Why South Africa for whale watching?
Each year, between June and December, Southern Right Whales migrate from Antarctic feeding grounds to the sheltered bays of South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape to calve and mate. The cold, nutrient-rich Benguela current and a steep continental shelf bring whales remarkably close to shore — closer here than almost anywhere else in the world.
The best places to see whales in South Africa
- Hermanus (Walker Bay) — the world's premier land-based whale watching town and the home of our boat tours.
- Gansbaai — about 40 km east of Hermanus, also a Southern Right Whale stronghold.
- Plettenberg Bay — Humpbacks and Bryde's Whales along the Garden Route.
- False Bay (Cape Town) — winter Southern Right sightings from Muizenberg to Simon's Town.
Hermanus: the heart of South African whale watching
Walker Bay's calm waters, accessible harbour and dense whale population make Hermanus the easiest and most rewarding place to see whales in South Africa — whether from a boat, the famous Cliff Path, or from your guesthouse balcony. Our 1.5–2 hour boat-based whale watching tour departs from the New Harbour and gets you within the legal 50-metre approach distance of the whales (and often closer, when they choose to approach us).
Ready to plan your trip? Read our guide to the best time of year to visit, or book your tour now.