How to get to a whale of a time from cape town international airport car 45 minutes free parking is available. Hermanus whale watching is renowned for the most prolific whale viewing experience in the world. This fishing village less than 2 hours away from cape town is the ideal spot for whale watching. Every year, southern right whales take a vacation in cape waters, treating cape town locals to a display of breaching, fluking, spouting, and spyhopping. With two oceans and an abundance of natural diversity to explore, seeing whales in cape town is. There are several reputable and responsible boat companies in simons town, such as simons town boat company, that take regular whale viewing trips throughout the season. Whale watching in cape town bayview guest house and self.
Whale watching season, boat trips in hermanus, south. Contrary to what many may think, whale watching in cape town can be pursued just around the corner from mother city. But where is the best place to see whales, cape town. There are three types of whales usually sighted in false bay southern right, humpbacks and brydes. Take this opportunity to go whale watching from one of the best landbased viewing spots in the world, hermanus.
Dead whale closes popular south african beach amid shark. The marvelously pretty seaside town of hermanus is situated in the western cape of south africa a short drive of 90mins from cape town and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches, majestic mountain ranges, award winning wine regions, wonderful wildlife species and incredible coastal scenery in. A marine reserve encompassing the waters directly in front of the twelve apostles affords the hotels guests with frequent whale and dolphin sightings. Whale watching south africa humpbacks, southern rights. Whale and bird watching what you can expect a typical trip with dyer island cruises. 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. The cape whale route is a 900kilometrelong stretch of coastline that extends from strandfontein near muizenberg to plettenberg bay in the southern cape. The best whalewatching spots in the cape the inside guide. Whale watching and marine big 5 tours in south africa. Whale watching season in hermanus cape towns unique no. 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.
Apartment a whale of a time, fish hoek, south africa. 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. But there are other places closer to cape town as well. 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. Whale watching in cape town south africa travel news. No trip to the table bay hotel in cape town during whale season is complete without a hermanus whale watching experience. The best time for watching the southern right whale in south african waters is from june to november along the cape south coast, although some will already be as far north as kwazulunatal. This whale watching tour is a full day, guided tour from cape town to hermanus. 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. The property offers free parking, and cape town international airport is 16 mi away. At least 37 species of whales and dolphins can be found in the waters off south africa.
During the months of may to december the waters off the eastern cape play host to a number of visitors. Cape town people, geography, activities and tourist information about cape town from oceans africa. For those with interests other than birdwatching, there is another exciting world to experience in cape town and the rest of south africa. Within minutes there seemed to be whales all around us. 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. Even though cape town and specifically the overberg holds rank for the countrys best southern right whale watching, you may also be lucky. Now that you understand a bit more about the whales, where are the best places to see them during whale season. The month of september marks the beginning of the whale festival that celebrates the migration of whales with several music and food tasting events. 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. Only a two hour drive from cape town, this little town is the heart of the whale route. 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.
We have chosen a few of our favourite activities that we believe will give you a wider appreciation and greater enjoyment of south africa. The tour offers you the best of both landbased and boatbased whale watching in the western cape. 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. Join us on a wonderful cape town day trip marine safari that takes us to see the mighty southern wright whale. Dog friendly accommodation in cape town cape town with its incredible mountain, weather.
The curious humpback whale can be seen between may to december, moving up along the coast from hermanus to st lucia in kwazulunatal. Whale watching tour cape town hermanus gansbaai whale and dolphin watching tour. The brydes whale was spotted floating in the water at sonwabi beach on tuesday, but by wednesday. Heading out to sea will give you a spectacular new perspective on the cape point coastline, and increase your chances of seeing whales. Ivanhoe sea safaris is universally regarded as the leading boatbased whale watching company in south africa, near hermanus and operate from gansbaai harbour. Where to go dolphin and whale watching in cape town 12. From july to december the pods of whales grace the shores of southern africa.
Best place to watch cape town whales false bay simonstown. A whale of a time guest house is famous for viewing whales right in front of the property. The peak time, when daily sightings are virtually guaranteed, is during september and october. Cape town a metre long whale carcass was towed away from a cape flats beach on wednesday. Not only are the likes of otters and dolphins regular visitors but this is when the humpback whales and southern right whales arrive. We also boast one of the limited whale watching permits allocated country wide. Id love to do some whale watching while there but i understand that march isnt a very good time for it. 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. Watch the worlds gentle giants of the deep frolic in waters of walker bay. Interesting activities in and around cape town and south africa. You will also enjoy a wine tasting at bouchard finlayson wine estate. Whale watching in south africa home brand south africa.
Approximately an hour and a half away from cape town is the seaside town of hermanus. 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. The route traverses several famous protected areas, including the garden route, tsitsikamma national park, and the transkei. The whales produce a low frequency sound much to the delight of our guests who have visited our guest home over the past 22 years. Accommodation gordons bay, cape town whale views luxury. Whale watchers whale tours the inside guide cape town. Only three hours out of cape town, explore the beautiful, diverse and fynbosfilled nature reserve, breathing in the salty sea air and staying at. Officials are beginning the giant task of removing a dead humpback whale that washed ashore at strand beach in cape town. A guide to whale watching in south africa flight centre uk. Cape town whale watching south africa whale watching. Whale watching in the western cape south africa travel news.
South africa may be known for its big five, but the marine wildlife is just as impressive. 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. Spend a day whale watching and wine tasting on this private fullday trip to hermanus from cape town. Is there any possibilities for whale watching around cape town area in march. Whale watching is one of the major attractions of the western cape. You are here south africa travel news activities bitten by the whale watching bug. Here are some of our ideas for whale watching between august and november. Board dreamcatcher our 5 star, custombuilt whale watching vessel. A popular holiday destination for tourists and locals alike, hermanus is hailed as offering the best land based whale watching in the world. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of the world hermanus, launching from gansbaai. They visit each year between june to early december to mate, calve. The 30 best weekend getaways from cape town get the inside scoop get the inside guide delivered straight to your inbox, and never miss out on whats hot in cape town.
See migrating southern right whales off the coast of hermanus from june through mid december. Cape town whale watching whale viewing simons town. 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. 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. 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 best close encounters, purpose. Sometimes they arrive earlier and stay later, with prime whale watching. Further south, the town of hermanus in walker bay on the cape south coast offers possibly the best landbased whalewatching in the world. 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. Best time for whale watching in south africa rhino africa. Whale watching is offered by various companies in the area. Speak to the concierge or travel desk about organising hermanus boat charters, which promise the possibility of seeing not only southern right whales, but dolphins, seals and otters too. These majestic giants migrate to the south african waters.
The carcass of the fourmetre whale came ashore overnight and lodged on a reef. Capetourism has a collection of photos of the whales and great white sharks in. Hermanus whale watching near cape town, gansbaai in south. We specialize in boat based whale watching and we pride ourselves in offering a uniquely personalized service to all our clients. Hermanus about two hours outside of cape town along the garden route, hermanus is famous for its whale watching. We dont realise how lucky we are in south africa, and in particular the western cape, to have the mightiest of the. Peak calving season is july and august, but whales can be seen through september and october. Whalewatching 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. 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.
Whale watching offers the opportunity to take to the open waters to see natures giants frolic in false bay and gansbaai. 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. Just a 2 hour drive from cape town to the whale capital of. If you happen to find yourself in, or around cape town between june and november, do make sure to look out for whales. Heres what you need to know about whale watching in cape town.
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