Whale-Watching

Plettenberg Bay is one of the very best locations worldwide for boat-based whale- and dolphin-watching. Most days, visitors see at least two cetacean species and Cape fur seals, as well as a variety of seabirds, including Cape gannets and African penguins. On some days people have seen up to six cetacean species in the course of a few hours.

Two similar operators, Ocean Blue Adventures and Ocean Safaris, have you step directly onto a boat at the beach. Boats are fast, safe, and dry, even though the beaching after a trip can be a bit adventurous, as it’s a bumpy ride. Both operators offer similar trips, and boats are licensed to come as close as 164 feet to the whales.

Ocean Blue Adventures. Ocean Blue has a 1½–2-hour whale-watching trip that costs R700 and a dolphin-watching trip that costs R440. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the adventure of going out to sea in a launch and beaching again is worth the trip alone. En route, they take you past Robberg, which is home to a colony of Cape fur seals. Hopwood St., Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, 6600. 044/533–5083; www.oceanadventures.co.za.

Ocean Safaris. This group runs regular whale-watching trips from the beach area. These last 1½ to two hours and cost R700. Trips to see dolphins cost R450. Hopwood St., Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, 6600. 082/784–5729; www.oceansafaris.co.za.