The Marine

South Africa Safari Explorer

South Africa's wildlife at its best.

Safari Wildlife & Nature

from £5,850 pp

South Africa Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

A seamless South Africa and Mauritius holiday.

Romantic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

from £4,450 pp

South African Grand Tour

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Three weeks, one unforgettable road trip across South Africa’s greatest highlights.

21 days

from £4,295 pp

Unexplored South Africa

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

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

from £9,350 pp

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

The perfect South African summer holiday.

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

from £3,995 pp

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

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.

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.

Hermanus Wine Hopper

Experience the spectacular Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley on a unique hop-on hop-off safari-style vehicle discovering the boutique wineries that are producing exceptional varietals, particularly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The Valley’s close proximity to the ocean as well as its unique geography and soil diversity are the key contributors to the exceptional quality of the wines. Flexibility is key, with your ticket valid for the day as you hop between the different estates, and your transport coming by every 30 minutes.

Boat-based whale watching

Mindful of the potential impact of boat-based whale watching on the whales themselves, permits for this activity are limited to a small number of concessions, each with just one or two boats operating in it. They have to abide by strict regulations, which include not approaching mother and calf pairings, and not approaching within 50 metres of the whales. However, nothing stops the whales from approaching the boats, and being inquisitive creatures, this happens frequently. Very few things compare with the thrill of an eye-to-eye encounter with one of these denizens of the deep, and a boat trip out to see the whales is an essential part of any trip to the Whale Coast. The trips typically last a couple of hours, and during whale season you are pretty much guaranteed to see a significant number of whales. The regulations allow you to do this safe in the knowledge that not only are the whales undisturbed, but also that the local communities have a vested interest in conserving and not exploiting these magnificent creatures.