Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
There’s an abundance of adorable fur seals in Cape Town! I always love to spot them swimming around the Waterfront, but did you know that there’s also a Seal Island in Hout Bay?
I’ve lived in Cape Town since 2021, and I’ve never seen as many seals as I did when I visited Seal Island. It was incredible!
If you’re hoping to visit Seal Island while you’re in Cape Town, you might be wondering what the best way to get there is. There are two different options. Sadly, it’s not possible to go seal snorkelling right now.
So whether you’re sticking to a tight budget, travelling with kids, or want to get as close to the seals as possible, I’m going to take you through the best ways to visit Seal Island.
What Is Seal Island?
Seal Island is a very small island off the coast of Hout Bay. It’s actually more of a rock than an island, really, since it only measures 77 x 95 metres.
Humans aren’t allowed on its surface but you can get pretty close by boat!
Hout Bay about a 30-minute drive from the city centre to Hout Bay Harbour. I love driving via Camps Bay as the views are absolutely gorgeous.
1. Seal Island Boat Cruise
The cheapest and easiest way to see the seals on Duiker Island is to take a boat cruise! The cruises are run by Circe Launches, and it’s best to book directly with them.
The cruise lasts for around 45 minutes. During this time, you’re almost certain to see tons of seals lounging on Duiker Island, and many more splashing around in the water. When I visited (on a snorkeling tour that no longer runs), my boat captain told me that there were only “a few” seals around compared to normal, and there were still almost as many as in the photo above!
What I like about this tour is that it’s suitable for families and travellers of all ages. Plus, at R130 for adults and R65 for kids, it’s also a very affordable way to see Seal Island. That’s a win-win in my book!
The cruises run at 9 am, 9:45 am, and 10:30 am every day, but during peak seasons, public holidays, and weekends they often add extra timeslots later on in the day. You can check the schedule and book here.
2. Kayak Tour
I think that this 2-hour kayaking tour is one of the best in Cape Town! Kayaking around Seal Island is so much fun and these curious creatures will probably come right up to you and say hello.
And even if they don’t, you’ll see tons of them around, swimming in the water and basking on the island. You’re also in with a chance of seeing dolphins and maybe even penguins – how amazing is that?
This tour is run by the same company who I went seal snorkelling with. Snorkelling isn’t currently available but the guides are the same, so hopefully you’ll have Clemon as your group leader. He’s the best and knows so much about seal behaviour and Cape Town’s ocean ecology. But you don’t have to just take my word for it as many of the glowing reviews mention him by name.
Another thing I find appealing about this tour is that you get to paddle through the secret “Green Room Tunnel” under the harbour wall, which definitely adds a bit of intrigue! Plus, kids as young as 7 are welcome to join as long as they’re accompanied by an adult. It is popular, though, so don’t wait too long to book!
Grab your spot on this top-rated tour here, before it sells out!
How do I get to Hout Bay?
Transport
Neither of the above tours includes transport, so you’ll need to get yourself to Hout Bay.
I think the best way to do this is to drive, as it’s best to hire a car here. I use Discover Cars to find the best rentals, but if you’re unsure about whether to rent a car, these articles about driving in Cape Town and hiring a car might prove helpful.
And if you already know you don’t want to hire a car, then you can call an Uber to Hout Bay. Prices start at around R170 each way for an Uber Go, although that can go way up during a surge.
Route
I recommend leaving Cape Town via Camps Bay. If you’re staying in the CBD, your GPS might try to send you around the other side of the mountain (via Newlands) but I promise it’s worth going through Camps Bay. This way, you’ll travel to Hout Bay via the beautiful Victoria Road, which is a really scenic cliffside drive. See the map above!