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Garden Route Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Garden Route Cruises & boat tours

Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

1. Plettenberg Bay: Whale Watching Boat Cruise

Start your 2-hour adventure with an adrenaline beach launch into the sea on a 400 horsepower speedboat. The purpose-built cat style boat has been designed to conquer the ocean without compromising on safety or comfort. Knowledgeable guides and skippers will treat you to close encounters with some of the whales that visit the shores during the months of June to November. You could be graced with sightings of the Southern Right Whale in the Bay or Humpback Whales travelling along the coastline. You may experience the joy of seeing them breach or even view a mother and calf as they enjoy the safety the bay offers. Take a closer look at a vast seal colony and the many pelagic and coastal birds. Other possible sightings include sharks, big fish, penguins, and octopus in their natural habitat.

Knysna: Sunset Lagoon Cruise

2. Knysna: Sunset Lagoon Cruise

End a hot summer's day on the Garden Route with a relaxing cruise around Knysna Lagoon. Bring family or friends along on this scenic adventure among the beautiful Outeniqua Mountains. Admire privileged views of the sunset and come across a variety of wildlife. Set sail in Knysna and navigate around the quiet lagoon for the unique chance to experience the ocean in an intimate way. Become mesmerized by the exquisite views of the lagoon, framed by the beautiful town with the mountains as a backdrop. Discover breathtaking bays and vistas as the sun sets, from the magnificent Knysna estuary to the famous Heads and back. Choose the option with food included to enjoy delicious snacks, drinks, and oysters during your experience.

Gansbaai: Shark Dive & Whale Watching Combo Boat Trip

3. Gansbaai: Shark Dive & Whale Watching Combo Boat Trip

Take advantage of a combo package that features 2 incredible activities which can be split over 2 days if you'd prefer.  Shark Dive Begin the adventure with the shark cage dive which takes place off the coast of Dyer Island, roughly 15 minutes by boat from Kleinbaai Harbour. Discover how this island is home to a colony of over 50 000 Cape Fur seals – the great white shark's favorite food and primary source of nutrition. Arrive at the channel of the ocean which runs between Dyer Island and the neighboring Geyser Rock. This area is so frequented by great white sharks that it has been dubbed 'Shark Alley'. Anchor up here for an up-close encounter with great whites. As the cage is dropped at the diving site, get kitted up with diving gear. Take consecutive turns in the 8-man floating cage to experience thrilling underwater views of this majestic predator. When not in the cage, enjoy sightings of the sharks and other sea life from the viewing deck of the boat. Gansbaai is one of the only places in the world where these rare creatures congregate close enough to the coastline to offer you the best opportunity for potential sightings. That being said, please bear in mind that seeing a great white shark is a privilege, not a guarantee. Whale Watching Trip The whale watching trips take place from June to December however, should the whales change their migration schedule (arrive early and leave later) the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Generally the trip last 2 hours, but can be longer depending on how quickly you find the whales. Climb aboard a boat which launches twice daily at 10 AM and 1 PM. During the main season (August-October) an extra morning trip is available at 7 AM. From September on wards, an extra afternoon tri runs at either 3:30 PM or if a good sunset is forecasted, at 5 PM. The sunset trip is a truly magnificent experience as it provides the opportunity to watch the whales bask in the shallow waters with the Walker Bay sunset behind.

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

4. Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders. Enter a nature reserve with the highest concentration of whales in South Africa. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals and sharks. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, False killer whales and enchanting African penguins. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

Knysna: Scenic Cruise Aboard a Luxury Lounge Cruiser

5. Knysna: Scenic Cruise Aboard a Luxury Lounge Cruiser

Take in the sunshine aboard the BellaVita luxury lounge cruiser. Marvel at the two tall cliffs which stand above the lake. Appreciate the beauty of the Outeniqua mountains. Decide how long you want to spend cruising. Play your own music aboard the cruiser. Come to the departure point at Sirocco Restaurant on Thesen Island. Board your luxury lounge cruiser. Cruise around and explore the amazing Knysna Lagoon. Admire the peaks of the Outeniqua mountains as you relax in the company of your friends. Take advantage of the opportunity to pre-order champagne and oysters. Keep an eye out for herons, African fish eagles, kingfishers, and other birds. Bring your own music aboard to entertain yourself. Finish your lagoon cruise and disembark at the starting point.

From Thesen Island: Knysna Lagoon Luxury Cruise

6. From Thesen Island: Knysna Lagoon Luxury Cruise

Take in the sunshine aboard the BellaVita luxury lounge cruiser. Marvel at the two tall cliffs which stand above the lake. Appreciate the beauty of the Outeniqua mountains. Decide how long you want to spend cruising. Play your own music aboard the cruiser. Choose how long you want to spend on your cruise. Come to the departure point at Sirocco Restaurant on Thesen Island. Board your luxury lounge cruiser. Cruise around and explore the amazing Knysna Lagoon. Admire the peaks of the Outeniqua mountains as you relax in the company of your friends. Take advantage of the opportunity to pre-order champagne and oysters. Jump into the clear water for a swim. Keep an eye out for herons, African fish eagles, kingfishers, and other birds. Bring your own music aboard to entertain yourself. Finish your lagoon cruise and disembark at the starting point.

Frequently asked questions about Garden Route

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What people are saying about Garden Route

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 62 reviews

This sunset tour is a wonderful relaxing time at the end of the day. The boat is really convenient and in best condition. The very polite young men were serving us carefully and the very good quality of the champagne makes it all perfect.

Great experience! The skipper of the boat was absolutely amazing! He was talkative, humerus and very knowledgeable all the while being very professional. We had an amazing time and it exceeded our expectations. Well done!

Everything went well. We saw dolphins and a lot of seals. Unfortunately, the whales didn't want to show themselves anymore, but generally they are no longer there at this time of the year.

Good boat. Good weather. Good guides. Saw some whale families and sharks, seals and penguins. Worth the effort and money.

It was very nice, we saw some dolphins and the training was pleasant. warmly recommended.