This document was developed based on monitoring data submitted by permitted whale watching operators from cape town to sodwana bay. By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to our use of cookies. Not strictly true, as the cape whale route stretches for over 900 kilometres, from doringbaai on the west coast, all the way to storms river mouth on the garden route. Hermanus about two hours outside of cape town along the garden route, hermanus is famous for its whale watching.
The wwf and greenpeace regard whale watching in cape town as one of the top 3 places in the world to get up and personal with whales. The animals can be clearly seen from a scenic clifftop walk, and the town holds a whalewatching festival every september. Whale watching in cape town bayview guest house and self. Approximately an hour and a half away from cape town is the seaside town of hermanus. Watch 40ton whale leaps entirely out of water off the eastern.
Further south, the town of hermanus in walker bay on the cape south coast offers possibly the best landbased whalewatching in the world. The western cape is one of the top whale watching destinations of the world rated number two by uks the telegraph, and we are particularly lucky to have some of the best spots not too far off from our capital of cape town where we can witness these glorious creatures amidst their annual migratory patterns. From july to december the pods of whales grace the shores of southern africa. Id love to do some whale watching while there but i understand that march isnt a very good time for it. Whale watching in the western cape south africa travel news. Interesting activities in and around cape town and south africa. This beachfront holiday home in cape town is perfectly situated on the atlantic ocean. During this challenging time, this is how we can support small businesses. Hermanus whale watching best close encounters, purpose.
Thousands of visitors drive to the seaside town to watch them frolic in the ocean, they are playful in nature and everyone is guaranteed a theatrical performance. You will also enjoy a wine tasting at bouchard finlayson wine estate. Bay, st helena bay, saldanha bay and yzerfontein, just north of cape town. From july to november the southern right whale comes to breed in the bay near this seaside town, an easy and beautiful drive from cape town. Hermanus whale watching season runs from june to december however, these are wild animals and should the whales change their migration schedule arrive early and leave later we will adjust our schedule accordingly. We have chosen a few of our favourite activities that we believe will give you a wider appreciation and greater enjoyment of south africa. Heres what you need to know about whale watching in cape town. Boat based whale watching tour cape town south africa. There was a big swell on the day, as can be seen from the movement of the boat. The high cliffs of the western cape provide an ideal vantage point for the seasonal whale watching of southern right whales and the seaside town of hermanus holds its annual whale festival in september in celebration of all things cetacean. Heres everything you need to know about whale watching in cape town. Stunning rooms, 360 degree views of the mountains, city bowl and. A popular holiday destination for tourists and locals alike, hermanus is hailed as offering the best land based whale watching in the world. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa.
Whale watching in hermanus, near cape town youtube. Whale watching season in hermanus cape towns unique no. Every year, southern right whales take a vacation in cape waters, treating cape town locals to a display of breaching, fluking, spouting, and spyhopping. Join us on a wonderful cape town day trip marine safari that takes us to see the mighty southern wright whale. Cape town is a good whale viewing location, but there are more spots to be found eastwards, along the southern coastline. Whale watching in hermanus or simons town close to cape town. Cape town whale watching south africa whale watching. Only a 2 hour drive from cape town transport options are available, dyer island cruises offers our guests the potential to see more marine wildlife in one trip, than anywhere else in the country. But what are all the interesting facts on southern right whales.
These southern right whales were filmed on a whale watching trip with simons town boat company in false bay. Contact us ivanhoe sea safaris, south africas oldest boat based whale watching and eco marine tour operator since 1996. The voelklip and grotto beaches are perfect for whale spotting and watching, especially on the rocks above the sea. Take this opportunity to go whale watching from one of the best landbased viewing spots in the world, hermanus. The closest one is false bay, hermanus, and cape agulhus.
Every year, southern right whales travel to our shores from antartica, treating. In cape town, you can see them from the road along the false bay coast, and theyre distinctly visible on the western seaboard if you get high enough. Only three hours out of cape town, explore the beautiful, diverse and fynbosfilled nature reserve, breathing in the salty sea air and staying at. There are three types of whales usually sighted in false bay southern right, humpbacks and brydes. Or download the news24 app here, to receive expertly curated travel. Also, the numbers of other types of whales there have. Whale watching near cape town in hermanus this video was filmed and edited by a guest on the. A south african beach popular with christmas holidaymakers has been closed until the carcass of a beached whale is removed amid concerns its blood may attract sharks, the city of. For those who come to enjoy the many wonders of the cape, like whale watching in cape town, bayview house offers an excellent choice of accommodation options. The property offers free parking, and cape town international airport is 16 mi away. From exhilarating boat trips to an annual whale watching festival, heres where to go dolphin and whale watching in cape town, during a stay at the twelve apostles.
Whale and bird watching what you can expect a typical trip with dyer island cruises. Toprated cape town whale watching tours 2020 dolphin tours. First it was the great white sharks who mysteriously vanished from the waters of cape town but now the coast is short of whales too, as marine. Whale watching and marine big 5 tours in south africa. Accommodation gordons bay, cape town whale views luxury. These sea animals that are generally the cumulative size of around 10 african elephants can be pretty elusive and september has had very few days that. Lamberts bay humpback whale assisted in disentanglement. Dolphin fleet whale watch is ranked as one of the top activities for cape cod. The overstrands cape whale coast western aspect flows to and from the cape town metropole and the eastern aspect leads to and from africas southern. Enjoy the beauty of the outer cape as you depart traveling along the national seashore, viewing the beaches, lighthouses and the very tip of cape cod. Along the cape whale coast the area between rooiels pringle bay and pearly beach. Southern right whale facts we all want to watch whales near cape town in places like simons town or hermanus.
