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Whale season on the Cape coast
From June to November southern right whales come into the bays along our coast, sometimes within a few metres of the rocks. The best viewing is an hour from the villa.
Close to Villa Helderberg
Six places to see whales, from a roadside viewpoint twenty minutes away to the cliff paths of Hermanus, with driving times from the villa.
The most famous land-based whale watching in the world runs right along this path. Gearing’s Point above the Old Harbour and Sievers Point are the classic spots, and whales are often seen a few metres from the rocks. Walk a stretch, then have lunch in town.
Hermanus tourism
Only licensed boat-based whale watching operators may approach the whales, and they run daily trips in season from the New Harbour in Hermanus and from Kleinbaai near Gansbaai. Trips last roughly two hours and are weather dependent, so allow a spare day.
Ask us to arrange it
The R44 between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els is one of the great coastal drives, with parking bays cut into the cliffs. In season you can often spot whales from the car park, and even out of season the views over False Bay are worth the trip.
Plan a coastal drive
Further along the same road, Betty’s Bay has quiet beaches, the penguin colony at Stony Point and rocky viewpoints where whales pass close by. Combine it with the Harold Porter botanical garden for an easy half day.
Ask us for tips
The town’s eco-marine festival falls at the peak of the season, with a street parade, markets, live music, a fun run and children’s activities alongside the whale watching. Book accommodation and restaurants early, and expect busy roads that weekend.
Festival programme
Light aircraft and helicopter flights over Walker Bay give a different view of the whales, and of the coastline between Hermanus and Gansbaai. They are short, pricey and entirely weather dependent, but photographers tend to love them.
Ask us to arrange itDriving times are approximate. Whales are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed; boat trips depend on the weather and may be cancelled at short notice. Photos: whales by Olga Ernst and Josep M. Gracia, cliff path by Scott Marsland, Kogel Bay by kallerna, Cape Hangklip by Winfried Bruenken, via Wikimedia Commons.
Good to know
Timing matters more with whales than with almost any other activity here.
Southern right whales arrive from Antarctica from about June, calving takes place in August and September, and the males arrive in October when numbers peak. So September and October are the best weeks of the year, and by late November most whales have gone south again.
Bring binoculars, a windproof jacket and patience. Mornings are usually calmer, and the whales often sit quietly in one bay for hours. From the cliff path you do not need a boat at all, which is why we suggest first-time visitors start there.
Whale season overlaps with spring flowers and with the quieter, cheaper travel months, so it is a lovely time to stay. Ask us and we will tell you where whales were being seen that week.
Plan a day on the whale coastLet us help
Tell us when you are here and we will suggest the best viewpoint, the right time of day and a boat trip operator if you want one.
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