Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Whale watching in Port Elizabeth
Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) *Weather dependent*

What are we going to experience ?

We will take you on a catamaran to see the whales, dolphins and African Penguins on St. Croix Island and Brenton Island.

Blu-Pebbles Tours &Transfer with Raggy Charters offers expertly guided whale, dolphin, and African penguin watching tours in Gqeberha (PE). Raggy Charters are licenced boat-based whale watching permit holders with shark cage diving permits. Algoa Bay is popularly known as the Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the World.

Outside of the whale watching season, Raggy Charters specialises in Penguin Island Cruises, which carry tourists to St. Croix Island. This island is home to the world's largest breeding colony of the endangered African Penguin.

What to Expect on a Sea Cruise?
Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Humpback Dolphins, Bryde’s Whales, Minke Whales, Southern Right Whales, Humpback Whales, Cape Fur Seals, various species of sharks (Great White Sharks), Cape Gannets, and multiple species of pelagic birds, including Terns, Petrels, Skuas, Shearwaters, and Albatrosses, can be found in the Algoa Bay.

Your Itinerary

We meet at the Nelson Mandela Bay Yacht Club in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth Harbour at 8.00 am. We board the catamaran for an exhilarating Marine Safari into the protected waters of Algoa Bay in search of Dolphins, Seals, Sharks, and the seasonal Humpback and Southern Right Whales. We will be circumnavigating St. Croix Island and its African Penguin colony.

Light refreshments and snacks are served during the cruise, and we estimate our return by 12h30 pm.

More Information:
The whale season begins in June when we see humpback whales moving along the coast as they head up the east coast of Africa towards their breeding grounds. Humpback whales can be seen in Algoa Bay between June and early January, reaching peaks in July/August and again in November/December on their return journey, with calves in tow.

From July to October, Southern Right Whales enter the safety of the bay to give birth. These whales are usually seen very close inshore, near the harbour, and most frequently along the South African coast.

Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins are the most commonly seen in the bay and can be seen in groups of 10–400 all year. These playful dolphins enjoy the shallow waters, either near the beaches or around St. Croix Island, and they tend to come right up to the boat and ride along in the bow waves. Common dolphins are also a spectacular sight. Sometimes, in groups of 1000–2000, they swim along at fast speeds. These dolphins are often spotted from January to June as they follow large shoals of baitfish which move past the bay. We also get humpback dolphins in Algoa Bay, which usually occur in much smaller groups during the summer.

St. Croix Island is home to 22,000 breeding pairs of African penguins, the largest breeding colony found in Africa (though we have lost 70% in 10 years). Here you will get a close-up encounter with these comical birds. The African penguin’s breeding season reaches its peak between March and May, when you may be able to see the chicks from the boat. St. Croix and Brenton Island are also home to the endangered African black oystercatcher, white-breasted cormorants, and Cape cormorants. St. Croix Island and the Bird Island group became part of the Addo Elephant National Park, allowing rangers to patrol the islands and protect the African penguin population. As they are Marine Protected Areas, please note that you are not allowed to go on to the islands.

There is also an opportunity to see white-breasted cormorants, Cape cormorants, Bryde’s whales, minke whales, Cape fur seals, various species of sharks, Cape gannets, and many species of seabirds, including terns, petrels, skuas, shearwaters, and albatrosses.

DISCLAIMER

The cruise operator cannot guarantee animal sightings on any cruise. The cruise operator offers guests the opportunity to view wild animals which will move around at their own will and therefore we cannot be held responsible for the movements of these animals. Guests who are taken to St Croix are guaranteed to see African penguins, and therefore no refund will be given if other marine animals are not spotted. If absolutely no animals are sighted compensation, in the form of a free ticket for the next boat trip, may be given at the discretion of the skipper.

Tour Image Gallery

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Our Rates

 

Per Person
Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

3.5 to 4hour cruise starting at 08h00 am to ETA 12h30 noon.

R 2500 per adult (international) Min 4 Pax

Child rate available on request.

South African rate available on request.

• Rates are in ZAR.
• A single person or couple can join an existing group
• There may be discounts for groups of 10+
• Should the tour not go ahead due to adverse weather conditions a full refund will be given, also please see disclaimer.

**Shuttle and/or transfer services are also available on request at an additional rate**

Precautionary Measures & Recommendations

Sunhat
Sunscreen lotion
Sunglasses
Warm jacket
Non slip shoes
Motion sickness medication (just in case)
Camera
Binoculars
Extra drinking water if required

Includes

• Light refreshments & Snacks

Excludes

• Transport
• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Items of a personal nature
• Tips & gratuities

 

Book this Tour

Disclaimer:
The client shall not hold any claim against Blu-Pebbles Tours & Transfer (PTY) Ltd, our partners or employees for any injury, loss, accident, discomfort or inconvenience that may have been caused to the client’s self/partner/children/family members or friends on any tour or transfer including against any of his/her/their property and/or belongings from any cause whatsoever whether occasioned by any act, neglect or default of Blu-Pebbles Tours & Transfer (PTY) Ltd or our service providers, employees or associates or by any act of God, nature, theft or civil commotion/disruption. The client in whole hereby indemnifies Blu-Pebbles Tours & Transfer (PTY) Ltd against any such claim and hereby holds Blu-Pebbles Tours & Transfer (PTY) Ltd harmless in all respect thereof.

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