Walker Bay whale nursery
The sheltered water along De Kelders is important habitat for Southern Right Whale mothers and calves during the season.
Gansbaai Harbour · Walker Bay
Gansbaai Whale Watching
Two-hour boat cruises departing Gansbaai Harbour into Walker Bay and along the dramatic De Kelders coastline — Southern Right Whales, Humpbacks, Bryde’s Whales, dolphins, seals and marine birdlife with expert marine guides.
Gansbaai Whale Watching — Quick Facts
On the water
~2 hours
Total experience
~2.5 hours
Departure
Gansbaai Harbour
Area
Walker Bay & De Kelders
Check-in
30 minutes before
Departures
07:00 · 10:00 · 13:00 · 15:30
Gansbaai Whale Watching
2026 prices
Adult
R2,150
Age 13+
Child
R1,075
Age 5–12
Infant
Free
Age 0–4
Scheduled departures
07:0010:0013:0015:30
Check in 30 minutes before departure.
Prices are per person for this Gansbaai Harbour boat trip. Departures are subject to availability, weather, sea conditions and operator scheduling.
The Gansbaai experience
Why choose Gansbaai Whale Watching?
Leave the working harbour of Gansbaai to explore the eastern side of Walker Bay beneath the dramatic De Kelders cliffs, with marine guides interpreting the wildlife and coastal ecosystem.
Dramatic De Kelders coastline
Sandstone cliffs, sea caves and the Klipgat archaeological cave create a distinctive scenic backdrop from the water.
Whale-focused coastal route
This trip concentrates on Walker Bay and De Kelders rather than travelling offshore to the Dyer Island ecosystem.
Expert marine guiding
Guides help identify species, interpret behaviour and explain the marine ecology and responsible-viewing protocols.
Wildlife varies with every departure
What you may see
Walker Bay is a wild marine environment. These are possible encounters, not a checklist, and no species or sighting can be guaranteed.
June to early December
Southern Right Whales
The headline seasonal species in Walker Bay, with mothers and calves often resting near the De Kelders coastline.
Seasonal migration
Humpback Whales
Migrating Humpbacks may pass through Walker Bay in early winter and again in late spring.
Possible year-round
Dolphins & Bryde’s Whales
Resident Bryde’s Whales and common or bottlenose dolphins are possible throughout the year.
Wildlife varies
Seals & Marine Birdlife
Cape fur seals, gannets, cormorants, oystercatchers, terns and other marine birds may share the bay.
African Penguins may occasionally forage in Walker Bay, but sightings here are opportunistic. The main Dyer Island penguin and Marine Big Five experience is the separate trip from Kleinbaai Harbour.
From harbour to bay
What to expect
A straightforward, guided trip from the harbour into the eastern side of Walker Bay.
- 01Check-in30 minutes before departure
- 02Safety briefingBefore boarding and life jackets issued
- 03On the waterApproximately 2 hours
- 04Total experienceApproximately 2.5 hours
- 05DepartureGansbaai Harbour
- 06Cruising areaWalker Bay / De Kelders
Conditions: All departures are subject to availability, weather, sea conditions and operator scheduling. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Gansbaai Harbour · Walker Bay
Book your Gansbaai Whale Watching trip
Request your date and scheduled departure below. Your trip is confirmed only after availability has been checked and you receive confirmation.
- Boat-only total shown before you submit
- Cape Town transfer requested and quoted separately
- No automatic confirmation or guaranteed sighting
Plan with confidence
Detailed trip & planning information
Open each guide for detailed, practical information about the trip.
The harbour, Walker Bay & De Kelders
About Gansbaai Harbour
Gansbaai Harbour is the historic Old Harbour of the fishing town of Gansbaai, roughly 45 minutes’ drive from Hermanus and about two hours from Cape Town. It is a protected launch site sheltered by a stone breakwater. Parking is free and unrestricted, and the harbour office is a few steps from the boat.
Walker Bay and the De Kelders coastline
Walker Bay is the crescent-shaped bay between Hermanus and Danger Point. Its Gansbaai side follows the pale sandstone sea cliffs, caves and deep protected water of De Kelders. This shoreline provides important sheltered habitat for Southern Right Whale mothers and calves during the season.
