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  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Seasons
  • Rates
  • Included
  • Excluded
  • Sustainability
  • Booking Terms
  • Packing List

Embark on a Scenic Drive

Either self-drive or take a shuttle (from Cape Town or Hermanus) along the scenic Whale Coast Route to Gansbaai.

Experience Marine Big 5 Sightings around Dyer Island

Take a boat cruise around Dyer Island from Kleinbaai harbour. See and learn all about the Western Cape’s Marine Big 5: dolphins, seals, sharks, penguins, and whales. After lunch, visit the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.

Discover Marine Conservation Efforts

Learn how marine biologists collect observational & environmental data to conserve and protect South Africa's marine big five and other coastal species.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” — Jacques Yves Coustea.

This is a self-drive day trip to the boat launch site in Gansbaai’s Kleinbaai harbour, a scenic 2.5 hour drive from Cape Town. However, transfers from Cape Town or Hermanus can be booked (see the Rates Tab).

Itineraries

Day X

Plan your trip

Booking

This day trip requires booking at least 2 days (48 hours) prior to your intended activity date. As soon as we receive your booking enquiry, we'll check the expected weather condition forecasts for the days ahead. If the weather forecast looks good, we'll confirm your requested date and raise an invoice for you to pay via either bank transfer or secure online credit.debit card transaction.

Of course, weather conditions can be unpredictable, so if ocean conditions are expected to be unsafe for launching the boat we'll advise you at least 12 hours before your booked date. You'll then be given the option of either a full refund or postponing for an alternative date.

Departure

Plan to leave home early as sea conditions are generally best in the mornings. If you have booked the shuttle service, the driver will collect you from your hotel or place of residence within the Cape Town or Hermanus areas at between 04:30 - 05:00 am.

Trip Duration

Plan to be away for about 10 - 12 hours. The road trip from Cape Town takes about 2.5 hours. The Dyer Island boat trip takes around 2 - 2.5 hours. Expect 2 - 3.5 hours for the pre- and post-cruise briefings, lunch, and the interactive session at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. Then allow another 2.5 hours for the return trip to Cape Town (or less if you're booking the shuttle and are being dropped off along the way).

Day X

On the day

Upon arrival at the venue (the Great White House) in Gansbaai you’ll enjoy coffee/tea and muffins while listening to a dedicated safety and conservation briefing. After the briefing, you’ll be issued with safety jackets and wet weather gear.

After a short walk from the venue to the Kleinbaai harbour you’ll board the ‘Dream Catcher’ - a spacious ocean certified vessel specifically custom designed for passenger comfort and safety in all weather conditions.

Your adventure begins as the boat heads for Dyer Island - a 20 hectare nature reserve consisting of three islets situated 8.5km from Kleinbaai harbour. Along the way, you may gain unique sightings of Southern Right, Humpback, or Bryde's whales, Bronze Whaler sharks, various visiting dolphin species, and a wide variety of seabird species. The on-board biologist and experienced crew promise an educational, life changing experience.

Around Dyer Island you’ll have perfect opportunities to photograph the endangered African Penguins and the 60,000 Cape brown fur seals that inhabit the smaller Geyser island. The shallow channel between the two islands, which is popularly known as Shark Alley, is home to 26 fish species, including the endangered Galjoen. These islands are also home to 48 bird species, of which 21 species breed here.

After the sea cruise, you’ll return to the venue for a light lunch (soup and bread during the cooler months from June to December) followed by a debriefing. After the debriefing, you’ll be able to buy quality trip footage of your experience at sea (a downloadable link is provided).

You will then visit the nearby African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (your entrance fee is included in this trip). Owned and operated by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, the sanctuary’s public section offers high quality educational displays that showcase the life and migration patterns of seabirds seen off the South African coastline. A variety of both static and interactive displays enable the public to learn more about seabirds and the importance of seabird conservation.

Be assured that your choice makes a difference. By booking with us you are helping to fulfil our partners dream to 'Discover. Protect. Educate.'

