a late lunch (not included in the tour price). There’s much to see and discover in Hermanus, including up-market shops and arts and crafts stalls. Head along the N2 to the Peregrine Farm Stall, the final stop on the tour. Experience old-fashioned values and quality produce straight from the farms.

Gansbaai: Shark Dive & Whale Watching Combo Boat Trip

4. Gansbaai: Shark Dive & Whale Watching Combo Boat Trip

Take advantage of a combo package that features 2 incredible activities which can be split over 2 days if you'd prefer.  Shark Dive Begin the adventure with the shark cage dive which takes place off the coast of Dyer Island, roughly 15 minutes by boat from Kleinbaai Harbour. Discover how this island is home to a colony of over 50 000 Cape Fur seals – the great white shark's favorite food and primary source of nutrition. Arrive at the channel of the ocean which runs between Dyer Island and the neighboring Geyser Rock. This area is so frequented by great white sharks that it has been dubbed 'Shark Alley'. Anchor up here for an up-close encounter with great whites. As the cage is dropped at the diving site, get kitted up with diving gear. Take consecutive turns in the 8-man floating cage to experience thrilling underwater views of this majestic predator. When not in the cage, enjoy sightings of the sharks and other sea life from the viewing deck of the boat. Gansbaai is one of the only places in the world where these rare creatures congregate close enough to the coastline to offer you the best opportunity for potential sightings. That being said, please bear in mind that seeing a great white shark is a privilege, not a guarantee. Whale Watching Trip The whale watching trips take place from June to December however, should the whales change their migration schedule (arrive early and leave later) the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Generally the trip last 2 hours, but can be longer depending on how quickly you find the whales. Climb aboard a boat which launches twice daily at 10 AM and 1 PM. During the main season (August-October) an extra morning trip is available at 7 AM. From September on wards, an extra afternoon tri runs at either 3:30 PM or if a good sunset is forecasted, at 5 PM. The sunset trip is a truly magnificent experience as it provides the opportunity to watch the whales bask in the shallow waters with the Walker Bay sunset behind.

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

5. Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders. Enter a nature reserve with the highest concentration of whales in South Africa. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals and sharks. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, False killer whales and enchanting African penguins. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

Gansbaai and Big 5 Sea Safari Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

6. Gansbaai and Big 5 Sea Safari Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

Head out of the city on this full-day excursion to Gansbaai. Stop to see the African penguins at Stony Point or visit the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Continue to the seaside town of Gansbaai. Take in the magnificent cliffs of De Kelders and the unspoiled beach. Board a purpose-built boat for a 2-hour Big 5 sea safari. There will be a limited number of passengers, making it possible to fully enjoy the experience of observing the creatures you encounter. Head back along the coast to Hermanus for a late lunch (at your own expense). Visit the up-market shops and arts-and-crafts stalls. Continue to Peregrine Farm Stall, and see quality produce straight from the farm.

Cape Town: Shark Diving at Gansbaai Harbor Private Tour

7. Cape Town: Shark Diving at Gansbaai Harbor Private Tour

Enjoy a day of diving in a shark cage and viewing fearsome Great White Sharks in their natural environment. Get picked up from your hotel in Cape Town early in the morning and head to Gansbaai Harbor. Have breakfast and get a safety overview before heading out to see assorted birds, sharks, whales, and seals. Get inside the cage and dive down to get up close with the sea life and get a certificate memorializing your bravery. View a DVD of the day's dives over lunch. Enjoy a day of sea, sunshine, and majestic sea life at one of the few working fishing villages left in the Western Cape.

Other Sightseeing Options in Gans Bay

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What people are saying about Gans Bay

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 42 reviews

Wow! Wonderful day trip with a calm driver with a lot of knowledge. With 3 people in a luxury passenger car. On the way a coffee stop at a farmer's market on request. Then on the boat to see whales. And we saw them, it was already end of season but we saw 2 kinds of whales. Including two with calf. Then after Hermanus for a delicious lunch with a beautiful view. To be dropped off at the guesthouse in Cape Town via Betty's penguins and a beautiful photo stop, and a few more baboons. Incredibly worth it!

Professionally organized trip along the coast, where we saw nothing, then meeting tye cage dive boats with no success. Continuing on we had a great encounter with Orcas (the ones that kill the GW sharks), a very rare encounter:-) Next beautiful interaction with common dolphins around the boat, next a Bryde whale - amazing. Finishing off with the seals at the island and some penguins. It was truly worth it, but boy, were we lucky!

great trip! We were 'only' 2 individuals in a comfortable car. Whales sighted but 98% are out of the bay at the end of November...until next year. We were very lucky. The wonderful coastal road driving back to Cape Town was also beautiful. Excursion is highly recommended from July to November.

It really was a great trip from the driver who took us to the friendliness of the boat crew , saw a few whales and they’re young which was brilliant . Skipper was great. Hermanus was a great place to stop and whale watch too . Overall a great trip I’d highly recommend

On the day of my trip I had a private chauffeur from Cape Town to Gansbaai including a stop in a botanical garden on the way back.