Cape town is blessed with being the only place in the world where one could quite possibly see a great white shark and a whale on the same boat. With two oceans and an abundance of natural diversity to explore, seeing whales in cape town is. You can look out for humpback whales in cape town during summer, or, during whale season, you could try a whale watching tour to see southern right whales. On arrival on the scene, an adult 10meter humpback whale was found entangled in fishing rope anchored to the seabed. Sometimes they arrive earlier and stay later, with prime whale watching. This includes the likes of wesgro, cape town tourism, overstrand municipality and sa tourism, amongst others. Gansbaai is the true gem and the place we find the most eco and ethical local operator who takes you out for a 2hr boat trip to visit the whales. These cape town based operators facilitate whale watching in cape town. Sawdn cape town volunteers from nsri headquarters responded to join. Whale views gordons bay cape town nestling at the foot of the beautiful hottentot holland mountains where they tumble into the sea at gordons bay, whaleviews offers two self catering apartments dolphins leap and dolphins rest. Why are whales and sharks disappearing from cape towns coast.
Wedged between the mountain and the sea, the quaint hamlet of hermanus has been rated by the world wildlife fund wwf as one of the twelve best whale watching locations in the world, and it is often regarded as the heart of the whale route. But this portion of the coastline, which includes the towns of kleinmond, hermanus. Watch the worlds gentle giants of the deep frolic in waters of walker bay. Hermanus is listed among the worlds top whale watching destinations and in. Best time for landbased whale watching in cape town 2020.
Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark. South africa the best tips for whale watching in south. One of the best parts of whale watching along the eastern cape coast is. Whale watching on cape cod is the best way to experience the areas unique natural landscape, species diversity and nautical history all in one salttinged outing. Every year, between june and december, southern right whales journey to our shores to mate and calve, giving us the aweinspiring opportunity to get up close with them. From here you will see the ships round the cape of good hope, while famous chapmans peak serves as a picturesque backdrop. A marine reserve encompassing the waters directly in front of the twelve apostles affords the hotels guests with frequent whale and dolphin sightings. Heading out to sea will give you a spectacular new perspective on the cape point coastline, and increase your chances of seeing whales.
Keep uptodate on closed public facilities and the restrictions of liquor sales. The best whalewatching spots in the cape the inside guide. Every year, southern right whales make their way to the cape waters. This site uses cookies to improve your experience, to enhance site security and to show you personalized advertising. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south. Whale watching tour cape town hermanus gansbaai whale and dolphin watching tour. Thus, we were very excited about the report and within 30.
Special thanks to hermanus whale cruises and advantage cruiser for their extended efforts of contributing to drafting this document. Get hold of a city pass to enjoy free entry to over 70 cape town attractions, including whale watching. Board dreamcatcher our 5 star, custombuilt whale watching vessel. Get the latest updates on the coronavirus in cape town and the national lockdown. The local whale watching season lasts between midapril and late october, providing you with the most ideal weather for observing the largest mammals on earth. Where to go dolphin and whale watching in cape town 12.
With a stay at a whale of a time in cape town, youll be next to a golf course, within a 10minute drive of boulders beach and fish hoek beach. Whale watching trips in cape town whale viewing trips. Enjoy a scenic 2hour drive from cape town, explore the natural beauty as we take you to the best whale watching location on the south african coast line. Whale watching in cape town south africa travel news. Between june and october every year they put on a spectacular showcase on the cape whale coast hermanus. Every year between june and december, southern right and humpback whales can be seen along the south coast from cape town to mossel bay. A whale of a time is a highly recommended property for self catering in fish hoek for tourists visiting the false bay region about a whale of a time. The cape whale route is a 900kilometrelong stretch of coastline that extends from strandfontein near muizenberg to plettenberg bay in the southern cape. Cape town people, geography, activities and tourist information about cape town from oceans africa. The coming of the whales to the western capes southern coastline, also known as the cape whale coast, every year between june and november, not only creates a stir, but brings to our shores a large, intelligent and remarkable giant of the sea and the only mammal to have adapted to life in the open oceans. Hermanus whale watching is renowned for the most prolific whale viewing experience in the world. Mostly at cape town, plettenberg bay, gansbaai, simons town and from table mountain national park. For those with interests other than birdwatching, there is another exciting world to experience in cape town and the rest of south africa.
Best time for whale watching in south africa rhino africa. Morne hardenberg on 12 january 2015 we got a report from a friend in simons town that a pod of killer whales orca had just swam past his house moving in the direction of cape point last year our team spent three months going to sea almost every day trying to film them for a documentary, but they never appeared. The surroundings are completely unspoilt and the house borders on a nature reserve. Set on the edge of the wine route, they are the perfect exclusive getaways from where you can explore cape town and the western cape. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of. Apartment a whale of a time, fish hoek, south africa. When you book a trip with us, the evening before your tour we will contact you or your accommodation to confirm the time of your tour.
This whale watching page is not about driving a car or joining a tour to hermanus to watch whales breach, this page is about the whale sighting right here in cape town that we have witnessed and photographed over the past few years. Check out how to curb those isolation blues this weekend. Only a two hour drive from cape town, this little town is the heart of the whale route. Now that you understand a bit more about the whales, where are the best places to see them during whale season. About an hours drive from cape town is hermanus, which also offers excellent whale watching and a further half an hour east of that is the little town of gansbaai with equally good, arguably better, whale watching. Cape whale route there are many beautiful areas along the western cape coast from which to watch the whales, each with wonderful accommodation and other facilities. Is there any possibilities for whale watching around cape town area in march. Pictures of the killer whales in cape town africa geographic.