High Season: June to September

As a rule of thumb, the chances of seeing the marine big five during South Africa’s winter months are extremely high. This is also the time when the Southern Right Whales visit our shores to mate, calve and raise their young.

Mid Season: March to May & October to November

The weather in Autumn and Spring is as moody and changeable as the sea and can vary from hot to cold in a day. Whales may have migrated while the change of seasons will at most only influence the amount of sharks one encounters during a trip. However, some of the best sightings have occurred in Autumn – especially when the large (4m+) females arrive in the shallows!

Low Season: December to February

Weather-wise, these summer months are the best for a boat trip at sea in the Gansbaai area! Warm sunny days, clear skies, no wind or rain, and nearly perfect sea conditions . . .  Ironically, the Great Whites do not necessarily share our view of “good weather” and often take off to “cooler pastures”!

Having said that, nothing in nature is cast in stone and sightings can vary daily from very good to below average, and there is still a 90% chance of seeing sharks. With wildlife there are no guarantees, but you can always be assured of a most enjoyable boat trip along our scenic coastline and meeting other members of our extraordinary marine wildlife – penguins, seals and various pelagic birds. Encountering pods of dolphins may just be an unexpected bonus!

Adults

$111

per person

(Excluding road transport)


Children

$80

5-12 years old

(under 5 free)


Shuttle 1

$54

Cape Town return

(per person)


Shuttle 2

$38

Hermanus return

(per person)

  • Coffee/Tea & Muffins on arrival
  • Safety & conservation briefing
  • Waterproof gear
  • Boat cruise
  • Light lunch
  • African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary visit
  • Conservation fee
  • Road transportation to & from Gansbaai
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities

Sustainable Development Impact

While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are global concerns, and not aimed specifically at the travel and tourism industry, target 8.9 of the 2030 Agenda aims to "by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products". In this regard, tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all 17 SDGs.

Our partner, Marine Dynamics, is committed to sustainable tourism and aims to achieve the triple-bottom line outcomes of sustainable development i.e. Economic growth, environmental integrity, and social justice. The company is Fair Trade Tourism certified - an annually audited process that certifies fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing and operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture and the environment. In addition, the company's vessels are endorsed by Blue Flag - a prestigious, voluntary eco-label for beaches, boats and marinas that is recognised as a trusted symbol of quality by the World Tourism Organisation as the most well- known global eco-label. The company is also a founding member of, and financial contributor to, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary.

Considering the above, Naturecrazi allocates our partners SDG "qualifying criteria" as follows:

  • SDG 1: Creates fixed term and permanent job opportunities for local communities.
  • SDG 2: Actively engages in community feeding schemes and food growing agricultural projects.
  • SDG 3: Works with local community health clinics.
  • SDG 4: Contributes to sustainable local community development through education programs and research.
  • SDG 6: Provides for careful handling and disposal of solid waste and sewage. Uses alternative, sustainable means of water acquisition and reduces water consumption.
  • SDG 7: Meets its energy needs through passive design and renewable energy resources.
  • SDG 8: Provides decent work and economic growth for the community.
  • SDG 11: Aims to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
  • SDG 12: Encourages sustainable consumption and production through various measures, including the management of materials that are toxic to the environment.
  • SDG 13: Takes action to combat climate change and its impacts by improving education and awareness-raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
  • SDG 14: Conserves and sustainably uses the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
  • SDG 15: Conserves and rehabilitates the surrounding flora and fauna. Offers educational interpretive programmes to both its employees and tourists about the surrounding natural and cultural environments.
  • SDG 16: Promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provides access to justice for all and builds effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
  • Rates are per person, per itinerary
  • This trip is weather dependent
  • Requires booking confirmation 48 hours prior to the day
  • Wear warm clothing as it is colder at sea than on land
  • Pack a light wind breaker jacket or an umbrella/raincoat as the weather in Cape Town can change quickly
  • Bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen as you’ll be spending time outdoors
  • Pack any prescribed medications that you may need to take during a 6 to 12 hour excursion.
  • Anti-seasickness medication is advisable if you are prone to motion sickness.