Whale and Dolphin Watching Cape Town
Whale Watching Cape Town
“They watched the whales float in the murk, blowing spray into the air. After a minute, the mother showed them her eye again, unblinking and huge. Then she and her calf dipped back under the surface. It was an impossible thing: so many tons of flesh, disappearing in an instant.”
― Robbie Arnott, Limberlost
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Join us on a Whale Watching Cape Town tour!
Come whale watching in Cape Town with Oceans Africa! As a Cape Town based company, we have been crafting specialist whale watching tours in South Africa and Mozambique for over 20 years. Having worked the in the whale watching industry in guide and skipper roles, we know the industry from the inside – so let us help you plan your whale watching tour in the Cape Town area.
Whale Watching Cape Town
Watch Whales & Dolphins in Cape Town
Cape Town, with its spectacular coastline and rich marine biodiversity, is one of the world’s premier destinations for whale and dolphin watching.
The convergence of ocean currents and up-welling makes Cape Town a hot-spot for cetacean sightings, while the geographic location of the city marks the intersection of various whale migration routes.
Whale watching opportunities in Cape Town are year-round. Whether you’re a seasoned whale watcher or a curious first-timer, Cape Town offers many different options to observe these magnificent animals from land, boat and air.
From Yserfontein to Table Bay and south to False Bay, Cape Point and the Southern Peninsula this guide will explore the best places, times, and species of whales to watch in Cape Town, including information on the spectacular phenomenon of humpback whale supergroups feeding in the summer months.
Whale Watching Seasons
Best time to watch whales in Cape Town?
Southern right whales arrive in large numbers during the winter months from June to November. These whales migrate from the southern ocean to the South African coast to calve and suckle their young in warmer waters.
Southern right whales reach their peak numbers in September and October. The Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit, conducts annual aerial surveys, documenting the impressive recovery southern right whale stocks, estimating a population of approximately 6,500 southern right whales that visit South African waters.
As well as the winter migratory whales there are also frequent observations of southern right whales along the west coast during the summer months and sightings of this feeding population seem to peak in Table Bay in February and March.
Humpback whales may be found in Cape Town’s waters throughout the year and can be divided into two distinct types – migrating humpbacks and feeding humpbacks. The migrating humpback whales travel as much as 8000km during their northern migration in May, June and July, returning past the Cape coast anytime between October and December.
The phenomenon of feeding humpback whales can result in supergroup gatherings along the west coast between Cape Point and and St Helena Bay which may occur anytime from November to February – more on this below!
This winter (2024) has also seen multiple feeding humpback whales feeding in False Bay – a phenomenon first noticed in 2019. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a regular occurrence over the next few years.
Bryde’s whales are residents of South African waters and can be found year-round, although sightings are more common in the late summer months when these whales can be seen feeding on bait fish in False Bay and around the Cape Peninsula.
Whale Watching Cape Town to Hermanus Day Tour
Whale Watching Cape Town Tour
Join Oceans Africa for a fully guided whale watching tour from Cape Town to Hermanus. This full day tour offers you the best of both land-based and boat-based whale watching in the Western Cape.
Best Whale Watching Areas
Where to watch whales in Cape Town?
Cape Town is a city defined by mountains and surrounded by the sea, so almost any tour of the Cape will take you to a potential whale-watching area. For simplicity it’s easiest to think of the city divided in to two main whale watching areas:
False Bay, on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, lies in the lea of the prevailing westerly winds in winter. The bay is a prime location for whale watching and is particularly known for sightings of southern right whales and humpback whales during the winter months while Bryde’s whales are found throughout the year.
Table Bay, Robben Island and the Atlantic seaboard are all accessed by boat from the Cape Town Waterfront and are overlooked by the Table Mountain and the City.
While the Table Bay is open to the full force of winter cold fronts it is often the best location for whale watching during the summer months when prevailing SE winds plague the False Bay side.
Whale Watching Simonstown
Land-based and boat based options
Simonstown on the False Bay side of the Cape South Peninsula is a town rich in naval and whaling history.
