Western Cape Whale Tour

WESTERN CAPE WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING PACKAGE

Cape Town - Garden Route whale and dolphin whatching tour.
7 x nights ZAR 12 230 pp - group and self-drive rates on request.

This seven night whale and dolphin watching tour may be linked to any tours, packages and charters offered by Oceans Africa in the Cape Town and the Garden Route regions. Elements from this tour can of course be used to create your own custom tour.
Additional days may also be added to include cage diving in Gansbaai or extra time in Cape Town or along the Garden Route.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVAL CAPE TOWN
Activities: Arrival schedule dependant
Overnight: Simonstown - superior B&B
We welcome you to Cape Town - the Mother City as you are met at international arrivals and then transferred to your accommodation. Settle in and relax - you are now on holiday! Activities for the afternoon and evening can be arranged on arrival - schedule dependant.

DAY 2: DAY TOUR CAPE TOWN
Activities: Cape Point and close encounter whale tour.
Overnight: Simonstown - superior B&B
After breakfast we depart from Simonstown's historic harbour on a 2-3 hr boat-based whale watching charter. The 35ft catamaran “Whale Rider” is the only permit holder (licensed to approach whales to within 50m) in the entire western half of False Bay , and as such provides unparalleled opportunities for a close encounter with southern right whales. Afrter lunch in the Simonstown area we then take a scenic drive through the Cape Point Nature Reserve to Cape Point itself. As well as the great opportunities for land-based whale watching the spectacular Cape Point peninsular marks the official meeting point of two great oceans - look to the east for the Indian Ocean and to the west for the storm swept south Atlantic.

DAY 3: CAPE TOWN DAY TOUR
Activities: Whale tour and Cape Town City Tour.
Overnight: Simonstown - superior B&B
Once again we depart in the morning from Simonstown for a 2-3 hr charter. Today we are hoping for more close encounters with southern right whales, and the opportunity to see some different animals and behaviors.
We then take the spectacular Chapmans Peak drive as it carves and winds its way around the coastal cliffs to Hout Bay. From there we move into the city itself, and the Cape Town Waterfront. Here we visit the Maritime Museum specifically to view the salvaged artifacts from the troopship HMS Birkenhead which sank off Danger Point (our next destination) in 1852. Right next to the museum is the world famous Two Oceans Aquarium with spectacular exhibits representative of the diverse marine environments of South Africa .
Lunch may be taken in any number of fine restaurants on the waterfront or en-route.

DAY 4: CAPE TOWN - HERMANUS TOUR
Activities: Transfer and land-based whale watching.
Overnight: De Kelders - superior B&B 
After breakfast we take a leisurely coastal drive around Gordon's Bay to Hermanus - the land-based whale watching capital of South Africa . Lunch can be had in any of the local restaurants overlooking the bay. Ample time is allowed for land-based whale watching as the town is set upon a range of low coastal cliffs and the whales often lie in the shallows just beneath your feet.
In the afternoon we drop by one of the local vineyards (famous for their “crunchy” whites) on our way to our accommodation at De Kelders. After checking-in we take the short drive to the Danger Point Lighthouse for sundowners overlooking the ocean and the final resting place of the HMS Birkenhead . The Birkenhead struck the rock that now carries her name on the 26th Feb 1852 with the loss of 455 lives - all the women and children were saved as the officers and troops calmly lined up on deck to go down with their ship. Your accommodation for the night overlooks the rocky coves of De Kelders. A well kept local secret, De Kelders is a hot-spot for whale watching and tonight the nocturnal blows from these southern ocean giants may dissolve into your dreams as you slowly drift into sleep. The winter months also offer some of the best opportunities for diving with great white sharks. From De Kelders it is just a short hop to the cage diving centres in Gansbaai. Additional days cage diving may easily be included in your tour on request.
 
DAY 5: CAPE TOWN TO PLETTENBERG BAY
Activities: Transfer and flights to the Garden Route.
Overnight: Plettenberg Bay - superior B&B 
After a hearty breakfast we drive directly to Cape Town International and our 1 hr domestic flight to the Garden Route town of George . From George we travel through the Wilderness Lakes region to the Knysna Lagoon and then on to Plettenberg Bay where we settle in to our accommodation in time for sundowners on the beach. Alternatively a private flight may be arranged from George to Plettenberg Bay - Spot whales from the air and fly over some of the most spectaular coastlines in South Africa.

DAY 6: PLETTENBERG BAY DOLPHIN TOUR
Activities: Dolphin discovery charter.
Overnight: Plettenberg Bay - superior B&B
We've come to Plettenberg Bay because it provides some of the worlds best opportunities for observing large numbers of bottlenose dolphins in the wild.
After breakfast we head out to sea on a standard 2 hr dolphin discovery tour. We are specifically looking for the bottlenose dolphins (groups of upto 1000 at this time of year) and those spectacular photographic opportunities that only Plettenberg Bay can provide. Of course the southern right and humpback whales may also prove distracting.
Lunch can be had on the beach-front overlooking the bay and the afternoon is left open for a wide choice of activities (not included as prices vary) from scuba diving and bungi jumping to simply relaxing.

DAY 7: PLETTENBERG BAY TOUR
Activities: Centre for dolphin Studies.
Overnight: Plettenberg Bay - superior B&B
Today we join the Centre for Dolphin Studies and Prof. Vic Cockcroft, for a unique opportunity to observe current whale and dolphin research in progress. This is your chance to speak to the experts and receive up-to-date information on species behaviors, biology and conservation status. Current projects focus on humpback whales, Bryde's whales, bottlenose dolphins and humpback dolphins. Once again the afternoon is left free for you to spend as you please.

DAY 8: TOUR END
Activities: Transfer out.
Transfer to George Airport or Port Elizabeth for flights to Cape Town or Johannesburg
(Exit flights not inc.)

Price Excludes: International flights. All meals meals and refreshments except breakfast  . Personal expenses   . All equipment hire . Medical and Travel insurance . Anything else you can think of.
Price Includes: All transport, transfers and vehicle hire (excl. fuel) where applicable . Domestic flights where stated . Accommodation and breakfast . All park and entrance fees.
Terms and Conditions: Accommodation is based 2 persons sharing . Prices are correct at time of posting but may change at any time without notice . Group rates and self-drive options available on application . Payment in full secures booking