As you might imagine, the marine life of the Whale Coast is the main draw of the area, but you can’t help but credit them for picking such a spectacular stretch of coastline around which to gather.

Almost immediately south-east from the outskirts of Cape Town and following the Atlantic shoreline along the Western Cape, this is a protected collection of beautiful bays with crescents of pristine white beaches, wild surf, tranquil mountains that dramatically descend into the Atlantic, sleepy valleys, nature reserves, charming coves bustling with wildlife and pleasant villages brimming with local heritage.

Some of the world’s premier destinations for viewing nurseries of southern right whales, as well as other marine life, are located on this coast, such as Hermanus, Overburg and Walker Bay, and there are also the shivers of great white sharks that gather off Gansbaai.

Being, at most, two hours from Cape Town, this region is also perfect in terms of convenience, extraordinary regarding the choice luxury accommodation, superb for world-class restaurants, and there’s also an excellent range of tours with some particularly thrilling adventure activities, too.

When to go

The whale season is from July to November. The rest of the year is also good, with the warmer months being October to April.

 
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What to do

  • Whale watching (July-November)
  • Shark cage diving
  • Hiking and trekking trails
  • Horse riding
  • Wine tasting
  • Nature and wildife tours to reserves
  • Archaeological caves
  • Great restaurants
  • Museums, galleries and shopping