The coastal drive to Simostown passes many elevated view points overlooking the bay. Take the high road over Boyes Drive for views over Kalk Bay towards Seal Island and continue further south all the way to the Cape Point nature reserve.
Boat tours in False Bay depart from Simonstown’s sheltered harbour and marina offering close encounter whale watching tours, scuba diving and Cape Point charters as well as the opportunity to see other marine life such as dolphins, the seals at Seal Island and the penguins at Boulders Beach.
Exclusive Cape Point Boat Trip
Private Boat Charter
Visit Cape Point and explore the many sea caves and coves of the cape peninsular when you book this amazing Cape Point boat charter with Oceans Africa .
Whale Watching Hout Bay
Hout Bay & Chapmans Peak
Hout Bay, on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, is another spectacular location for whale and dolphin watching in Cape Town. The sheltered bay and harbour allows safe anchorage and boat access to this most beautiful stretch of coastline.
Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way around the coastal cliffs to the south of Hout Bay. Widely regarded and one of the world most scenic coastal drives the 9km route features many lay-bys and viewpoints overlooking the ocean . These elevated positions offer breathtaking views over the bay and spectacular sunsets, so take your binoculars and spend some time on this world famous scenic route!
Boat tours from Hout Bay Harbour offer all year round whale watching options as well as a high sucess rate of finding dusky, common and Heavyside’s dolphins. This stretch of coastline is also one of the hotspots for feeding humpback whales in summer.
Feeding Whale Supergroups
Humpback Whale Supergroups
The humpback whale supergroup feeding phenomenon has only recently caught global attention. It seems that the increase in humpback whale populations over the last two decades has seen a return to the feeding grounds of the Benguela upwelling system.
It is now possible to find humpback whales in Summer months almost anywhere along the West Coast, between Cape Point and St Helena Bay.
These groups of feeding whales can quite quickly build from a gathering of only a few animals into super-groups, comprising as many as 200 whales!
Thought to be among the largest gatherings of Humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere, the sight of these massive creatures lunging, diving and tailing in unison, amidst a frenzy of seabirds and seals is one of the most spectacular marine life spectacles there is.
These feeding aggregations can occur anywhere there are high prey concentrations of krill and mantis shrimp, as the whales engage in coordinated feeding marked by lunges, bubble blowing, repetitive diving and the distinctly fishy aroma of whale breath hanging in the air!
Although difficult to predict there are a few areas that are regarded as hot-spots, notably the Dassen Island to Robben Island area and the stretch of coast from Lllanduno to Hout Bay, Kommetjie and Cape Point.
Dolphin Watching Cape Town
Dolphin encounters Cape Town
Dolphins can be found the year round in Cape Town and there are more different species of dolphin found here than any other location in South Africa.
False Bay marks the Eastern edge of the inshore Bottlenose and Humpback dolphin ranges. While Common dolphins are the most frequently found dolphin with large groups of over 500 animals around the cape peninsular and Table Bay where they hunt for shoals of anchovy and sardine.
Other species of dolphin found in Cape Town include, Heavyside’s dolphins which are endemic to the Cape and the energetic and inquisitive dusky dolphins.
Whale Watching Tours & Boat Charters
Choose your whale watching tour or boat charter!
Oceans Africa specialise in whale watching tours and private boat charters throughout Southern Africa. Select a whale watching tour or charter experience from the options below and request rates and availability for your dates or send us an e-mail and we can create a whale watching tour package for you.
Whale Watching Tour Cape Town
Whale Watching Tour Cape Town Cape Town Whale Watching Full Day Tour Enquire Now Boat and land -based whale watching day tour Cape Town Full day
Whale Watching Day Tour Cape Town – Hermanus
Whale Watching Day Tour Cape Town to Hermanus Whale Watching Tour Boat and land -based whale watching day tour Cape Town – Hermanus – Cape
Sunset Cruise Cape Town
Sunset Cruise Cape Town Sunset cruises and private charters, Simonstown & Kalk Bay, Cape Town Enquire Now Book a private Sunset Cruise Cape Town with
Cape Point Ocean Safari
Cape Point Ocean Safari Explore Cape Point by Sea on our boat Sea Otter Book Now Join us for an extraordinary journey with our Cape