Rate for the 2025 Season (11 Jan to 14 Dec 2025)
Embark on an Unforgettable Journey Along South Africa’s Scenic Whale Coast
Join us for a once in a lifetime day tour from Cape Town to the exquisite town of Hermanus, South Africa’s whale-watching capital. This excursion will give you the most unbelievable coastal views, encounters with inquisitive marine life, and a tantalising taste of the region’s famously rich biodiversity.
Tour Highlights
Price Includes
Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
Professional guide
Entrance fees to Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and Stony Point Penguin Colony
Wine tasting session
Price Excluded
Meals and beverages
Optional boat-based whale watching tour
Included Activities
Browse Hout Bay Harbour
Curve Along Chapman’s Peak Drive
Cape of Good Hope Hike and entry fee
Walk along Boulder’s free Wallis Walk to see the penguins
Coastal Joyride Along Muizenberg
Note
Whale sightings are seasonal and most frequent between June and November
Your day begins with a convenient morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town or Stellenbosch, as you leave the city behind and head towards the dramatic coastline of the Southern Cape.
With the Atlantic Ocean glinting in the bight morning sunlight to one side and the majestic mountains on the other, this early morning drive is a highlight in itself.
Your first stop is the charming seaside town of Hermanus, well known for being one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world.
If you are visiting between July and November, the bay comes alive as the southern right and humpback whales come close and are often seen breaching near the shore.
One of the best ways to see the whales is by taking a stroll along the clifftop paths or joining an optional boat tour, which will get you even closer to the action. There are very few experiences to rival the bone-shuddering excitement of seeing a whale rise from the waves.
Even if you are travelling outside of whale season, Hermanus has plenty to offer, including its rich coastal biodiversity and the option of joining a Marine Big 5 Eco Cruise in nearby Gansbaai, where dolphins, seals, penguins, and even sharks can be spotted.
After a leisurely lunch in town, your journey continues along another of South Africa’s most stunning routes.
If time permits, you’ll visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, a floral paradise home to over 1,600 plant species, including iconic proteas and rare Disa orchids.
You should keep an eye out for wildlife like tortoises or the elusive African black duck as you meander through this peaceful setting.
Next, you’ll stop at Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay, home to a protected colony of endangered African penguins. Watching these delightful birds waddle along the rocks, tend to their nests, or dive into the sea from the boardwalks, is a real joy. Here you will get the rare opportunity to observe them up close without disturbing their natural behaviour.
To end the day on a high note, you’ll travel along Clarence Drive, a jaw-dropping stretch of coastal road that winds between the Kogelberg Mountains and the ocean. This 21-kilometre scenic drive from Rooi Els to Gordon’s Bay is packed with panoramic viewpoints and endless photo opportunities.
By early evening, you’ll arrive back in Cape Town, your camera full and your spirit refreshed, with a deepened appreciation for the raw beauty of South Africa’s Western Cape coastline.
