What whales can I see on a Hermanus helicopter whale watching flight?

Southern Right Whales are the main species (June–November), often visible with calves. Humpback Whales pass through May–December on their migrations, and Bryde's Whales, dolphins and Cape Fur Seals may also be seen.

What is the best time of year for a helicopter whale watching flight?

Peak whale viewing in Walker Bay is August to October. The broader Southern Right Whale season runs June to November, with Humpbacks between May and December.

Can whale sightings be guaranteed?

No — whales are wild animals and sightings can never be guaranteed. That said, Walker Bay is internationally recognised as one of the best whale watching destinations in the world, and helicopter flights cover a large area, dramatically increasing your chances during peak season.

How many people can fly on one helicopter?

A minimum of 3 guests per flight is currently required. Maximum passenger numbers vary by aircraft and total weight — please share the number of guests when you enquire.

Why might I need to pay for additional seats?

Our helicopter whale watching flights are advertised per person, but the helicopter must operate with all passenger seats paid for before it can depart. If your chosen flight is not fully booked, you can join another scheduled flight with seats already available, move your booking to another date or time, or pay the difference to cover the remaining empty seats so the helicopter departs exclusively for your booking. For example, if the helicopter has three passenger seats and only two guests are booked, those guests may choose to pay for the third seat so the flight can proceed. This lets the operator cover the operating cost of each flight while still allowing you to book by the seat.

What should I wear on a helicopter whale watching flight?

Comfortable clothes, closed shoes, sunglasses and a light jacket. Avoid loose scarves and hats near the aircraft. Bring a camera — window seats deliver excellent photography.

Can children fly on a helicopter whale watching flight?

Yes. Age, weight and seating are confirmed at the time of booking — please share the ages of all guests in your enquiry.

Are private charter helicopter flights available?

Yes. Private charters can be arranged for couples, families and small groups, including extended routes, proposals and special-occasion add-ons.

Can I combine a helicopter flight with whale watching by boat?

Absolutely — many guests do both in the same day. See our Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trips for combination itineraries.

Where do the helicopter whale watching flights depart from?

Helicopter whale watching flights depart from our confirmed meeting point, which you can open directly in Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/F7vfToWjnPyquwva8?g_st=ac. Please arrive in good time for your safety briefing.

Do I have to pay for my helicopter flight upfront?

Yes. All helicopter flights must be paid in full upfront to secure your booking.

Are there weight restrictions for the helicopter flight?

All flights are subject to the total weight onboard the helicopter. Passenger capacity and final flight confirmation may therefore be affected by the combined onboard weight and the helicopter operator's safe operational requirements.

What happens if my flight is cancelled because of bad weather or a technical problem?

If your flight is cancelled because of unsafe weather conditions or technical issues with the helicopter, you will receive a 100% refund.

Can I cancel my helicopter flight?

Yes. If you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 100% refund.

Are lunches included in the Black Oyster Catcher and Kostelijk experiences?

No — the flight price covers the helicopter experience only. Lunch and beverages at Black Oyster Catcher Wine Estate or Kostelijk Restaurant are booked and paid for directly with the venue.

Are helicopter flights weather dependent?

Yes. Safety is the priority — all flights are subject to safe weather and visibility. Unsuitable conditions result in a reschedule to the next available slot.

View along the Hermanus coastline and Overberg mountains from the cockpit of a whale watching helicopter

Luxury Helicopter Experience · Walker Bay

Hermanus Helicopter Whale Watching Flights

A Hermanus helicopter whale watching flight is one of the most exclusive ways to experience the whales of Walker Bay. Guests enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the Hermanus coastline, the Overberg mountains and Southern Right Whales — all from the comfort of a luxury helicopter.

Walker Bay is internationally recognised as one of the world's best whale watching destinations, but sightings cannot be guaranteed because whales are wild animals. Our scenic helicopter tours cover a large stretch of coastline in a single flight, dramatically improving your chance of a sighting during peak whale season (June to November).

From: R2,900 per person
Flight duration: 15 – 60 min
Minimum guests: 3 per flight
Departs: Confirmed meeting point · Google Maps

View Flight Packages Enquire Now Chat on WhatsApp

Minimum 3 guests per flight · Full payment upfront · Flights are weather dependent

Aerial view of three Southern Right Whales in Walker Bay from a Hermanus helicopter — Southern Right Whales in Walker Bay — aerial view from a scenic helicopter flight

Real guest footage

See the Hermanus Whale Watching Flight for Yourself

Filmed by a guest on an actual Hermanus helicopter whale watching flight — not stock footage.

Whales seen from a Hermanus whale watching helicopter flight — Whales below the helicopter — filmed by a guest during the flight.

