South Africa · HERMANUS WHALE WATCHING IN CAPE TOWN

15 Hermanus Whale Watching in Cape Town to Build a Day Around

27 tours  ·  from $52

Good hermanus whale watching in Cape Town fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip - The early drive from Cape Town to Gansbaai
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From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

1.Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 378 reviews · 7 hours · from $221Our pick

Travel from Cape Town to Gansbaai, then cruise toward Hermanus and De Kelders on a speedboat limited to 25 people. Look for Southern Right Whales, humpbacks, dolphins, seals, penguins, and orcas, with guides, hotel transfers, drinks, and snacks included.

“The trip was absolutely incredible! It was organized with such attention to detail that every moment felt special. I was especially thrilled with our driver, Tyrone—he was even better than the guide! During our drives, he found the most stunning photo stops and captivated us with fascinating local stories. And can you believe it? We even got to see penguins waddling in their natural habitat! But the highlight of the adventure? Whale watching! After years of waiting, I finally spotted a whale! It was such an exhilarating experience!”

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From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch - Three hours near Shark Alley
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From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

2.Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 184 reviews · 1 day · from $168

Join White Shark Ventures from Kleinbaai Harbour for a full day at sea near Shark Alley. A shark expert such as Weehaan explains the animals, while you take turns in a four or five person cage. Breakfast, lunch, wetsuits, drinks, and hot showers are included. Great whites are possible, not guaranteed.

“Overall good - very nice service. But not many shark whne we was on the sea”

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From Cape Town: Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour - Rotary Way and the view over Hermanus
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From Cape Town: Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour

3.Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 155 reviews · from $51Best value

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus in a small group of up to 18, with an English-speaking guide such as Louis or Brahm. Expect a scenic coastal drive, Rotary Way views, free time in Hermanus, an urban tasting of Hemel-en-Aarde wines, and a stop at Peregrine Farm Stall. Whale cruises are optional and seasonal.

“Brahm our Guide was incredible! Although no whales seen it was an interesting and knowledgeable trip!”

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From Cape Town: Full Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour - The road from Cape Town to the coast
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From Cape Town: Full-Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour

4.Full-Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 119 reviews · 1 day · from $120

Travel from Cape Town in a small group of up to eight with a registered English, French, or German-speaking guide. Visit Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Hermanus, Elgin, and Sir Lowry’s Pass, with time for shore-based whale watching and an optional boat trip.

“Nice trip. Hermanas is lovely. Nice coastline. Unfortunately no whales and no boats as it was windy. Still a beautiful place”

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From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai - Grabouw and the Peregrine Farm Stall
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From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

5.Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 110 reviews · 2 hours · from $249

Join Ivanhoe Sea Safaris for a full-day Cape Town outing to Gansbaai, with a 2-hour whale-watching boat trip, coastal stops, Hermanus time, and a Peregrine Farm Stall visit. Guides such as Neil, Bruce, and Muammer are praised for local insight and flexible routing.

“Fab day with Neil our guide. He was so informative, friendly and professional. Our original trip was cancelled at the last minute due to rough sea but the company managed to book us on a trip from Hermanus for the same day. There is nothing about the trip I would change.”

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Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town - What happens when the sea is rough
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Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town

6.Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · from $242

Leave Cape Town around 6:30 am in a private vehicle with a guide such as Samson, Danny, or Barnabas. Take a shared 2 to 3-hour whale boat from Hermanus, visit Stony Point penguins, and stop at a wine estate such as Benguela Cove or Creation. Lunch and wine fees cost extra.

“Great driver (Pedro), saw lots of whales despite being at the end of the season. The tour company were helpful and were flexible to arrangements”

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From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour - Starting in Cape Town with several pickup choices
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From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour

7.Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 30 reviews · 8h 30m · from $68

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus with an English-speaking guide, stopping at Rotary Way for Walker Bay views, enjoying free time and an urban wine tasting, and visiting Peregrine Farm Store. Whale cruises are optional, seasonal, and best booked ahead for noon.

“Entertaining and informative guide. Just the right amount of time in beautiful Hermanus.”

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Hermanus Whale Watching Day Trip from Cape Town - Watching whales from Hermanus shore
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Hermanus Whale Watching Day Trip from Cape Town

8.Hermanus Whale Watching Day Trip from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 29 reviews · from $101

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus for seasonal Southern Right Whale sightings from shore, free time in town, and a wine tasting at Bouchard Finlayson Winery. An optional boat trip costs extra. On Sundays, the winery is closed, so the tour includes Stoney Point penguins instead.

“A full day tour that brought us to many scenic places along the coast, with a 2hour boat ride out to catch the whales basking in the sun, followed by a yummy lunch in a quaint village. A perfect day!”

