Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town

By Ocean Wonder
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 4-80, max of 7 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More


  • 2 Hour Ocean Wildlife Encounter, on an exhilarating boat, with professional guide and Skipper
What's not included
  • Coffee and/or Tea


Start:
  • Oceana Power Boat Club, Haul Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 116417P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Maximum weight per traveler is 120kg
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 116417P1

    From
    ÂŁ62.04
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
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    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Haul Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
    • 1
      Besides the amazing animals that we encounter, it’s a really fun boat ride in an incredibly beautiful environment. The views of Table Mountain and Robben Island are amazing too.
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Ocean Wonder
      330
      South Africa
      Joined in September 2018
    • D1071YSpeterm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The greatest holiday excursion we have ever experienced
      Not sure where to start. For the rest of our day you couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces - because of this experience. We saw seals, dolphins, sun fish and this in itself was an amazing experience….but Paul was able to find a pod of humpback whales and for 50 minutes or so we were able from a respectful distance, observe these mighty, beautiful creatures as they fed on Krill. It was awesome and we feel privileged to have experienced that. Paul in particular was kind, thoughtful and frankly the kinda bloke you’d go out for a beer with. You’d probably lose sense of time with him and return home likely the worse for wear but having one of the best nights of your life. So if you’re looking at this review, then don’t think twice, life is to short to miss out on this trip and the opportunity to meet Paul!
      Written 10 January 2024
    • Explorer25236590402
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A truly memorable experience
      From the moment we made the booking we encounteted friendly and professional service. Fran kept us informed with the weather forecast for the day of our trip and at the end accommodated us in another slot due to bad weather conditions. Paul’s knowledge of the ocean is excellent and we learned and experienced a lot. We can recommend Ocean Wonder for a truly memorable experience!!
      Written 9 January 2024
    • LowS177
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A most unique boat trip
      It was a boat trip which was wholly organic in nature , based on Paul's instincts and observations to steer us along an unplanned route. I particularly enjoyed learning about how the marine plants and animals play their part in the ecosystem. It was a refreshing departure from commercial tours and ecotourism at its best.
      Written 8 December 2023
    • konstantinosm804
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      If you have to do only one thing in Cape Town DO THIS
      Extremely professional people with passion to entertain the customer. The boat is safe and the small group of six is people is optimum I will go again and again
      Written 17 November 2023
    • h20mpp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Superb time with amazing encounters.
      Paul contacted us the day prior to our booked trip to advise us where to meet and appropriate warm clothing to wear. In the morning of our trip we had a short brief before putting on life jackets and setting off in the rib. In very little time at all we were amongst a pod of dolphins who were swimming with the boat, breaching and cutting through the bow wave as Paul manoeuvred the boat. We took some amazing video and photo images before heading off towards Robben island. As we approached the island we spotted a small Humpback whale ahead so followed at a respectable distance before heading off to view several seals chilling on a channel marker buoy. We also spotted penguins and jelly fish during our two hour adventure. We finished of our trip viewing the pod of dolphins again before heading back into the jetty. Paul is very knowledgeable and keen to share facts and interesting information so made for an amazing experience all round. Many thanks for an unforgettable trip.
      Written 15 October 2023
    • davidaL65OJ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      I highly recommend this very caring and determined to succeed your operator, the people make the difference!
      Fran was an outstanding communicator when it came to some weather problems that no one anticipated! Fran made it a breeze to fix and we couldn’t have been happier with Paul our guide and John our driver, we felt completely immersed in the ecosystem and have learned very much thanks to this crew.
      Written 2 October 2023
    • Nataly0805
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Boat ride
      Great experience. Captain was so knowledgeable and experienced. We had a good weather and we saw whales, seals and dolphins.
      Written 20 November 2022
    • Michalav212
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A very big MUST in Cape Town!
      We saw lots of whales & a few seals. Beautiful views of the city & mountains from the ocean. Paul really knows his stuff & such a nice guy :) you feel you're in good hands ! Tips - * don't ignore the warm jacket advice, even in summer, coz you'll be sorry!! * If you've have had motion sickness in the past, take a pill before. & Dont Eat!! All in all, an incredible time was had by all :) Thanks, Paul!
      Written 9 November 2022
    • andreaagomess
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Incredible experience
      We had an incredible experience. Paul from Ocean Wonder is so passionate and knowledgeable. We saw 3 different species of dolphins. There were so many dolphins and seals around. It was amazing. Loved every moment. This is a must do.
      Written 20 October 2022
    • 212hesterw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      5 star!
      Amazing experience. We saw so much wildlife (southern right whales, sunfish, dolphins, seals, sea birds) and Paul was really knowledgeable and considerate of the wildlife.
      Written 6 February 2022
    • matthewn438
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Day Ever! Paul is the best!
      We have been on a bunch of boat trips before but this was one of the best. Paul was amazing! He knew where to go and what to look for. We saw Dolphins, Whales, Seals and Penguins! We liked it so much we booked a sunset ride with him. We went out twice in one day! 5 stars all around! Don’t look anywhere else and just book a trip with Paul!
      Written 28 December 2021
    • Jodieb_026
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing water adventures
      Definitely the best boat tour I've ever been on. We saw sun fish, dolphins, seals, penguins and even whales!!! Was the best day ever!! I would definitely do that again!!!
      Written 16 June 2021
    • samanthabehrmann
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Don’t miss this !
      We absolutely LOVED every minute of this ocean safari . You cannot get better ! We saw whales , dolphins and seals . Paul was phenomenal. We can HIGHLY recommend this activity and would do it again and again. Best value too .
      Written 9 April 2021
    • Elk01477
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant experience to end our trip
      The weather was unfortunately against us for most of our week in Cape Town which meant our trip with Paul had to be rescheduled a number of times. However, he was brilliant at communicating with us and keeping us in the loop with weather updates and when might be a suitable time to get out on the water. We made it out on our last day and it was brilliant. We saw dolphins, seals, penguins and a sun fish. Paul was incredibly knowledgable and we learnt a lot. Thank you for an amazing end to our holiday.
      Written 9 December 2019
    • Savvyocean123
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Ocean trip in Cape Town
