The boat is licensed to carry 40 passengers but we restrict the loading to 25 passengers, this avoids overcrowding and passengers can move freely. The best time for watching the southern right whale in south african waters is. Luxury whale watching holidays in south africa grootbos. Click to download the pdf document right click to save as. The whale route tour hermanus south african hotels. Where to whale watch in south africa fodors travel guide.
Visit south africa, take a whale watching vacation to south africa, and enjoy a whale watching trip in south africa. The peak time, when daily sightings are virtually guaranteed, is during september and october. The perfect companion for your whale watching trip. 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. Whale watching in south africa the south coast of south africas western cape, now known as the whale route, offers great whale watching by boat and from land.
It can be taken as a standalone tour or added on to the end of one of our south african safaris. It will really depend on your decision of visiting during the whale time or to spend your time in cape town and visiting other places of interest too. The tours are operated from the new harbour in hermanus and departs 3 to 4 times daily depending on the time of year and. Fabulous trip, we saw african penguins, dusky dolphins and three brydes whales in the bay. This year the festival is being held from september 20 24, 20.
Sample awardwinning vintages in the famous winelands region. Combine two of south africas top activities, whalewatching and winetasting, in a single 9hour tour from cape town. Would highly reccomend percy tours and the whales watching, shark diving and kayaking. Checkin to your suite and then head off on a landbased whale watching excursion as you spot southern right whales not more than 30 metres from the coast. Southern right charters hermanus whale watching whales. South africa has fast become one of the worlds top holiday destinations having. South africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround. Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the western cape. 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. Book directly with us online to receive a free video of your trip. If you want to experience south africa s incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch.
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. The beautiful whale route route departs from cape town and follows the scenic coastal drive via gordons bay, pringle bay and bettys bay to the whalewatching town of hermanus. Most of all, its the bulky, playful southern right whales that attract the whale watchers. Hello, just coming back from sa and i also recommand using dyer island cruises.
Whaletrips south africa the best tips for whale watching. Hermanus whale watching tours are the best way to see southern right whales, humpback whales and brydes whales at the southern tip of africa. We share news and blog articles from across our various wildlife tours and marine big 5 adventures. The route takes one via gordons bay along the south coast road passing cape hangklip to hermanus. Hermanus whale watching best close encounters, purpose. From there we head towards hermanus, labelled as one of the best whale sighting spots in the world, where we hope to see one or more of these giants of the ocean. Occasionally, humpbacks, brydes whales, orcas and various kinds of dolphins can be seen, too. Southern right whales, humpback whales, orca and brydes whales can all be seen here between july and december.
With renowned naturalist guides, our goal is to provide lifeenhancing travel experiences while supporting environmental and wildlife conservation. The tour offers you the best of both landbased and boatbased whale watching in the western cape. Percy tours cape town tours hermanus tour guide whale. Whale explore south africa travel accommodation tours. Taste local wines in the hemel en aarde valley, then visit sir lowrys pass and elgin. Dec 23, 2015 every year, the two oceans hermanus whale festival is held in south africa. They are the only ones offering an eco trip that enables you to see the marine big 5 dolphins, seals, sharks, whales and penguins. Here is the best time to go whale watching in south af rica for each of the different whale species. From july to december the pods of whales grace the shores of southern africa. The best time to go whale watching in south africa. Whale watching tour to hermanus departs at 08h30 and we travel in an easterly direction from cape town. Immerse yourself in south africas picturesque wine country before embarking on a breathtaking whalewatching adventure. If you want to experience south africas incredible marine wildlife for yourself, dont hesitate to get in touch.
The wild whale coasts pristine sandy beaches are also idyllic for secluded landbased whale watching. 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. Ivanhoe sea safaris cooperate on the scientific project with scientist to protect our beloved whales. The official conservation travel partner of world wildlife fund, offering custom and small group tours to natures greatest sites.
Travel to hermanus to see right whales off the coast or upgrade your tour with an optional whalewatching cruise. Whale watching day trip from cape town south africa. Be aware that if you take a boatbased whalewatching trip it is highly likely that. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in sa. Whale watching tours depart from cape town and end at george airport. A short stopover at harold porter botanical gardenson, a world famous institution, goes down well while on the way to the whales. Toprated cape town whale watching tours 2020 dolphin tours. This pristine stretch of the cape coastline extends from the coastal hamlet of pringle bay in the west to quoin point in the east, and is flanked by mesmerising mountains and the atlantic ocean. Whale watching waters off the coast of southern africa run from false bay, south of cape town, up as far as st lucia in kwazulunatal on the east coast. Some resorts and hotels in the maldives offer diving programs and other excursions in water. Hermanus, known as the best landbased whale watching destination in the world, plays host to thousands of visitors 2012 we welcomed over 100 000 visitors who flock to the seaside resort to exhilarate in the unique natural environment, watch the. Whale watching tours south africa best whale watching in. Season has now ended will reopen in june 2020 whale watching walking tours in hermanus, south africa whale watching walking tours of hermanus take you on a gentle walk along our very scenic paved walkways of the pretty coastal cliff tops for 2 to 3 hours, with our experienced whale watching tour guide who will take you to all the.