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Boat Based Whale Watching from Hermanus - The On-Land Briefing With Paul Polano
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Boat Based Whale Watching from Hermanus

9.Boat Based Whale Watching from Hermanus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $287

Meet whale specialist Paul Polano for an on-land briefing before boarding a purpose-built catamaran at Hermanus New Harbour. Over about six hours, watch for southern right, humpback, and Bryde’s whales, plus dolphins and seals. Transport, water, light refreshments, and a support crew are included.

“Paul was an exceptional guide during our boat-based whale watching tour in South Africa. His knowledge about the marine life and whales was both fascinating and educational. His professionalism and friendly demeanor added so much to our adventure.”

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Whale Watching Hermanus - Boat base - What the two hours on water really mean
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Whale Watching Hermanus – Boat base

10.Whale Watching Hermanus – Boat base

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $228

Leave Cape Town at 10:00 a.m. in a luxury vehicle for Hermanus, traveling along scenic Clarens Drive. After snacks and bottled water, spend about two hours on a whale boat in Walker Bay, then explore Hermanus before returning. The vehicle carries a small group, but the boat may be much larger.

“The boat was far too small for the number of people take onboard... much too small especially since the weather was not good and the seas were rough bouncing passengers around, many got seasick and there was no way for all to sit and get away from the vomit.... waveRead more”

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Cape Agulhas, Hermanus & Stoney point Penguins full Day Tour - Stony Point and the African penguins
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Cape Agulhas, Hermanus & Stoney point Penguins full Day Tour

11.Cape Agulhas, Hermanus & Stoney point Penguins full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 10 hours · from $224

Spend 10 hours with a private English- or French-speaking guide, visiting Stony Point penguins, Hermanus, Elim, and Cape Agulhas. Taste Pinot noir and Chardonnay in Hemel en Aarde, climb South Africa’s second-oldest lighthouse, and return to Cape Town by hotel transfer.

“Absolutely wonderful day. Xochitle was an amazing guide who now feels like a friend. She arranged for a wonderful lunch at Hermanus, showed us all the sights, and just overall is a lovely person. Yes, it was a very long day, but welll planned. I highly recommend this tour.”

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1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein - Boarding Meganova, a fast RIB limited to 10 people
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1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein

12.1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $331

Leave Yzerfontein Harbour at 6:30 am aboard Meganova, a high-performance RIB limited to 10 people. Whale specialists and skippers such as Ash and Jacques search for humpbacks, dolphins, seals, and seabirds, with breakfast snacks, drinks, protective clothing, and a picnic lunch included.

“Amazing trip I'd highly recommend, especially photographers! Small groups of people which makes the trip so much nicer. Although we didn't get to see a super group, we saw a lone juvenile Humpback and then a mother with her calf. PleRead more”

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Hermanus Whale Watching & Penguins Shared Tour from Cape Town - Setting out from New Harbour
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Hermanus Whale Watching & Penguins Shared Tour from Cape Town

13.Hermanus Whale Watching & Penguins Shared Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 14 reviews · from $144

Leave Cape Town early for Hermanus, where a Whale Specialist leads a 2 to 3 hour boat trip in search of southern right whales. After lunch at your own cost, visit Stony Point’s African penguin colony. Shared transport, fuel, water, and both entry fees are included.

“We have just returned from our trip to Hermanus to see the whales All I can say is wow My wife and I never expected to see so many and so up close to the boat . We felt so privileged to witness the Whales with the new calves passing by. ThRead more”

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Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus with Hotel Pickup - Three hours on the water near Hermanus
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Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus with Hotel Pickup

14.Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $215

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with guide Tingo, then head out by boat to look for southern right and humpback whales. You can add lunch or a stop at Betty’s Bay, where a large penguin colony gathers. The full outing takes about 6 to 8 hours.

“Timbers made this experience one for the books for sure, the scenic view, the dinner, the whales, the penguins and the laughs he made this experience perfect from beginning to end! We are excited to do it again in the future for sure!”

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Whale Watching Tour from Cape Town - The 8:00 am start from Cape Town
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Whale Watching Tour from Cape Town

15.Whale Watching Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · from $100

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus with a professional guide, stopping at Pringle Bay, Gordon's Bay, Betty's Bay, Harold Porter Botanical Garden, and Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Watch Southern Right Whales from shore, then add a boat trip at your own cost if space is available.

“A very scenic drive along the coast to Hermanus along with a visit to a penguin colony and a, winery tour before lunch and then a great two hours of constant whale sightseeing from the tour boat Highly recommend this tour”

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New in Hermanus Whale Watching in Cape Town

★ 5.0Whale Wonders: Majestic Marine Adventures in HermanusFrom $2433 reviews
★ 4.5Private Tour: Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip from Cape TownFrom $1765 reviews
★ 5.0Hermanus Whale Coast Wine Tour (Cape To Grape Wine Tours)From $1503 reviews
★ 5.0Hermanus Whale Watching and Wine TastingFrom $2353 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour: Hermanus- Boat Based Whale Watching ExperienceFrom $3704 reviews
★ 3.2Hermanus Whale Watching TourFrom $2185 reviews

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