Duration: Private 8hr Day Tour
Location: Cape Town
Price: : Enquire
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About the Itinerary

Leave Cape Town behind to take a marine safari where you can see great white sharks, whales, Cape fur seals and a variety of seabirds. On a 2-hour cruise from Gansbaai, ply the waters of Shark Alley to see great whites as they hunt for seal snacks. Then travel to hotspots to see whales, African penguins and other seabirds around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. Expert guides show you the best of this amazing South African marine wilderness.

Akeibo and Our Partner Dyer Island Cruises for this Tour pride themselves on being both fun and educational. Each trip is led by experienced marine biologists and guides who will share their knowledge with you, keeping emphasis on the welfare and conservation of the animal. Responsible tourism is the main objective so we focus on conservation, education, community upliftment and safety..

Whats included

  • Morning drive to Gansbaai
  • Breakfast before going out to sea
  • 3hr Marine Big five experience
  • Certified/ registered Tour Guides & Marine Biologists
  • Complimentary Minibar on Board including Soft drinks, Teas & Coffees
  • Complimentary Wireless Internet on-board
  • Complimentary Baby seats and strollers

 

Mini Map of the Tour Route

 

Tour Highlights

Sire Lowry’s Pass

Early travellers would not have had an easy time of attempts to negotiate the Hottentot’s Holland Mountain range, which stretches along the eastern side of Somerset West and Gordons Bay.
The summit provides one with the most awe-inspiring backdrops in the Western Cape – on a clear day you can view the range all the way from the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Today, Sir Lowry’s Pass allows easy passage across this daunting natural barrier.

The beauty of this pass, often shrouded in mist and rain, more than makes up for the unsynchronised traffic lights that grace the N2’s tardy passage through Somerset West and around Gordons Bay, invariably resulting in bumper-to-bumper snarl-ups and quick sales amongst the posse of self-employed salesmen who dart in amongst cars with the latest sunglasses, hats, cell phone chargers and the like.

But Sir Lowry’s Pass is a lot more than a route across a formidable mountain range. It is also a haunt for bird watchers and nature lovers and the car park, on the western side of the N2 as one approaches the top of the pass, provides a perfect stop to explore the area. The mountain fynbos is fairly accessible here and one can take three to four hours to explore the mountain side and the lower areas where streams become densely vegetated and provide perfect cover for birds.

The town side of Sir Lowry’s Pass has some truly awesome views over False Bay, whilst over the other side of the mountain one enters a beautiful valley that is home to forests, orchards, fruit, flowers and vineyards – the Elgin Valley. In spring this part of the world is a display of blossoming fruit trees and heavy with grapes on the vine

 

    

 

Peregrine Farm Stall

Established in the sixties, Peregrine has been serving generations of travelers seeking honest homemade fare and warm country hospitality. Situated in the beautiful and fertile Elgin Valley, Peregrine offers an abundance of locally sourced artisanal goods and wholesome, responsibly farmed, fresh produce.
The shop showcases a variety of locally farmed and produced goods, from artisanal foods, fynbos honey to fresh cold-pressed juices and champagne style apple cider. The aroma of Peregrine’s variety of freshly baked goods fills the air and teases the senses. The wine shop stocks all the region’s top wines and ciders, as well as a growing selection of craft beer.The seasonal menu is a result of the close collaboration of local farmers, artisan chefs, and the demands of our discerning customers. The focus is on café style casual dining in a relaxed but stylish venue, and for those wanting a quick bite for the journey, there is a selection of wholesome and healthy ready-to-eat meals too. Peregrine pies enjoy legendary status, with perfect pastry and generous fillings.

 

     

Hermanus

Hermanus, the world’s foremost land based whale watching destination, is a thriving holiday resort offering residents and holiday makers all modern amenities, yet retaining its fisherman’s village charm. The popular resort town of Hermanus, situated between mountain and sea, has gained world-wide recognition as the world’s foremost land based whale watching destination. This has resulted in the former fishing village showing a tremendous growth over the last few years.
The pristine stretches of beach offer solitude to the walker and boating activities abound in the Kleinriver Lagoon, renowned for its birdlife. Invigorating horse rides along the beach appeal to all ages. The Hermanus Golf Course is well known and curious baboons create a diversion as they silently observe the players.

  

Gansbaai

The unpretentious village of Gansbaai – named after a flock of wild Egyptian geese that are alleged to have congregated at the freshwater fountain next to the harbour – has a large reputation.Both Southern Right Whales and Great White Sharks frequent the Atlantic waters of the Danger Point Peninsula and are a major draw card for the town. Situated between the towns of Hermanus and Pearly Beach, Gansbaai lies in Walker Bay at the foot of the Dynefontein Mountains with a magnificent coastline rich in fynbos vegetation.
Dyer Island, just off Gansbaai, is the breeding ground of the african penguin, cormorants and other sea birds and a second island in the vicinity of the village is Geyser Island, home to some 60 000 Cape fur seals. It is the passage between these islands that, for obvious reasons, attracts the Great White and has become known as ‘shark alley’..

The waters around these islands have become a feeding ground for the endangered species, which has fuelled the rise of shark cage diving from Kleinbaai’s harbour. Fortunately, the area around Dyer Island has been declared a nature reserve and only boats with permits granted by the Department of Nature Conservation may enter the vicinity.
The entire Walker Bay area, between Gansbaai and Hermanus, is a whale sanctuary and the gentle giants of the southern ocean, the Southern Right Whale, can be sighted within metres of the shoreline where they come annually to mate and calve. These remarkable beasts spend summer feeding around Antarctica and then migrate thousands of miles to our waters, where sheltered bays, such as Gansbaai and nearby De Kelders, offer perfect refuge.

Gansbaai lies in the heart of the fynbos biome, which is home to thousands of plant species, a number of which are some of the rarest on earth. There are a number of conservancies and reserves in the area that protect these species and organised hikes in the region allow one easy access to this kingdom of plants.
Gansbaai remains a fishing village at heart, despite its growing reputation and rising popularity. Every local in the town, no matter what his profession, is also a fisherman and it is this tradition, and the fact that the town revolves around the harbour and the catch of the day, that makes it so unique and such a wonderful place to visit.
 

 

The Marine big 5 experience

Once you have arrived at The Great White House, you will receive a brief introductory talk about the route, safety, and what to look out for. Passengers are fitted with comfortable life-jackets and waterproof jackets. Safety is of the outmost importance. We have extensive public liability insurance.

Trip lengths are between 2 and 2.5 hours, depending on sightings and weather conditions. All cruises depart from Kleinbaai harbour near Gansbaai. Found only in Gansbaai, 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. These seals are present all year round. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world famous ‘Shark Alley’.

We will then 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! We boast South Africa’s largest boat-based whale identity catalog and we see re-sightings of the same individual whales year after year.
We pride ourselves on being both fun and educational. Each trip is led by experienced marine biologists and guides who will share their knowledge with you, keeping emphasis on the welfare and conservation of the animal. Responsible tourism is our main objective so we focus on conservation, education, community upliftment and safety.