South africa is wellknown as one of the best destinations worldwide for watching whales. Hermanus is widely regarded as the whale watching capital of south africa. Hermanus at the coast of south africa is one of the most popular whale watching hotspots worldwide. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia. Built upon low cliffs overlooking walker bay, there are many fantastic viewpoints from which to observe whales. Make sure the skipper has the required permit for your safety and welfare of the animals.
A guide to whale watching in south africa flight centre uk. South africa the best tips for whale watching in south. From cape towns history, apartheid, nelson mandela through to whale watching, wine tasting in stellenbosch and beers and. Today hermanus is the whale capital of south africa celebrated each year with the whale festival during the month of september. Whale coast holidays embrace a part of south africa that is well known for its excellent whalewatching and marine boat tours with a variety of accommodation. Whale watching and marine wildlife tours dyer island cruises. Travellers may experience the majestic beauty of the southern right whales basking in the warm waters of the hermanus coastline. You probably mean feb 2012 and yes it will not be whale season. This trip is a marinelovers delight and offers superb ocean safaris with the chance of viewing the oceans big 5.
Africas top ten whale and dolphinwatching destinations. Using modern approaches of population and landscape genetics, we aim to get information about details of population structure, the role. Sip on a sundowner from the balcony of our whale house and then later, sample a delectable 5course dinner back at the lodge. As the whales are around during south africas winter, it can be cool and rainy at times. The tour will operate from 15 june to 15 november each year to coincide with the presence of the numerous southern right whales that migrate to the coastline of south africa. Hermanus whale watching tours southern right charters south. Whale spotting tours whale watching tours south africa. The main species of whale sighted are the southern right whales that visit the bay to calve and mate.
Dec 25, 2016 south africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching marine wildlife, including whales, whether from land or from boats, with spectacular annual visits from southern right and humpback whales and enormous pods of dolphins yearround. Aug 26, 20 theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome creatures in action, and its topnotch restaurants, hotels, and culture round out the experience. During whale season is the ideal time to explore the south african coasts, taking in its spectacular views and quaint little towns, and witness the migration of the humpback, brydes and southern right whales. We boast south africas largest boatbased whale identity catalog and we see resightings of the same individual whales year after year. As whale watching forms the focus of this trip, the best time to travel to south africa is between july and october the height of whale season. The tours are operated from the new harbour in hermanus and departs 3 to 4 times daily depending on the time of year and weather and sea conditions. Besides the whales, we have table mountain, the city centre of cape town, penguins, great white sharks, wine tasting tours, sky diving, paragliding off lions head and so. Whales and dolphins of south africa join a whale and dolphin watching tour with oceans africa whales and dolphins cetacea can be divided into two major groups or suborders. Hermanuswhale watching tours south africa dyer island cruises. Southern right whales are the main attraction for whale watchers in south africa from june to november.
Whether its the gentle giants of the oceans, the playful and inquisitive dolphins of the shallows, the elusive and intriguing porpoises, or the very secretive and rarely seen beaked whales. Cape town whale watching south africa whale watching. To see migratory southern right or humpback whales, visit between june and october. Cape whale coast route hermanus cape town andbeyond. Close to the very tip of africa, just outside cape town, you will find the cape whale coast a place on earth where wonders never cease. Call us on 01273 923100 to start planning your south africa holiday including a trip to spot whales. For those keen on spotting whale sharks in maldives, the best option is to secure a base hotelresort in the south ari atoll as the region is renowned as a whale shark hotspot and will give you easy access to the local whale shark tour packages or the opportunity to organise your sighting tour from the. Join us for a unique experience travelling through the three south africas. Explore cape towns mystical table mountain and sealapped shoreline from your base at belmond mount nelson hotel.