For more detail, read the Walker Bay Whale Watching Guide, Southern Right Whales in Walker Bay and Walker Bay Marine Life.
Whales & marine wildlife through the year
Southern Right Whales
From June to early December, female Southern Rights migrate from Antarctic feeding grounds to Walker Bay to calve and nurse. Peak months are usually September and October. Possible behaviour includes lobtailing, sailing, spy-hopping and breaching.
Humpback and Bryde’s Whales
Humpbacks pass on migration from May to July and again from October to December. Bryde’s Whales are resident year-round and may be seen hunting sardine, anchovy and squid.
Dolphins, seals, sunfish and birds
Common and bottlenose dolphins may bow-ride the boat. Cape fur seals occur around the harbour and coast. Ocean sunfish may enter the bay in warmer summer months, while birdlife can include Cape gannets, Cape and crowned cormorants, African black oystercatchers, kelp gulls, terns and occasional albatrosses or giant petrels.
African Penguins
African Penguins sometimes forage in Walker Bay, but sightings on this trip are opportunistic. Their nearest breeding colony is on Dyer Island, reached by the separate Kleinbaai Marine Safari.
Guides, responsible viewing & the boat
Professional marine guiding
Qualified marine guides interpret whale behaviour, marine ecology and the conservation story of Walker Bay. Wildlife approaches the vessel on its own terms, and sightings are never guaranteed.
Responsible whale watching
The trip operates under a South African whale-watching permit and follows regulated approach and engine-off protocols for close encounters.
Boat information
- Licensed, twin-engine vessel purpose-built for whale watching.
- Seating, grab rails and an open viewing deck.
- Marine toilet available on larger vessels.
- Compulsory life jackets issued at check-in.
Weather, accessibility & comfort
Weather policy
All departures are subject to availability, weather, sea conditions and operator scheduling. The skipper’s safety decision is final. If the operator cancels, guests are rebooked to a suitable trip or refunded. Contact us before changing plans because of a forecast.
Accessibility
Boarding involves a short step from the quay onto the vessel. Guests with mobility challenges are welcome; mention assistance needs when booking so support and seating can be planned. Very young infants under 12 months are generally not recommended for open-water trips.
Seasickness
Conditions vary. If you are prone to seasickness, consider suitable medication 30–45 minutes before departure and eat a light meal beforehand.
Photography & what to bring
Photography tips
- Use a wrist or neck strap for cameras and phones.
- Continuous burst mode helps with brief surface behaviour.
- A flexible zoom range is usually more practical than a long fixed lens.
- A polarising filter can reduce sea glare.
What to bring
- Windproof jacket, warm layer, beanie and closed shoes.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and water.
- A camera or phone with a secure strap.
- Seasickness medication if required.
Best time, directions & nearby places
Best time to visit
Southern Right Whale season runs from June to early December, usually peaking in September and October. See the South Africa whale-season planner for a month-by-month guide.
Getting to Gansbaai Harbour
Gansbaai is roughly 40 km east of Hermanus along the R43 and about two hours from Cape Town via the N2 and R43. From central Gansbaai, follow the signs down to the harbour. Parking is free.
Nearby attractions
- De Kelders: cliff-top land-based whale watching.
- Klipgat Cave: an important archaeological site.
- Danger Point Lighthouse: the historic 1895 lighthouse.
- Grootbos Nature Reserve: a fynbos reserve inland of Gansbaai.
Travelling from Cape Town?
Keep the boat experience separate and add either private return transport or a fully guided private day.
Private return transfer
Cape Town → Gansbaai → Cape Town
From R4,900 for 1–2 guests. Private vehicle pricing covers the group; boat tickets remain separate.
View the transfer →Private guided day tour
Gansbaai Whale Watching Day Tour
From R6,600 for 1–2 guests. Boat tickets are additional.
View the day tour →Two harbours · two different experiences
Gansbaai Harbour or Kleinbaai?
Both are in the wider Gansbaai area, but they are separate products with different departure points and marine environments.
You are viewing this trip
Gansbaai Whale Watching
- Departs
- Gansbaai Harbour
- Area
- Walker Bay / De Kelders
- Focus
- Whale-focused coastal experience
Separate experience
Kleinbaai Marine Safari
- Departs
- Kleinbaai Harbour
- Area
- Dyer Island / Geyser Rock
- Focus
- Marine Big Five experience
Gansbaai Whale Watching FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking your Gansbaai whale watching trip.
