Whale Watching in Cape Town 2026 – Best Time & Spots in False Bay

Whale Watching in Cape Town 2026: When, Where & How to See Whales in False Bay

Whale season in Cape Town runs from about June to November – and the best months are September and October. Every year, Southern Right Whales come to the warm, sheltered waters of False Bay and Walker Bay to mate, give birth and raise their calves. Humpback whales and Bryde’s whales can be spotted too, and dolphins are around all year.

At Ocean Song in Fish Hoek you don’t even need a boat: with a little luck you’ll see whales breaching and tail-slapping right from our veranda – coffee in hand.

🐋 Best Time for Whale Watching in Cape Town

• June – July: the first Southern Right Whales arrive
• August – October: peak season – mothers with calves close to shore
• November: the last whales leave for Antarctica

📍 Best Whale Watching Spots near Ocean Song

• Fish Hoek & Jager’s Walk – a scenic coastal path right on our doorstep
• Kalk Bay & St James – whales often swim just metres from the harbour wall
• Boyes Drive – panoramic views over the whole of False Bay
• Cape Point – dramatic cliffs where two oceans meet

Day Trip: Hermanus – South Africa’s Whale Capital

Just about 1.5 hours from Ocean Song lies Hermanus, famous for some of the best land-based whale watching in the world.

• Scenic coastal drive along Clarence Drive (R44)
• Morning boat cruise from Hermanus New Harbour – e.g. with Southern Right Charters (please check current prices & times on their website)
• Lunch by the sea and a walk on the famous Cliff Path

Why Stay at Ocean Song for Whale Season?

Ocean Song is a 4-bedroom beach house in Fish Hoek with a heated saltwater pool and panoramic views over False Bay – one of the best whale watching areas in the Western Cape. Wake up, open the doors and look for blows on the water.