Iconic sites, activities and hidden gems in cape town, telling the story of a south african. Our hermanus whale watching tours operate within the local waters of walker bay, one of the best whale watching areas in the world. Prices for all activities and adventures can be viewed on our prices page. Lovely guy in charge of the boat who clearly knew what he was. Baleen whales mysticetes are distinctive for having two blowholes and whalebone baleen plates hanging from the roof of the mouth to filter food. Whale watching tours south africa message board tripadvisor. Relish the rich natural beauty and diversity that south africa has to offer, and enjoy the finest marine viewing experiences. We proceed to the most southern tip of africa cape agulhas from where we ride towards the cape winelands region to explore the many wine estates and enjoy the winding roads. All our whale watching tours, wildlife holidays and safaris all over the world are listed below. Whale watching in south africa is a truly unforgettable experience. Dolphins are found the year round and dolphin watching tours and charters are available in most coastal areas. The best months are august to october, with the hermanus whale festival taking place in late september or early october. We expected a driver and transactional car transfer, but we got a charismatic and informative tour guide who entertained us and taught us a lot about cape town and south africa.
At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa, and is. Wildlife safari and whale watching in south africa. Join us on a wonderful cape town day trip marine safari that takes us to see the mighty southern wright whale. Combine two of south africa s top activities, whale watching and winetasting, in a single 9hour tour from cape town. Our company is progressive, environmentally sensitive and as a licensed. The boat is licensed to carry 40 passengers but we restrict the loading to 25 passengers, this avoids overcrowding and passengers can move freely around and enjoy there viewing of these gentle giants. Southern right charters offers boatbased hermanus whale watching tours from the new harbour in hermanus, the capital of the cape whale coast. Humpbacks and brydes whales are mostly spotted offshore from boats, but by far the most commonly sighted species, either from land or from a boat, is the southern right whale. Dolphin species to be found in south africa include bottlenose, humpback, common and dusky dolphins see whales and dolphins of south africa. Our guides and associates are among the best in the local industry and are always on hand to ensure that you experience the best and most. Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark. The 120 km transfer from cape town to hermanus takes you on the magnificent coastal route along clarence drive, past rugged mountains and sweeping bays.
Dec 24, 2015 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 cape town said. Travel to hermanus to see right whales off the coast or upgrade your tour with an optional whale watching cruise. Outside of whale season there is still a lot to be seen on any marine tour. Hermanus is a small yet bustling fishing town and the prime location for a whale watching holiday. Theres no better place than south africa to witness the seas most awesome creatures in action, and its topnotch restaurants, hotels, and culture round out the experience. South african whale watching boat tours with dyer island cruises. South africa is one of the top 10 locations worldwide for whale watching, with exceptional land and boatbased whale viewing from cape town and the garden route to the wild coast, richards bay and st lucia make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. Whale watching boat trips hermanus walker bay adventures.
Out of season we include a tour of the fernkloof botanical gardens. Description of wildlife safari and whale watching in south africa this short south africa whale watching tour starts in johannesburg and includes flights to cape town and transfers as shown. Whale watching in south africa is so popular that whales have joined the. These majestic giants migrate to the south african waters. Every year, the two oceans hermanus whale festival is held in south africa. Whales and dolphins of south africa oceans africa diving. Whale watching tour to hermanus, south africa book online. Take this opportunity to go whale watching from one of the best landbased viewing spots in the world, hermanus. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa. Giving you the best value for your money, we take you to south africa s beautiful whales and birds, without disturbing their natural behaviour.
Africa annually southern right whales migrate from the freezing feeding grounds of antarctica to warmer waters, reaching the south african coastline by about june, and staying through to november. Download this tours pdf brochure and start tour planning offline. South africa whale watching tour and african safari zicasso. The south coast of south africas western cape, now known as the whale route, offers great whale watching by boat and from land. A guide to whale watching in south africa featured. Get upcloseandpersonal to marine mammals in their natural environment experience the thrill of watching humpback whales lobtailing, southern right whales breaching, dolphins jumping and seals playing, and be awed by greatwhite sharks. You can download the full version of the infographic as a pdf document for your.
Whale watching in south africa travel guide audley travel. This whale watching tour is a full day, guided tour from cape town to hermanus. The beautiful whale route route departs from cape town and follows the scenic coastal drive via gordons bay, pringle bay and bettys bay to the whale watching town of hermanus. Boat based whale watching tour cape town south africa. 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. Make your way to south africas 2000km long whale coast for a privileged encounter with the largest mammals on earth. These magnificent animals can easily be viewed from the shoreline while you gently dip your toes in the ocean, but if you want to see something spectacular, hop on board a boat for a. Whale watching and marine big 5 tours in south africa 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. The most famous whale watching destination in south africa is in the overberg.
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