Seal viewing boat trip to Robberg
Stay dry and watch thousands of Cape fur seals from the boat. R795 per person, from age 2.
- Seal viewing
- R795per person
- Whole trip
- 1.5 hourssame boat and route as the swim
- Daily departures
- 10:00, 12:00, 14:00weather permitting
- Good for
- Ages 2+no swimming, no wetsuit
- Included
- Photosof your trip, sent as a link
The colony, without getting wet
The seal viewing trip is the same beach launch and boat ride as the swim, with one difference: you stay on board. The skipper holds the boat beside the colony while seals porpoise around it, haul out on the rocks and argue over the best ledges.
It suits grandparents, small children, photographers and anyone who would rather keep a jacket on. In June and July, when seal swims pause, it is the way to see the colony.
If part of your group wants to snorkel, book them on the swim and yourself on viewing. You all ride together, and you get the best seat for watching them meet the seals.
What you will see
- Hundreds of seals on the rocks, from sleeping heaps to bulls holding territory
- Seals in the water around the boat, often rolling on their backs to look up at you
- Pups on the rocks from late November through summer
- The cliffs, caves and orange lichen of the Robberg Peninsula from the sea
- Often dolphins on the ride, and whales in the bay between about June and November
What to bring
- A windbreaker. It is cooler on the water than on the beach.
- A camera or phone on a strap
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
Pups, bulls and the best months to watch
Late November to January is pupping season. Bulls arrive first and hold patches of rock, cows give birth to black-coated pups, and the noise carries across the water.
Through winter and spring the ride itself becomes part of the show. Humpback and southern right whales move through the bay, and the skipper will point them out when they are in sight.
Questions about seal viewing
Will we definitely see seals?
Yes. The colony lives on the rocks at Robberg all year, so every trip that launches sees seals, usually hundreds at a time on the rocks and in the water around the boat.
How close does the boat get?
Close enough to watch the seals on the rocks, hear the bulls and smell the colony, while leaving them room. The skipper holds the boat off the rocks and lets seals in the water come to us.
Can some of our group swim while others watch?
Yes, that is how most mixed groups do it. Swimmers and viewers ride on the same boat. Swimmers pay R1 295 and viewers R795.
Is the boat ride rough?
It is a fast open boat with a beach launch, so expect spray, wind and some bouncing on the way out. Most people find that part of the fun. Tell the crew when you book if you are pregnant or have a back or neck injury.
What is the youngest age?
Children can join the seal viewing trip from age 2. Every guest on board needs a paid seat, and children pay the full price.
Keep reading
Come and see seal mountain
Trips leave Central Beach at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 every day, weather permitting. Pick a date and we will have a wetsuit waiting.