Gans Bay
Tours

Our most recommended things to do in Gans Bay

From Hermanus or Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Experience

From Hermanus or Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Experience

Discover the excitement of meeting a great white shark on this day trip. Choose from a tour with hotel pickup in Hermanus or Cape Town or a tour where you can meet the boat directly in Gansbaai. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch and get a certificate for your shark cage dive. First, enjoy breakfast at the stunning Lodge. The continental breakfast consists of freshly made muffins, quiches, yogurt, cereals, toast and cold meats, tea, and coffee. Meet your skipper for the day, who has extensive experience working in the unique marine area off the southern Cape coast. The skippers log more contact with great white sharks than anyone else worldwide. Have a brief introductory presentation on the Great White Shark and learn how the activity provider works with the sharks in the area. Spend 2 to 4 hours at sea, depending on how often the sharks visit the boat. Be sure to ask as many questions as you wish. Hop into the cage, which takes 6 people at a time. Each person spends about 20 minutes in the cage. All scuba equipment, including 7 mm wetsuits, is provided – you don’t need a scuba license to cage dive. On your return to dry land, you will return to the Lodge for a light lunch.

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

Visit the Dyer Island ecosystem and have the opportunity to spot the Marine Big 5: whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Every year from June to December, the southern right whales arrive to mate and calve.  Witness mating displays, breaching, tail slapping, spy-hopping and more. You may also see Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, the elusive humpback dolphin and the common dolphin. An incredible array of seabirds and a sighting of the almost 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock is guaranteed as the boat cruises down the famous Shark Alley. An onboard marine biologist will be on hand to teach you more about the amazing animals that visit these shores. Please note that this is wildlife and animal activity cannot be guaranteed. You will be contacted by a member of staff the day prior to your tour to confirm the exact meeting or pickup time (depending on the activity you booked). Tour meeting times will differ from timeslots selected on booking as this tour is weather and tide depending. We will confirm the tour times after a detailed weather and tide check. Ensure you receive your message the afternoon prior to the tour and confirm receipt of message. Estimated timeslots on website is only an indication. On the day of your trip, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cape Town or Hermanus, if you have selected an option with transfers included. Upon arrival in Gansbaai, enjoy coffee/tea and muffins while listening to a dedicated safety briefing.  Once you're fitted with inflatable life jackets and wet-weather gear, take a 200-meter stroll down to the harbor to board the whale-watching vessel. Time spent out at sea on average is two hours depending on sea conditions and marine life activity.  Upon return to land, receive an informative debrief while enjoying warm soup and bread. Professional trip footage is also available to purchase after the trip so that you can have a permanent memory of your sightings.  If you have chosen the option with transfers from Cape Town, a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary is also included on your way back. You'll see the important efforts being made to rehabilitate injured and sick animals.

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

Join a whale-watching tour in Hermanus and visit the area with the highest concentration of whales on the South African Coastline. Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders to see these magnificent creatures. Along the way hear commentary about whales, and facts about right whales. Learn about the habitats and their feeding processes. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals, and other marine life. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke, and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, false killer whales, and enchanting African penguins. This tour offers a great selection of marine life and allows you to get an up-close look at wild animals. Relax without an ethical dilemma as you support businesses that celebrate animals in the wild. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

Cape Town: Gansbaai Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving Cruise

Cape Town: Gansbaai Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving Cruise

Discover the thrill of diving with sharks in the safety of a cage with this tour from Cape Town. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and head to Joubertsdam to hop in the water with sharks. Have snacks and drinks onboard and end your experience with soup access to the African penguin and seabird sanctuary. If the transfer option is selected, your adventure will start with a pickup from your hotel in Cape Town. Take a drive along a scenic route to get to your destination – the Great White House.  Once there, enjoy breakfast or lunch before a safety briefing about what to expect. Then, stroll to the harbor to board a dedicated shark-diving vessel. Journey to Joubertsdam and drop anchor where the sharks reside. Your boat will have all the amenities, along with drinks and snacks for your comfort.  Collect your waterproof bag containing your dive kit and then get up close to these magnificent animals in their natural environment, protected of course by a cage. You'll be completely safe, but your adrenaline will be pumping like crazy. This is sure to be an experience you will never forget. Travel through shark alley if conditions permit before returning to land for a debriefing and a warm bowl of soup. Then, enjoy free entry to the African penguin and seabird sanctuary on your way back to Cape Town (if the option is selected).

