Premium Whale Watching Cruises are ‘close encounter’ tours, they are conducted on a permitted whale watching vessel. This permit allows our boats to approach whales up to 50 metres. The whales may then move closer if they wish to. Whales are usually inquisitive and generally move closer and alongside the boat! Only licensed operators may legally approach whales to this distance.

‘Official’ whale season, based on the presence of Southern Right Whales along our coastline, runs between July and November. However, we are fortunate to have Humpback Whales between April and January. Bryde’s whales are seen along our coastline all year around, so there is always a chance of getting ‘up close and personal’ with whales in South Africa.

Both cruises are essentially the same and we don’t call them the best seafari by far for nothing! We take special notice of any dolphins in the area, visit the seals and check out any seabirds, sharks and other marine species that may be around, you never know what you are going to see! Our records show that Ocean Safaris see more animals than anywhere else in the country!

Cruises are between 2-2 ½ hours. Plettenberg Bay has one of South Africa’s most diverse bays – sheltered, warm waters attract a multitude of marine species from the endangered African Oystercatcher to juvenile hammerhead sharks and thousands of Common dolphins, which come into the bay to feed.

Ocean Safaris help raise funding for the Centre for Dolphin Studies, so proceeds from the cruises help to support our research and environmental education programmes, in line with our motto: Observe and conserve.

This relationship between non-profit research and commercial marine ecotourism is unique and is the only place in the country where tourists can actively support marine research.