Aerial whale sighting on a Hermanus helicopter flight — A second short clip from the same flight.

Walker Bay from the air

Walker Bay helicopter flights over one of the world's great whale nurseries

Walker Bay is the sheltered arc of coastline between Hermanus and Gansbaai where Southern Right Whales gather each winter to calve and mate. From the air you see the full geometry of the bay — the shelf, the calving cows, the calves and the whole Hermanus-to-De Kelders coastline in a single view.

Longer scenic flights extend across the Klein River lagoon, the Overberg mountains and Dyer Island, giving photographers and wildlife lovers a remarkable end-to-end perspective of the Cape Whale Coast.

Klein River lagoon and the Overberg mountains seen from a helicopter cockpit near Hermanus

Why choose helicopter whale watching

Why choose a Hermanus helicopter whale watching experience

Incredible aerial whale viewing
See mothers, calves and pods of Southern Right Whales from directly overhead — a perspective impossible from land or sea.
Walker Bay & Hermanus coastline
Take in the full arc of Walker Bay, the Cliff Path, Klein River lagoon and Overberg mountains in a single flight.
Photograph whales from above
Elevated, unobstructed windows and low-flying routes deliver photography opportunities you cannot get from a boat.
Luxury private experience
Small, intimate helicopters — no crowds, no queues, just you, your party and the pilot.
Fast and comfortable
Cover in 30 minutes what would take hours on the water — ideal for guests short on time.
Proposals & anniversaries
One of the most memorable ways to mark a special occasion on the Cape Whale Coast.
Ideal for photographers
Wide-open Overberg light, dramatic coastal geometry and aerial whale behaviour in one flight.
Combine with world-class dining
Extend your flight into a full-day escape with lunch at Black Oyster Catcher or Kostelijk.

Passenger pointing to whales from a helicopter over Walker Bay near Hermanus

Close-up aerial view of a Southern Right Whale in Walker Bay, Hermanus

Black Robinson R44 helicopter parked on a grass landing area with mountains and fynbos-covered hills in the background — Our Robinson R44 helicopter at its landing site before a scenic Walker Bay flight

R8,950

per person

Enquire

Prices are per person and subject to availability, weather and minimum guest numbers. Lunch and beverages for the Black Oyster Catcher and Kostelijk experiences are booked and paid directly with the venue.

Real guest photography

A Guest's View from the Sky

Photographs taken by a guest on a Hermanus whale watching helicopter flight. Tap any image to view it larger.

Aerial view of Hermanus, its coastline and the Overberg mountains from a helicopter — Hermanus and the Overberg mountains from the air — photographed by a guest during the flight.

Ready to fly over Walker Bay?

Send your preferred date, package and number of guests — our reservations team will confirm availability, departure location and pricing, usually within a few hours.

Check Availability WhatsApp Us

Helicopter Lunch Experiences

Fly-and-dine: helicopter whale watching combined with gourmet lunch

Two of the Overberg's finest dining destinations — reached by private helicopter across Walker Bay.

Aerial view of the Overberg mountains from a Hermanus helicopter

Black Oyster Catcher by Air

Black Oyster Catcher Wine Estate

Fly to the iconic Black Oyster Catcher Wine Estate for a world-class lunch experience paired with award-winning wines. The experience includes a spectacular scenic helicopter flight over Walker Bay and the Overberg coastline before landing at the estate.

Lunch and beverages are not included and are booked directly with Black Oyster Catcher Wine Estate.

From R11,200 per person

Enquire About This Experience

Aerial view of the Hermanus coastline from a helicopter en route to Kostelijk

Gourmet Escape to Kostelijk

Kostelijk Restaurant

Enjoy a private helicopter transfer to Kostelijk, one of the Overberg's finest gourmet dining destinations. The experience includes a breathtaking scenic helicopter flight across Walker Bay before landing for an intimate fine dining experience.

Lunch and beverages are not included and are booked directly with Kostelijk Restaurant.

From R8,950 per person

Enquire About This Experience

Important information

Before you fly

Please read these conditions before booking your helicopter whale watching flight — they affect departure, capacity and refunds.

Important: Minimum Occupancy Requirement

Although our helicopter whale watching flights are advertised on a per-person basis, the helicopter must operate with all passenger seats occupied for the flight to depart.

If there are not enough passengers booked for your chosen flight, you will have the following options:

Join another scheduled flight where seats are already available.
Move your booking to another date or time.
Pay the difference to cover the remaining empty passenger seats if you would like the helicopter to depart exclusively for your booking.

For example, if the helicopter has three passenger seats and only two guests are booked, those guests may choose to pay for the remaining seat so the flight can proceed.