From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

Discover the thrill of diving with sharks in a protective cage on this boat tour to Shark Alley. Enjoy breakfast/lunch, snacks, and drinks on your trip.  On arrival, enjoy complimentary snacks with coffee or tea during the safety briefing on land and get fitted with your high-quality wetsuit. Embark on your cruise from Kleinbaai Harbour. Arrive at shark alley and watch as the boat is anchored, and the sharks are lured by bait line to the cage. Watch the sharks from the deck of the boat while waiting to hop into the cage for your own unforgettable close encounter. Sip on drinks and snacks on board while you warm up on the deck before having another underwater encounter with these awe-inspiring apex predators. No diving experience is necessary for this surface-level cage dive, it's as easy as holding your breath. Have your experience captured by an onboard cameraman and after viewing the day's footage back on land, while tucking into a hot meal, you can choose to purchase a video of your great experience (via a link).

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders. Enter a nature reserve with the highest concentration of whales in South Africa. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals and sharks. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, False killer whales and enchanting African penguins. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

In just 20 minutes you’ll be out of Cape Town’s city center and traveling along the Overberg south coastal route to Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and Betty’s Bay. The route is picturesque and is an enjoyable way to set the mood for the full day ahead. Travel beneath Sir Lowry’s Pass and see the sheer cliff faces that drop into the Indian Ocean below. As you near Betty’s Bay, you’ll have views of unspoiled beaches stretching for miles. Stop to see the breeding ground of the African penguins at Stony Point or visit the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Continue the drive through Hermanus to the seaside town of Gansbaai. The magnificent cliffs of De Kelders and the unspoiled beach provide for perfect land-based whale watching. In Gansbaai, you’ll head out on a 2-hour whale-watching journey. The purpose-built boat and restrictions on the number of passengers make it possible to fully enjoy the experience of observing these creatures at play. Afterwards you’ll head back along the coast to Hermanus for a late lunch (not included in the tour price). There’s much to see and discover in Hermanus, including up-market shops and arts and crafts stalls. Head along the N2 to the Peregrine Farm Stall, the final stop on the tour. Experience old-fashioned values and quality produce straight from the farms.

Gansbaai: Shark Cage Dive and Onboard Viewing

Gansbaai: Shark Cage Dive and Onboard Viewing

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and get up close and personal with a variety of shark species in the incredible bay. Hop into the water and observe sharks from inside a metal cage. Meet the cage diving team, which includes marine scientists, in Gansbaai, located 2.5 hours away from Cape Town, and enjoy a light breakfast and refreshments upon arrival. Take part in a safety briefing and demonstration. Afterward, the boat will anchor and the cage will be lowered into the water.  Put on your wet suit, jump into the cage and see the sharks as they swim by. Enjoy great views of the sharks from both on board and in the water. Sharks are surface feeders and shark activity takes place on or near the surface, meaning you don’t have to actually dive to see a shark. Hang out at the water’s surface and stick your head under when a shark comes by. You can also enjoy excellent views of the sharks from on deck. Enjoy seeing a shark up close and in the wild, without having to have extensive swimming experience. The free-floating cage is attached to the side of the boat, allowing divers to their keep heads and shoulders above water. You’ll be able to fully submerge yourself underwater by holding onto the handrail when the sharks pass the cage. No scuba gear or diving certification is required as the use of an oxygen supply is not necessary for the experience. Afterward, enjoy post-dive snacks and refreshments. You might be able to see bronze whaler sharks, broad nose seven gill cow sharks and other marine life, sting rays, seals, dolphins, whales, sunfish and a variety of sea birds.

Big 5 Sea Safari Boat Ride of Gansbaai or Walker Bay

Big 5 Sea Safari Boat Ride of Gansbaai or Walker Bay

Depart from the harbor of Gansbaai and cruise along the scenic route passing the cliffs of De Kelders and De Platt Beach.  Observe the stunning coast line, contrasting white beach's with the blue skies and chameleon waters that stretch for miles from Gansbaai to Hermanus.  Set course and head out into the middle of the bay in search of the Big 5. Bottlenose dolphins are often seen on these trips and if you are lucky enough to encounter a school, grab the zoom lens as dolphins love to entertain and it’s a photographer’s paradise. On your return to Gansbaai Harbour pay attention to the  danger point, this is often where the resident Bryde's whales are found in the area. Bryde’s whales are hunters and feed on wide variety of fish, mackerel is common to the waters as well as plankton, crustaceans and cephalopods.  On your journey your crew will educate you on all aspects of marine life, with a qualified marine biologist and a Skipper with over 15 years experience there is a wealth of knowledge available.  No trip is the same and it can never be guaranteed what you will see, but there are so many marine mammals and bird life on offer, that it's an avid photographers dream!  Danger Point is where the British iron paddle-wheel frigate HMS Birkenhead, weighing 1400 tons, was tragically lost.  This stretch of water has earned its reputation by default and the Sea Safari is dependent on the water conditions at danger point. If the water conditions for this area will not deliver a memorable experience, your trip may be moved to Walker Bay.

