Birkenhead House

Go Local in South Africa

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Real people. Real stories. Real South Africa.

19 days

from £6,690 pp

Bergs, Battlefields & Bush

Safari Adventure + 2 more + 3 more

Exploring the history & wildlife of KwaZulu-Natal.

13 days

from £4,750 pp

Unexplored South Africa

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

Leave the tourist trail behind and experience a different South Africa.

14 days

from £9,350 pp

South Africa Express

Wildlife & Nature Express + 1 more + 2 more

A whistle-stop adventure packed with penguins, wine and wildlife.

10 days

from £3,050 pp

South Africa Safari Explorer

South Africa's wildlife at its best.

14 days

Safari Wildlife & Nature

from £5,850 pp

South Africa Family Holiday

Family Safari + 1 more + 2 more

The ultimate family adventure through South Africa's highlights.

15 days

from £3,495 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Drive the Whale Coast

It’s very likely that either on your way to or from The Whale Coast (or possibly both) you’ll drive along the road from the Sir Lowry Pass, south towards Hermanus. The road is one of the most spectacular in South Africa, and can hold its head high in the company of the great marine drives from around the world. At times clinging to what seems like an impossibly small ribbon with rocks towering above you on the inland side and a sheer drop on the other, the views out over Walker Bay and across to the distant Cape Peninsula are truly stunning; every corner you turn unveils a yet more impressive vista. As if this wasn’t enough, during whale season you have a very good chance of seeing one or more of these creatures, perhaps breeching in a spectacular sheet of spray in the waters below.

Kayak Hermanus

With its mountainous backdrop and rugged coastline, the quaint, coastal village of Hermanus offers some of the best land-based whale watching in the world with the arrival of Southern Right Whales into the shelter of Walker Bay. Explore this magnificent coastline up close with your experienced guide, kayaking through the marine reserve enjoying sightings of cape fur seals, penguins, cormorants and other sea birds and marine mammals. From June to November you have the opportunity to view the whales up to 300m away and with minimal noise pollution and no environmental pollution this is one of the most ecologically friendly way to experience the whales.

Land-based whale watching

The annual migration of southern right whales brings them to Walker Bay between June and November, in huge numbers, whilst humpbacks pass through between May and December and Bryde’s whales can be found all year round, albeit further offshore and in much smaller numbers. The geography of Walker Bay, with its steep cliffs that descend precipitously into the ocean, means that that whales come incredibly close to the shore. The cliffs of Walker Bay are laced with footpaths, many concentrated around the town of Hermanus which has become the heart of the Whale Coast: there is even a traditional whale crier sounding his kelp horn to advise of nearby sightings. All these factors make this area the best in the world for land-based whale watching. Typically when you think of whale watching, you imagine being dressed in oilskins, being thrown around in a small boat, probably with a wet and icy wind whipping across the decks. This couldn’t be further from the South African version, where you’re sat on the deck of your guest house, or perhaps sitting by the side of the cliff top path with a picnic, under a warm sun in a cloudless sky, sipping a glass of excellent local sauvignon blanc, and watching whales frolic in deep blue waters just yards off the shore.

Light aircraft whale-watching

Whale watching from sea level is a bit like watching icebergs: there is far more going on under the water than above it. Its only from the air that you get an appreciation of just how huge these creatures are, and where you can enjoy classic images of calves swimming alongside their mothers. Of course, from a light aircraft you can see across a huge expanse of ocean, increasing your chances of spotting whales to a near-certainty in whale season. As well as the whale watching, there’s the sheer thrill of swooping along the stunning coastline and gaining a different and spectacular view of the Whale Coast.