This policy ensures the helicopter operator can cover the operating costs of each flight while still offering the flexibility of booking by the seat.

Payment
All helicopter flights must be paid in full upfront to secure your booking.
Your helicopter flight is confirmed once full payment has been received, subject to flight availability, operational requirements, weather conditions and total weight onboard.
Passenger & Aircraft Weight
All flights are subject to the total weight onboard the helicopter.
Passenger capacity and final flight confirmation may therefore be affected by the combined onboard weight and the helicopter operator's safe operational weight requirements. This is an additional condition to the minimum occupancy requirement above.
Passenger numbers & children
A minimum of 3 guests per flight is currently required. Maximum passenger numbers vary by aircraft and total weight — please share the number of guests when you enquire.
Children may fly. Age, weight and seating are confirmed at the time of booking — please share the ages of all guests in your enquiry.
Weather dependency
Safety is the priority — all flights are subject to safe weather and visibility. Unsuitable conditions result in a reschedule to the next available slot.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Weather or technical cancellation
If your helicopter flight is cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions or technical issues with the helicopter, you will receive a 100% refund.
Guest cancellation
If you cancel your helicopter flight at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 100% refund.
Helicopter Meeting Point
All helicopter whale watching flights depart from our confirmed meeting point. Please arrive in good time for your safety briefing.
Open in Google Maps
Lunch experiences
The flight price covers the helicopter experience only. Lunch and beverages at Black Oyster Catcher Wine Estate or Kostelijk Restaurant are booked and paid for directly with the venue.

Black Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration ZS-HGP, standing on a manicured lawn with cypress trees and mountain peaks behind it under a clear blue sky — The Robinson R44 Raven II (ZS-HGP) ready for departure

How to choose

Boat vs helicopter vs land-based whale watching in Hermanus

Each format offers a different perspective on Walker Bay's whales — many guests combine two or all three during their stay.

	Boat	Helicopter	Land-based
Viewing perspective	Eye-level, close to the water	Bird's-eye view directly above whales	Elevated cliff view, distant
Photography	Excellent for surface behaviour	Unmatched aerial framing	Wide scenics, limited close-ups
Duration	≈2 hours	15 – 60 minutes	Self-guided, any length
Comfort	Open sea, weather-dependent	Enclosed cabin, smooth	Fully on foot
Adventure level	Moderate — sea legs helpful	Premium, effortless	Relaxed
Accessibility	Good — stable catamaran	Excellent — very short walk to cabin	Paved cliff path, mostly flat
Best suited for	Families, first-time whale watchers	Special occasions, photographers, time-poor guests	Casual visitors, walkers

Compare more formats: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trips · Whale Watching in South Africa · Things to Do in Hermanus · Best Time for Whale Watching in Hermanus.

Passenger spotting dolphins from a helicopter cockpit over Walker Bay — Dolphins spotted from the cockpit — a Hermanus scenic helicopter tour over Walker Bay

Trusted Reviews

What Our Guests Say

Read independent reviews from guests who have experienced whale watching trips in Hermanus and around South Africa.

Google ReviewsVerified guest reviews on Google.Read Google Reviews TripAdvisor ReviewsIndependent traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.Read TripAdvisor Reviews

Independent reviews from guests who have experienced whale watching and marine wildlife activities in Hermanus and across South Africa.

Good to know

Hermanus Helicopter Whale Watching FAQ

Everything you need to know before booking your Hermanus helicopter whale watching flight.

Booking & payment

Passengers & aircraft

Weather & cancellations

Packages & experiences

Whales & seasons

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Booking Enquiry

Enquire about a helicopter whale watching flight

Send your preferred date, package and number of guests — our reservations team will confirm availability, departure location and pricing, usually within a few hours.

Important: Helicopter flights require full payment upfront to secure the booking and are subject to availability, weather conditions, minimum occupancy and total weight onboard.

Prefer to chat? Chat on WhatsApp or call +27 28 050 2273.

Hermanus Helicopter Whale Watching Flights

See the Hermanus Whale Watching Flight for Yourself

Walker Bay helicopter flights over one of the world's great whale nurseries

Why choose a Hermanus helicopter whale watching experience

Incredible aerial whale viewing

Walker Bay & Hermanus coastline

Photograph whales from above

Luxury private experience

Fast and comfortable

Proposals & anniversaries

Ideal for photographers

Combine with world-class dining

Hermanus helicopter whale watching packages

15 Minute Scenic Whale Flight

30 Minute Whale Watching Flight

45 Minute Premium Whale Flight

60 Minute Ultimate Whale Experience