From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving and Penguin Tour

From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving and Penguin Tour

Your shark diving adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town. Ask your hotel to pack a breakfast for you, or enjoy the light breakfast provided upon arrival in Gansbaai. Listen to a briefing about the shark diving experience before setting sail on the open seas for an exciting three hours of shark cage diving. Put on the diving gear provided for you and get ready for an unforgettable experience. Watch closely as the crew engages the sharks, drawing them close to the boat to give you the best views. See this apex predator up close when you take your turn in the cage, admiring its sheer size and streamlined shape as it swims right past you. Return to shore after your cage diving adventure and enjoy a warm shower. Fresh towels will be provided. Sit down with your tour group to watch a DVD of the day's events and receive your diving adventure certificate before heading back to Cape Town. Your return journey takes you through Betty's Bay. Visit the Stony Point Nature Reserve, home to a unique colony of African penguins. See the flightless birds up close and walk along the boardwalk that makes its way through the colony's natural habitat. Return to Cape Town via the scenic R44 coastal route, stopping at a viewpoint along the way to take photos.

All activities

28 activities found
Sort by:
Recommended

Go beyond Gans Bay

Explore all

Our most recommended things to do in Gans Bay

From Hermanus or Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Experience

From Hermanus or Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Experience

Discover the excitement of meeting a great white shark on this day trip. Choose from a tour with hotel pickup in Hermanus or Cape Town or a tour where you can meet the boat directly in Gansbaai. Enjoy a delicious breakfast and lunch and get a certificate for your shark cage dive. First, enjoy breakfast at the stunning Lodge. The continental breakfast consists of freshly made muffins, quiches, yogurt, cereals, toast and cold meats, tea, and coffee. Meet your skipper for the day, who has extensive experience working in the unique marine area off the southern Cape coast. The skippers log more contact with great white sharks than anyone else worldwide. Have a brief introductory presentation on the Great White Shark and learn how the activity provider works with the sharks in the area. Spend 2 to 4 hours at sea, depending on how often the sharks visit the boat. Be sure to ask as many questions as you wish. Hop into the cage, which takes 6 people at a time. Each person spends about 20 minutes in the cage. All scuba equipment, including 7 mm wetsuits, is provided – you don’t need a scuba license to cage dive. On your return to dry land, you will return to the Lodge for a light lunch.

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

Gansbaai: Marine Big 5 Boat tour

Visit the Dyer Island ecosystem and have the opportunity to spot the Marine Big 5: whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Every year from June to December, the southern right whales arrive to mate and calve.  Witness mating displays, breaching, tail slapping, spy-hopping and more. You may also see Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, the elusive humpback dolphin and the common dolphin. An incredible array of seabirds and a sighting of the almost 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock is guaranteed as the boat cruises down the famous Shark Alley. An onboard marine biologist will be on hand to teach you more about the amazing animals that visit these shores. Please note that this is wildlife and animal activity cannot be guaranteed. You will be contacted by a member of staff the day prior to your tour to confirm the exact meeting or pickup time (depending on the activity you booked). Tour meeting times will differ from timeslots selected on booking as this tour is weather and tide depending. We will confirm the tour times after a detailed weather and tide check. Ensure you receive your message the afternoon prior to the tour and confirm receipt of message. Estimated timeslots on website is only an indication. On the day of your trip, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cape Town or Hermanus, if you have selected an option with transfers included. Upon arrival in Gansbaai, enjoy coffee/tea and muffins while listening to a dedicated safety briefing.  Once you're fitted with inflatable life jackets and wet-weather gear, take a 200-meter stroll down to the harbor to board the whale-watching vessel. Time spent out at sea on average is two hours depending on sea conditions and marine life activity.  Upon return to land, receive an informative debrief while enjoying warm soup and bread. Professional trip footage is also available to purchase after the trip so that you can have a permanent memory of your sightings.  If you have chosen the option with transfers from Cape Town, a visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary is also included on your way back. You'll see the important efforts being made to rehabilitate injured and sick animals.