      Great experience all around. Paul was very professional and very friendly. Offered us to come again the next day given the rough sea. The kids loved it and we saw lots of seals and dolphins and even helped with cleaning the ocean from plastic. Highly recommended!
      Written 31 October 2019
    See all 330 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles273 reviews
    Excellent
    269
    Very good
    3
    Average
    1
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    P&J's Travels
    Farnham, UK196 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Couples
    We specifically chose this boat trip given its focus on finding & enjoying the wildlife in Table Bay. Paul proved to be a very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and authentic skipper and did everything he could to deliver the promised encounters. Unfortunately during the 2 hour trip we only saw the resident Heaviside dolphins and common seals but that can happen with any wildlife encounter. In his efforts to find whales, Paul took us on a circumnavigation of Robben Island which used up a lot of the available time. Personally, we would have preferred to spend more time with the dolphins rather than "race all over the bay" in the hunt for other sightings but maybe Paul was simply trying to meet the needs of other passengers. Overall, we highly recommend the trip but be aware that the vessel is a high powered RIB so not for the feint-hearted or those susceptible to sea-sickness !
    Written 13 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Many thanks for sharing your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed Paul's expertise during the wildlife tour in Table Bay. Apologies for the limited sightings during your trip and the extended search for other wildlife. We appreciate your understanding of the unpredictable nature of these encounters. We'll certainly take your suggestion into consideration for future trips, and we're grateful for your recommendation.
    Written 15 December 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    James W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2024 • Couples
    Our guide Paul was fantastic. He explained to us where we would be going, and why. He was a great skipper and had a good sense of humour. The boat is a big thrill, going much faster than we expected, but driven expertly, so no seasickness. Weather wasn’t perfect on our trip (you can’t blame Ocean Wonder for that!) so we didn’t get to see any whales, but Paul went above and beyond to make sure we would see dolphins, and seals, even after our trip was supposed to have finished.
    Written 23 October 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review. We're delighted that Paul made the trip memorable and you had a thrilling ride. While we aren’t a dedicated whale charter company, we’re so glad you still got to see dolphins and seals. Hope to see you back for more ocean adventures.
    Written 26 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Alan B
    Poggio alla Malva, Italy2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2024 • Family
    Myself, my wife and our 9 year old daughter went on the Sea Safari with Ocean Wonder. Paul, our host, was excellent. He was knowledgable and passionate about all of the wildlife and ensured we were well looked after. We saw so much wildlife with the seals doing their yoga poses right through to different type of dolphins. We were so spoilt for choice, there were anyways everywhere we looked. It was such a great trip, we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Cape Town.
    Written 7 November 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for sharing your experience:) We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed the Sea Safari with Paul. It sounds like an incredible day filled with amazing wildlife sightings. Many thanks for the recommendation – we hope you make more wonderful memories like this!
    Written 12 November 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Heather K
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023 • Solo
    This boat tour was honestly one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. We ended up getting super lucky and seeing seals, penguins, whales and a large herd of dolphins. The dolphins were amazing and came right up to the boat making for wonderful pictures and videos. We were lucky to see multiple whales as it is out of season. Paul was an amazing guide and due to the speed of the boat we were able to keep up with the wildlife. You do not get wet on this tour so I was safely able to use my camera which was a huge plus. I highly recommend taking this trip if you are into photography or just really into wildlife! It was overall a great experience
    Written 7 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Olaf
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    “Nature is always unpredictable, you might not exactly get what you are looking for, but be open for the unexpected!”
    We had an exciting tour with Paul, saw whales in quite a distance, watched seals, observed dolphins and learned that birds give guidance. We learned so much about life in the ocean from Paul (and Leander), which was amazing and heart-touching. Partly we got pretty close, partly we had to accept that we are watching wild animals and are not in the zoo. Paul shared so many insights and we felt easily his passion and long-term experience. Running a business is not driving him, instead opening the eyes of his guests on the diversity, complexity and fragility of sea-life is key for him. Whenever you want to explore more than a zoo, join him.
    Written 8 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your heartfelt review and for sharing your amazing experience with us. Nature's embrace is truly enriching, and witnessing these magnificent creatures in their natural setting serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving their environment.
    Written 9 March 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    BaltimoreBeth
    Baltimore, MD4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2024 • Friends
    Paul treated us to a wonderful 2 hour excursion in search of dolphins, whales and seals. He knew exactly where to find a super pod of dolphins. In the US we usually see a few dolphins together, this was at least 100 dolphins, quite the spectacle. There were seals galore and we enjoyed watching them play and sleep. We did catch a glimpse of a whale! I loved that Paul shared his knowledge of how these animals behave and interact. It was a fantastic 2 hour adventure.
    Written 25 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your wonderful review:) We're thrilled you enjoyed the adventure with Paul and had the chance to witness such an incredible display of wildlife. It’s always so special experience to see a super pod of dolphins, lucky you!
    Written 6 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Expedition755797
    1 contribution
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2025 • Family
    Sadly, we had to give 3/5 for our experience. The boat trip started over 15 minutes late, which was a bad start & then our trip ended more than 5 minutes early, so we did not get the full 2 hour time slot as advertised. This is upsetting due to the price paid & knowing the group before us had an extra 30+ mins.
    Unfortunately we did not get to see much apart from seals on our trip, however this is just how the luck works on a trip such as this.
    Written 3 February 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry your experience didn’t meet expectations and apologise for the delayed start and early return, this is not typical for us at all, as we do strive to stay on schedule. We understand every minute counts and appreciate your input. While wildlife sightings are unpredictable, we always aim to provide the best possible experience. We hope to welcome you back for a better trip soon.
    Written 6 February 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    LydiaGG1986
    Manchester, UK4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2024 • Couples
    This trip was completely incredible! Fran and John are a great team. Fran met us at the Boat Club and explained how the trip would work before handing over the reins to John who took us out on the water for a brilliant two hours.

