Why Go Whale Watching in South Africa with Apex Shark Expeditions?

Craving an unforgettable adventure? Apex Shark Expeditions facilitates premier whale watching in South Africa, with boat tours from Cape Town and Gansbaai (just 3hours from Cape Town). From June to November, Southern Right and humpback whales grace our coasts, with Bryde’s whales spotted year-round. A 2025 Mammal Research Institute (MRI) survey estimates 6,500 Southern Right whales in South African waters, growing 6.5% annually.

Our licensed tours, compliant with the Biodiversity Act, let you witness these gentle giants ethically. Let’s explore!

What Makes Cape Town the Best Spot for Whale Watching in South Africa?

Cape Town’s unique coastline, flanked by False Bay and Table Bay, is a whale watching hotspot. Southern Right whales migrate here from June to November to breed, with 1,176 recorded in 2024, including 568 mother-calf pairs (MRI, 2025). Humpbacks dazzle from May to December, with the supergroups, (where they gather in large numbers for feeding), typically arrive in Cape Town between November and February, primarily on the west coast between Cape Point and St Helena Bay. Migrating humpbacks may be seen along the Cape coast between October and December, While Bryde’s whales feed in False Bay year-round. Key viewing spots include:

• False Bay: Spot whales from Boyes Drive or Simon’s Town, 30–40 km from Cape Town.
• Table Bay: See humpbacks feeding in summer (February–March) from Waterfront boats.
• Hout Bay: Offers sheltered tours , 20 km from the city center of Cape Town.

A 2025 Deloitte study notes 70% of tourists prioritize ethical tours. Our Fair Trade-certified trips ensure minimal disturbance, per Threatened Species Regulations.

Which Whales Can You See on Cape Town Whale Watching Tours?

Our tours showcase South Africa’s marine giants, each with unique traits:

• Southern Right Whales: Known for callosities and V-shaped blows, they weigh 47 tons and breed in Cape Town’s bays (June–November).
• Humpback Whales: Famous for breaching, these 56-ton whales migrate May–December, with 30,000 in South African waters (National Geographic, 2025).
• Bryde’s Whales: Sleek and shy, they feed year-round, especially in late summer, per ecoflow.com.

Expect dolphins, Cape fur seals, and African penguins, too, add a shark cage diving encounter, and get the Marine Big 5 experience.

Why Choose Apex Shark Expeditions for Whale Watching in South Africa?

Since 1996, Apex Shark Expeditions has led Cape Town’s marine tours industry with a passion for conservation. Our strengths include:

• Expertise: Guides trained by marine biologists, sharing insights on whale and marine life behavior.
• Conservation: Data shared supports MRI whale population research.
• Safety: Blue Flag vessels with public liability insurance, per Biodiversity Act.
• Guest Feedback: “Unforgettable tour with humpback breaches!” – Cape Town visitor, April 2025.

The Gansbaai base, near De Kelders’ cliffs, offers immediate whale access, unlike crowded Hermanus tours.

Experience the unforgettable spectacle of whale watching in Cape Town, where you can witness these majestic mammals and their annual migratory patterns in some of the best viewing spots along the coast. For thrill-seekers, we also offer Gansbaai shark tours and exhilarating cage shark diving in Cape Town, giving you the chance to come face-to-face with the ocean’s most formidable predators. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the rich marine biodiversity of the kelp forest in Cape Town, a truly unique underwater ecosystem.

• Location
  Simon’ s Town or Hout Bay| Hermanus | Gansbaai
• Meeting
  Time to be confirmed the day before
• Transfers
  Door to door transfers arranged upon request
• Duration
  2- 3 hours at sea
• Guest Numbers
  20 – 65 guests maximum
• Water Visibility
  7 – 65 feet
• Videographer
  No
• Includes
  Light refreshments

Best spots for whale watching near Cape Town

Simon’s Town

A mere 45 minutes from Cape Town is Simon’s Town, the departure point for the False Bay whale watching trip. False Bay is a calm, sheltered haven for some of these ocean giants from on our planet: Southern Right, Humpback and Brydes whales. Whilst Brydes whales are all-year-round residents, it’s the migratory Southern Right and Humpback whales that are the stars of the whale watching tours. This is because they are naturally curious, offer good surface active and very often display their natural exuberance by lob tailing, sailing and breaching.

Gansbaai

Situated under 3 hours from Cape Town, Dyer Island is located 8 km from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including African penguins. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 strong Cape fur seal colony. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world famous ‘Shark Alley’.  We will take you to the whale hot-spots in the bay.  With over a decade of experience, not only do we know where to expect the best whale viewings, but the whales have also learned where to expect us!

Simon’s Town

She was custom built by South Africa’s foremost boat builder and every stage of the process was inspected and approved by SAMSA. Passenger safety, comfort, shelter and unobstructed viewing areas are unparalleled.

Gansbaai

Dreamcatcher was the first boat in South Africa to be designed specifically for whale watching. It is extremely comfortable and spacious, with two on-board toilets, observation deck, PA system and even a hydrophone! She complies with all the safety regulations set out by the marine authorities.

When Is the Best Time for Whale Watching in Cape Town?

Peak whale watching season is June to November, with September–October ideal for Southern Right whale mother-calf pairs. Humpbacks are visible May–February while Bryde’s whales offer year-round sightings. A 2025 MRI report notes summer humpback “super groups” in Table Bay, peaking February–March. Early morning tours when winds are calmer, maximize sightings, per sa-venues.com.

The Southern Right whales usually arrive in June and depart late November. Humpbacks migrate through the region between May to mid-February, while the Brydes whales are found slightly further offshore all year round.

All three areas are most famous for encounters with Southern Right, Humpback whales, and several coastal dolphin species. You can also see African penguins, Cape fur seals, black oystercatcher birds and a variety of other marine life.

• Guided Whale Tour
  Qualified Whale watching guides are especially trained for this very experience you are about to book. They are passionate and eager to share their knowledge with you, of not only the whales, but all the marine wildlife you will encounter on your whale tour.
• Light Refreshments
• Weather Jacket (select operators)

• Dress in layers as it can get very chilly at sea. We advise a warm weather jacket, sneakers or closed shoes, a beanie and a hat/cap.
• Polarized sunglasses – these really help to block the glare thereby increasing sightings of the whales from the boat. They also provide protection from harmful UV rays.
• Water Bottle
• Lip-ice and Sunscreen SPF 50 – the African sun is beautiful but harsh
• Camera of course! GoPro’s are great for stills and video. Bring an extra SD card. You’re going to need it!
• If you are prone to motion sickness, we recommend Sturgeon or Dramamine. Take one the night before your trip and another an hour before the meet time.
• For your own enjoyment of the trip, we recommend that you do not over indulge in alcohol the night before as this may result in being very sea sick the next day.

Simon’s Town

Hermanus

Gansbaai