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip

Join a whale-watching tour in Hermanus and visit the area with the highest concentration of whales on the South African Coastline. Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders to see these magnificent creatures. Along the way hear commentary about whales, and facts about right whales. Learn about the habitats and their feeding processes. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals, and other marine life. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke, and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, false killer whales, and enchanting African penguins. This tour offers a great selection of marine life and allows you to get an up-close look at wild animals. Relax without an ethical dilemma as you support businesses that celebrate animals in the wild. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

Cape Town: Gansbaai Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving Cruise

Cape Town: Gansbaai Eco-Friendly Shark Cage Diving Cruise

Discover the thrill of diving with sharks in the safety of a cage with this tour from Cape Town. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and head to Joubertsdam to hop in the water with sharks. Have snacks and drinks onboard and end your experience with soup access to the African penguin and seabird sanctuary. If the transfer option is selected, your adventure will start with a pickup from your hotel in Cape Town. Take a drive along a scenic route to get to your destination – the Great White House.  Once there, enjoy breakfast or lunch before a safety briefing about what to expect. Then, stroll to the harbor to board a dedicated shark-diving vessel. Journey to Joubertsdam and drop anchor where the sharks reside. Your boat will have all the amenities, along with drinks and snacks for your comfort.  Collect your waterproof bag containing your dive kit and then get up close to these magnificent animals in their natural environment, protected of course by a cage. You'll be completely safe, but your adrenaline will be pumping like crazy. This is sure to be an experience you will never forget. Travel through shark alley if conditions permit before returning to land for a debriefing and a warm bowl of soup. Then, enjoy free entry to the African penguin and seabird sanctuary on your way back to Cape Town (if the option is selected).

From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

From Hermanus: Cruise with Shark Cage Dive and Lunch

Discover the thrill of diving with sharks in a protective cage on this boat tour to Shark Alley. Enjoy breakfast/lunch, snacks, and drinks on your trip.  On arrival, enjoy complimentary snacks with coffee or tea during the safety briefing on land and get fitted with your high-quality wetsuit. Embark on your cruise from Kleinbaai Harbour. Arrive at shark alley and watch as the boat is anchored, and the sharks are lured by bait line to the cage. Watch the sharks from the deck of the boat while waiting to hop into the cage for your own unforgettable close encounter. Sip on drinks and snacks on board while you warm up on the deck before having another underwater encounter with these awe-inspiring apex predators. No diving experience is necessary for this surface-level cage dive, it's as easy as holding your breath. Have your experience captured by an onboard cameraman and after viewing the day's footage back on land, while tucking into a hot meal, you can choose to purchase a video of your great experience (via a link).

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by Boat

Launch from the quaint fishing harbor of Gansbaai and travel along the cliffs of De Kelders. Enter a nature reserve with the highest concentration of whales in South Africa. Look for southern right whales in their natural environment, along with dolphins, Cape fur seals and sharks. Keep an eye out for humpback, minke and Bryde's whales frolicking in the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the beautiful orcas, False killer whales and enchanting African penguins. Return back to the harbor at the end of your boating adventure.

From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

From Cape Town: Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and Gansbaai

In just 20 minutes you’ll be out of Cape Town’s city center and traveling along the Overberg south coastal route to Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay, and Betty’s Bay. The route is picturesque and is an enjoyable way to set the mood for the full day ahead. Travel beneath Sir Lowry’s Pass and see the sheer cliff faces that drop into the Indian Ocean below. As you near Betty’s Bay, you’ll have views of unspoiled beaches stretching for miles. Stop to see the breeding ground of the African penguins at Stony Point or visit the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden. Continue the drive through Hermanus to the seaside town of Gansbaai. The magnificent cliffs of De Kelders and the unspoiled beach provide for perfect land-based whale watching. In Gansbaai, you’ll head out on a 2-hour whale-watching journey. The purpose-built boat and restrictions on the number of passengers make it possible to fully enjoy the experience of observing these creatures at play. Afterwards you’ll head back along the coast to Hermanus for a late lunch (not included in the tour price). There’s much to see and discover in Hermanus, including up-market shops and arts and crafts stalls. Head along the N2 to the Peregrine Farm Stall, the final stop on the tour. Experience old-fashioned values and quality produce straight from the farms.