    John was really knowledgeable about the local waters and knew exactly where to go to find the beautiful wildlife. We had a pod of around 20 dolphins (of various species that John explained) and a group of seals, who were so playful and interactive and swam around our boat for over half an hour. It was amazing and I'd 100% recommend a trip out with these guys! Thanks, John and Fran, for a fab morning.
    Written 12 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for sharing your incredible experience with us. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic trip with John, and It's wonderful to know that he's expertise and knowledge of the local waters led to memorable encounters with the beautiful wildlife. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along. Thank you for the great recommendation.
    Written 20 February 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    ANDY K
    Mirfield, UK2,392 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Couples
    We were so lucky to do this tour!
    Our guide , Paul, put the tour back by an hour but Fran kept us up to date all the time.
    Paul was so knowledgeable and passionate about this tour that it was like we were friends not customers.
    His experience of the area was invaluable and we were lucky enough to see Dolphins, Penguins, Seals and both Humpback and Bryde whales.
    This is one of the most memorable experiences of our lives and we cannot recommend this tour enough.
    Please book early as this is not just a tourist boat with lots of people on where maybe money is the overriding factor but a man who cares about his job and the environment he says he is so lucky to work in!
    Thanks Paul for this amazing experience!
    Written 21 May 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the 5* review! We're glad Paul made your tour so memorable. Seeing dolphins, penguins, seals, and whales is always such an incredible experience. We appreciate your high recommendation and kind words!
    Written 13 June 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Meg
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022 • Family
    Paul is a passionate and incredibly knowledgeable guide who goes out of his way to care for the marine wildlife whilst ensuring his guests have a great experience. I also had a small child with me and Paul made an extra special effort to make sure he was okay throughout the journey - checking in with him and even sharing his snacks when my son became hungry! My son meanwhile got to see dolphins, whales, seals and sunfish up close for the first time in his young life and gave the experience a big thumbs up at the end. Thanks to Paul, my son’s first ever sea trip was exhilarating and inspiring and he is now hungry for more! Thank you.
    Written 7 January 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    That's the best outcome possible. Thanks.
    Written 9 January 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

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