The Gansbaai Whale Watching boat trip departs from Gansbaai Harbour (also known as the Old Harbour), located just below the town of Gansbaai in the Overberg region of the Western Cape. Guests check in at the harbour office roughly 30 minutes before departure for a safety briefing and life jackets.
Yes — completely. Gansbaai Whale Watching departs from Gansbaai Harbour and operates inside Walker Bay along the De Kelders coastline, focused on Southern Right Whales and coastal marine life. The Kleinbaai Marine Safari departs from Kleinbaai Harbour, 8 km further east, and heads offshore to the Dyer Island / Geyser Rock ecosystem in search of the Marine Big Five (whales, sharks, seals, penguins, dolphins). Two different harbours, two different marine environments, two different experiences.
Southern Right Whales (June–early December, peak Sept–Oct), Humpback Whales on migration, resident Bryde's Whales, Cape fur seals, common and bottlenose dolphins, African penguins, ocean sunfish (Mola mola) in summer, plus cormorants, oystercatchers, terns and occasional albatross.
The Southern Right Whale season runs from June to early December, with September and October the absolute peak — cows and calves come into Walker Bay to rest under the De Kelders cliffs. Humpback Whales pass through in early winter and again in late spring on migration. Bryde's Whales, dolphins and seals are seen year-round.
Adults aged 13+ are R2,150 per person, children aged 5–12 are R1,075 per child and infants aged 0–4 are free. Prices are per person for the Gansbaai Harbour departure into Walker Bay and along the De Kelders coastline. These rates apply only to this trip — the Kleinbaai Marine Big 5 Safari is priced separately.
Trips typically last about two hours on the water, with a 30-minute check-in beforehand. Total time at the harbour is around 2.5 hours.
Yes. Gansbaai Whale Watching is family-friendly. Children of all ages are welcome; life jackets are provided in child sizes. Very young children should be comfortable on a boat for two hours.
Yes. All departures are subject to availability, weather, sea conditions and operator scheduling. If the skipper cancels for safety reasons, you are re-booked to the next suitable trip or fully refunded — never pressured onto rough water.
Warm layers (windproof jacket, beanie, closed shoes), sunglasses, sunscreen, water, a camera or phone with a wrist strap, and seasickness medication if you are prone. Bags stay in your car — take only essentials on board.
Walker Bay is a relatively sheltered bay, so conditions are usually manageable. If you know you get seasick, take a tablet (or wear a patch) 30–45 minutes before departure. A light meal beforehand also helps.
Both harbours launch into Walker Bay, but they access different stretches of coastline. Hermanus New Harbour cruises the western side of the bay under the Hermanus Cliff Path. Gansbaai Harbour cruises the eastern side along the dramatic De Kelders sea cliffs — an equally productive whale-nursery zone with a very different scenic backdrop.
Related Destinations
Explore whale watching across South Africa
Discover whale watching trips, scenic flights and marine wildlife experiences across South Africa's leading coastal destinations.
- Whale Watching HermanusWalker Bay's Southern Right Whale nursery — boat-based, land-based and the Hermanus Whale Crier.
- Kleinbaai Whale Watching & Marine SafariDeparts Kleinbaai Harbour to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock — whales, sharks, seals, dolphins and African penguins in one trip.
- Whale Watching Cape TownFalse Bay departures and day trips combining Cape Town's coast with peak Walker Bay sightings.
- Whale Watching Mossel BayGarden Route whale watching with Southern Rights, Humpbacks and Bryde's Whales close to shore.
- Whale Watching KnysnaKnysna Heads and the Garden Route — whales, dolphins and a stunning estuary backdrop.
- Whale Watching Plettenberg BayPlett's sheltered bay — Humpbacks, Southern Rights, Bryde's Whales and resident dolphin pods.
- Hermanus Helicopter Whale WatchingScenic flights over Walker Bay — a bird's-eye view of whales, dolphins and coastline.
- Yzerfontein Humpback Whale ExpeditionSeasonal Cape West Coast whale watching expedition (Nov–Mar) searching for Humpback Whale super groups.