Gansbaai: Shark Cage Dive and Onboard Viewing

Gansbaai: Shark Cage Dive and Onboard Viewing

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and get up close and personal with a variety of shark species in the incredible bay. Hop into the water and observe sharks from inside a metal cage. Meet the cage diving team, which includes marine scientists, in Gansbaai, located 2.5 hours away from Cape Town, and enjoy a light breakfast and refreshments upon arrival. Take part in a safety briefing and demonstration. Afterward, the boat will anchor and the cage will be lowered into the water.  Put on your wet suit, jump into the cage and see the sharks as they swim by. Enjoy great views of the sharks from both on board and in the water. Sharks are surface feeders and shark activity takes place on or near the surface, meaning you don’t have to actually dive to see a shark. Hang out at the water’s surface and stick your head under when a shark comes by. You can also enjoy excellent views of the sharks from on deck. Enjoy seeing a shark up close and in the wild, without having to have extensive swimming experience. The free-floating cage is attached to the side of the boat, allowing divers to their keep heads and shoulders above water. You’ll be able to fully submerge yourself underwater by holding onto the handrail when the sharks pass the cage. No scuba gear or diving certification is required as the use of an oxygen supply is not necessary for the experience. Afterward, enjoy post-dive snacks and refreshments. You might be able to see bronze whaler sharks, broad nose seven gill cow sharks and other marine life, sting rays, seals, dolphins, whales, sunfish and a variety of sea birds.

Big 5 Sea Safari Boat Ride of Gansbaai or Walker Bay

Big 5 Sea Safari Boat Ride of Gansbaai or Walker Bay

Depart from the harbor of Gansbaai and cruise along the scenic route passing the cliffs of De Kelders and De Platt Beach.  Observe the stunning coast line, contrasting white beach's with the blue skies and chameleon waters that stretch for miles from Gansbaai to Hermanus.  Set course and head out into the middle of the bay in search of the Big 5. Bottlenose dolphins are often seen on these trips and if you are lucky enough to encounter a school, grab the zoom lens as dolphins love to entertain and it’s a photographer’s paradise. On your return to Gansbaai Harbour pay attention to the  danger point, this is often where the resident Bryde's whales are found in the area. Bryde’s whales are hunters and feed on wide variety of fish, mackerel is common to the waters as well as plankton, crustaceans and cephalopods.  On your journey your crew will educate you on all aspects of marine life, with a qualified marine biologist and a Skipper with over 15 years experience there is a wealth of knowledge available.  No trip is the same and it can never be guaranteed what you will see, but there are so many marine mammals and bird life on offer, that it's an avid photographers dream!  Danger Point is where the British iron paddle-wheel frigate HMS Birkenhead, weighing 1400 tons, was tragically lost.  This stretch of water has earned its reputation by default and the Sea Safari is dependent on the water conditions at danger point. If the water conditions for this area will not deliver a memorable experience, your trip may be moved to Walker Bay.

From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving and Penguin Tour

From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving and Penguin Tour

Your shark diving adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town. Ask your hotel to pack a breakfast for you, or enjoy the light breakfast provided upon arrival in Gansbaai. Listen to a briefing about the shark diving experience before setting sail on the open seas for an exciting three hours of shark cage diving. Put on the diving gear provided for you and get ready for an unforgettable experience. Watch closely as the crew engages the sharks, drawing them close to the boat to give you the best views. See this apex predator up close when you take your turn in the cage, admiring its sheer size and streamlined shape as it swims right past you. Return to shore after your cage diving adventure and enjoy a warm shower. Fresh towels will be provided. Sit down with your tour group to watch a DVD of the day's events and receive your diving adventure certificate before heading back to Cape Town. Your return journey takes you through Betty's Bay. Visit the Stony Point Nature Reserve, home to a unique colony of African penguins. See the flightless birds up close and walk along the boardwalk that makes its way through the colony's natural habitat. Return to Cape Town via the scenic R44 coastal route, stopping at a viewpoint along the way to take photos.

Frequently asked questions about Gans Bay

Experiences in Gans Bay

Tours in South Africa

Things to do in South Africa

Other Sightseeing Options in Gans Bay

Want to discover all there is to do in Gans Bay? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Gans Bay

Overall rating

4.5
(477 reviews)

This was a must do. What a wonderful experience with fantastic customer service. They made sure everyone had a great experience. Henrico our driver was the one that really made a difference. He was so much fun to be with and made the trip very memorable.

The tour was great, we were able to see 5 sharks and 1 seal, the sharks are in front of you while you are in the cage, we enjoyed a lot!

enjoyed the whole experience. friendly staff. very helpful.loved it.would do it again.

It was great! Getting sea sick is very likely so take tablets before hand!

Amazing from start to finish couldn’t have asked for better set up