Private full day tour

Hermanus Whale Watching Tour, Private Full Day From Cape Town

A private full day whale route tour from Cape Town to Hermanus with your own vehicle and guide. Drive Clarence Drive along False Bay, visit the penguins at Stony Point, and watch southern right whales from the Hermanus cliffs between June and December, with optional shark cage diving in Gansbaai. The tour takes about 9 hours and costs R6,500 per vehicle for 1 to 2 guests, excluding meals, entrance fees and activities.

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R6,500Per vehicle, 1 to 2 guests

About 9 hoursFull day, hotel pickup

PrivateYour own vehicle and guide

The full story

The Whale Route

Southern right whales, seen from the shore.

Clarence Drive follows the cliffs of False Bay to Gordon's Bay, Rooi Els and Pringle Bay, often called one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. At Stony Point in Betty's Bay, a second African penguin colony lives among the rocks, and the Harold Porter Botanical Garden sits between mountain and sea.

In Hermanus, from June to December, southern right whales come into Walker Bay to calve, often a few hundred metres from the cliff path. They can grow to around 15 metres, and each whale carries a unique pattern of white callosities on its head, like a fingerprint. Whalers once called them the right whale to hunt because they swam slowly and floated when killed; today they are protected, and Hermanus still has an official whale crier who blows a kelp horn when whales are spotted.

Further along the coast lies Gansbaai, famous for shark cage diving. Between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock runs Shark Alley, a channel next to a colony of tens of thousands of Cape fur seals. No diving qualification is needed: you stay in a cage at the surface while the boat crew explain shark behaviour and conservation. Sightings change from season to season, and the crews tell you honestly what has been seen lately.

Clarence Drive coastal road
Stony Point penguins at Betty's Bay
Whale watching from the Hermanus cliffs
Optional: Gansbaai shark cage diving

R6,500Per vehicle, 1 to 2 guests. Meals and entrance fees excluded.Book on WhatsApp

Questions

Hermanus whale route tour: what guests ask

When is whale season in Hermanus?

Southern right whales visit Walker Bay from June to December, and the best months are usually August to October.

Do we need a boat to see the whales?

No. Hermanus is famous for whale watching from the shore; the whales often come within a few hundred metres of the cliff path. Boat trips can be added if you like.

Can we add shark cage diving in Gansbaai?

Yes, as an optional extra. No diving qualification is needed, trips depend on the weather and sea, and we book a reputable operator for you.

How much does the whale route tour cost?

R6,500 per vehicle for 1 to 2 guests, with your own vehicle and guide. Meals, entrance fees and activities such as shark cage diving are paid separately.

Can we see whales outside the season?

Whales are rare outside June to December, but the coastal drive, the Stony Point penguins and Hermanus itself are beautiful all year round.

Why guests and hotels trust us

25 years on Cape roads

Cape Rhino has grown alongside some of the Cape's finest hotels, from Steenberg Hotel and Stellenbosch Tourism to Spier Hotel, and today as concierge transport partner to Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa.

Since 2001Family run, founded by Waleed Osman, with the next generation now leading the business.

Erinvale HotelConcierge transport partner to Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa since 2022.

Shuttle DirectPreferred operator for Shuttle Direct since 2010.

Eteya Award 2006Provincial winner and nominee for Best Upcoming Touring Company.

BBBEE Level 1Female and youth owned, with 135% procurement recognition for corporate clients.