South Africa · WHALE WATCHING TRIPS IN HERMANUS & THE WHALE COAST
Good whale watching trips in Hermanus & the Whale Coast fill up weeks ahead; the great ones go first. Below: the 9 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
90-minute Hermanus whale watching boat trip in Walker Bay, with top-deck views, dolphins and seals, plus coffee on arrival.
“A great trip out seeing the whales. 2 hours was the perfect amount of time, and we managed to catch many breaching whales at sunset too. Would highly recommend!”
Two-hour Hermanus whale-watching catamaran with a whale specialist guide, close dolphin action, and onboard refreshments near South Africa’s coast
“What a beautiful experience: From the expert introduction to Hermanus' whales by Ken, to the explanations of Jacques and the Crew taking care of us and making sure to keep watching out for marine life, this tour was great. Not only did we find ourselves in the middle of a large school of dolphins and did spot a whale while it was already end of season. I also felt the Crew did run the tour with expertise, ensuring to not chase the animals but give them space to approach us.”
2-hour whale watching cruise from Gansbaai to De Keldar cliffs for southern right whales, plus dolphins, sharks and penguins.
“We chose Ivanhoe as the boats are not too big, making it a more personal experience. We soon found the majestic Southern Right Whales, several Mums with Calf’s . They swam right along side the boat, so relaxed . Very emotional experience. The tour is only two hours long , we could all have stayed out longer . Try to choose a calm day, as spotting the whales is so much easier.”
Hermanus boat whale watching from the New Harbour with a whale specialist on board, purpose-built catamaran comfort, and light refreshments.
“Great experience… only saw one mum & baby whale … would have loved to look for more in the 2 hrs but still great”
Private land-based whale walks in Hermanus with Percy, museum entry included, air-conditioned pickup, and cliffside spots for sightings.
“Percy Tours is the best company to book your tours in Hermanus and S. Africa: knowledgeable, with great humour and truly looking after you and making your experience worthwhile. We had 2 tours with Percy and both excellent: we learnt aRead more”
Shore-based whale watching in Hermanus plus coastal stops, wine tasting on Wed/Fri or penguins at Stony Point on Sundays.
“Pas du tout la prestation demandée, à aucun moment il était notifié qu'il y avait le bateau à prendre, seul chose intéressante de la journée mais 120€ pour deux en plus à payer. Pas de dégustation de vin comme notifié. payer 155€ pour deux juste pour l'aller retour c'est du vol, on aurait mieux fait d'y aller avec notre voiture de location. Une véritable arnaque”
Gansbaai shark cage entry plus whale watching in one combo. Expert guides, hot showers, warm meals, and real time on the water.
“Seeing the sharks. Hospitality at sharp center was also great. Only negative was we had to do whale watching at 6:30 iso around noon.”
Cape Town to Hermanus for a guided whale boat trip, lunch time, and Stony Point African penguins in Betty’s Bay.
“Gabriel was a terrific tour guide. The boat ride to see the whales was great. We got to see several whales on our ride. Would highly recommend this tour.”
Hermanus whale watching in Walker Bay plus Winelands wine tasting, with private transport. An 8-hour day trip from Cape Town.
“Our guide Joseph was excellent, very informative and gave us plenty of time to relax and enjoy each part of the tour.”
The mountain, the parks, the coast and the cities — and the best of each.
