Have you ever dreamt of a road trip where the ocean is your constant companion, the air smells of salt and fynbos and every bend in the road promises something breathtaking?
Then picture this: you, the open road, the ocean, and the plume of spray as a whale breaches so close to shore you can see it from the beach.
This is your invitation to follow the migrating whales from Cape Town along South Africa’s southern and eastern coasts, stopping at some of the best whale-watching spots on the planet.
A humpback slaps its tail on the water.
Best Places for Whale Watching in South Africa
Starting in Cape Town, our Follow The Whales itinerary takes you through charming towns, quiet beaches, and dramatic clifftops—all while keeping a close eye on the water for the stars of the season: the giants of the oceans.
You’ve made the best choice: the International Whaling Commission (IWC) says South Africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for watching whales and enormous pods of dolphins, with amazing sightings from land and from boat.
At least 37 species swim in the country’s coastal waters, some year-round and some in the winter and spring—from June to December—for breeding and calving; so keep your eyes peeled for baby whales, too.
The most frequent visitors are southern right and humpback whales, but orcas are not uncommon.
The cable car up Table Mountain gives a bird’s-eye view of Cape Town.
Cape Town: The Perfect Start to Your South African Road Trip
Your coastal adventure starts in Cape Town—South Africa’s Mother City—hugged by the Atlantic and guarded by Table Mountain. It’s been named the Best City in the World for 2025 by Time Out, and for good reason.
Cape Town ticks all the boxes for a great holiday: vibe, culture, history, nature, beauty, exceptional wine farms, world-leading restaurants, shopping, the list goes on. You’re here for a couple of days, time enough to discover some of the city’s many attractions.
We recommend a cable car ride up Table Mountain. The views are jaw-dropping. Also top of our list of things to do is a visit to the pretty naval village of Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach, where the penguins frolic.
Zeitz MOCAA and Norval Foundation are everything art.
African penguins are the bosses at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town.
Explore the Cape Winelands: Wine, Food, and Relaxation
And so your road-trippin’ begins: set off for the famed Cape Winelands, bound for Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel and Spa in Stellenbosch, the storied heart of South Africa’s red wines.
It’s also a foodie paradise, with Geuwels and Clara’s Barn on the Vergenoegd property. Chef Bertus Basson is the multi-award-winning chef-owner, and Chef Drikus Brink is the man at the pass. Clara’s Barn is the oldest barn in the Western Cape, and the menu inspiration is modern South African farm kitchen serving a fresh seasonal menu.
Wine tasting is also on the itinerary, of course; it is, after all, a working wine farm, where a flock of 1,000 Indian Runner ducks are a natural pest control.
Vergenoegd Low’s Indian Runner ducks are excellent natural pest control in vineyards.
Hermanus: South Africa’s Whale-Watching Capital
Ready to meet the giants of the ocean? It’s whale time. Hermanus, on the Cape South Coast, is generally named as one of the top 10 whale‑watching spots globally. When it comes to land-based whale watching, it’s thought to be number one.
Listen for the kelp horn of the whale crier during the whale season. Hermanus is the only place that has a whale crier, who alerts the townsfolk that there are whales in the bay. Check his sandwich board for the location and number of them spotted.
The town also has a Whale Festival every October.
For the next two nights, lay your head at The Marine on the scenic Cliff Path. It overlooks Walker Bay, making whale spotting easy.
You can also go on an adventure: walk the cliff trails, go on a marine cruise or kayak, or even go shark cage diving if you’re brave.
The Marine in Hermanus overlooks Walker Bay.
Mossel Bay: Coastal History and Ocean Views
History your thing? Mossel Bay has plenty of it.
Pinnacle Point is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Excavations of several sea-facing caves have found evidence of human occupation from 170,000 to 40,000 years ago.
It’s here that the earliest evidence of symbolic behavior (such as the use of ochre to paint) has been discovered. The town is also the first landing site of European explorers in Southern Africa, with Bartolomeu Dias arriving in 1488. Fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean at Diaz Beach Hotel.
A sunset cruise in Knysna is a perfect end to your day.
Set Sail For The Knysna Heads
Your next stop is the popular town of Knysna, best known for its lagoon (and the heads marking the gateway into the open ocean), forests and the rare Knysna seahorse, the first seahorse species to be listed in the IUCN Red Data List of threatened species.
Settle into your base at the Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa on Thesen Island. It was once a power station but is now a stylish retreat.
You’ve seen whales from the land, and now it’s time to put on your sea legs. For it’s out on the ocean on a Close Encounter Whale Watching expedition. Feel the ocean spray on your skin, the bracing breeze waking all your senses; watch those immense but graceful creatures breach, the sound of humpbacks’ tail slapping ringing in your ears. An absolute highlight of your road trip.
It’s hard to leave Knysna, so stretch out your stay a little longer, this time at Head over Hills, a luxury boutique hotel right on the edge of those famous heads. Go on a sunset cruise, languish in the rim-flow pool—you deserve it.
Seeing a whale so close is an extraordinary experience.
The Last Leg: The Big 5 At Kuzuko Lodge
From whales to elephants, lions and buffalo: your road trip ends at Kuzuko Lodge, found in a 14,000ha private game reserve in the malaria-free Greater Addo Conservation Area, in the Eastern Cape.
The ethos here is a deeply immersive wildlife experience alongside meaningful conservation and community impact.
Days are full at Kuzuko; there are game drives, rejuvenating spa treatments, guided nature walks, Karoo-inspired cuisine, sundowners on the sunset deck, and San rock art.
From Kuzuko Lodge your last drive is to Gqeberha, where you catch your flight to Johannesburg.
It’s a powerful and peaceful close to your South African journey.
You can explore San rock art at Kuzuko Lodge.
Extend Your Coastal Road Trip with a Beach Escape
There’s something soul-stirring about seeing a whale breach just metres from the shore—something that stays with you long after the splash has settled. This is the kind of coastal road trip that leaves your soul salty and your camera roll full.
Good things need not end. Speak to your travel consultant about extending your trip with a relaxing barefoot escape to Massinga Beach in Mozambique.
And remember, with SAFARI.COM by your side, you are never truly alone on the road. Your safety is one of our core values. Go ahead, the adventure of a lifetime awaits, and we’re excited to help you plan it.
Massinga Beach is all about tropical bliss.
Start Planning Your Safari With Confidence
Let SAFARI.COM help you plan a road trip filled with adventure, and punctuated with quiet moments where the only sound is the breathy whoosh of a southern right whale surfacing just offshore.
Our expert team is here to bring your African safari dreams to life. With insider knowledge, heartfelt service, and personalized support, we’ll be with you every step of the way—before, during, and even after your journey.
Email us at helpmeplan@safari.com, hit the WhatsApp button above, or call us toll-free on 1-888-SAFARIS (US & Canada) for expert help, free of charge.
Whale Wonders
Orcas are best known as killer whales and they are certainly at the top of the marine food chain, but they are not whales at all. They are actually very, very big dolphins.
The patterns on the underside of humpback whale tails are as unique as a human fingerprint. Good then that you can see the patterns when they tail slap.
Humpback whales love to sing. And if they like a bit of something they hear another whale singing, they’ll incorporate it into their own repertoire.
The Antarctic blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, ever. Bigger than all the dinosaurs. They can weigh up to 180 tonnes, which is about the same as 36 elephants.
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