Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Looking for wildlife in Cape Town? Well, the city does have plenty of it, but you need to know where to look.
I’ve had so many incredible wildlife encounters in Cape Town. Whenever friends come to visit, I make sure that they get to see some unique African animals, and now I’m going to share my list with you.
Since a lot of wildlife encounters are seasonal, I’ve made sure to cover a variety of options that you can enjoy throughout the year, whether you’re on a tight budget or willing to splurge a little. Let’s get into it!
Quick Picks
1. The Aquila Safari – best chance to see the Big Five
2. Seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach
3. Big Five Marine Safari – I saw dolphins and whales
1. Meeting the Penguins at Boulders Beach
Season: year round
Budget: R215 admission fee
I think that heading to Boulders Beach to see the penguins is the sweetest and most wholesome wildlife encounter in Cape Town. The whole operation is really well set up, and the penguins are just so cute (although I feel I should warn you that they are a bit smelly). You can read my full review and guide here!
Basically, there are boardwalks all over the beach that you can walk along, so you get right up close to the penguins without causing them any hassle. I’ve also spotted dassies here, so keep your eyes peeled. Then, after you’ve explored the main penguin beach, you can also visit Foxy Beach next door, which is a public beach where you can often swim alongside the penguins for free.
The best way to get here is to drive yourself, or if you’re not planning on renting a car, you can also book this top-rated tour instead. As well as seeing the penguins, you’ll drive along the stunning Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive on the way there, so it’s a fun road trip.
2. Kayaking with Dolphins, Seals, and More!
Season: year round
Budget: R450 upwards
Kayaking is one of the best ways to get up close and personal with Cape Town’s marine life. I had SO much fun kayaking with dolphins this summer, and we also saw seals, sunfish, and a lone little African penguin.
There are a few different launch points for wildlife kayaking tours. I went with Kaskazi Kayaks, who are based in Sea Point, but you can also book a tour from the V&A Waterfront during the summer months.
I only have good things to say about Kaskazi, as our guides were wonderful and we saw a lot of wildlife! My two-hour kayaking tour cost R550 which I felt was good value for money.
You can also go kayaking in Hout Bay all year round. This is one of the best places in Cape Town to see dolphins and, as mentioned earlier, its waters are positively teeming with seals. I also think it’s one of the most beautiful places in Cape Town, and you can find the city’s best fish and chips here – honestly, what more could you want?!
3. Aquila Safari
Season: year round
Budget: Check prices here!
For a true safari, you’ll need to travel to a different part of South Africa. But if you don’t have time for that, you can do a game drive just a few hours from Cape Town. Introducing: the Aquila Safari!
I’ve done the Aquila Safari twice with friends who came to visit. Both times, I saw lions, zebras, giraffes, hippos, elephants, and so much more! It is a really worthwhile experience if you can’t make it to the Kruger.
The experience runs year-round, but it does vary a little according to the season. When I did it during the winter, we had buffet breakfast and lunch included, whereas in the summer we only had lunch, but we were allowed to use the beautiful infinity pool (so don’t forget your swimwear!)
The food is decent but nothing to write home about if I’m honest. You can read my full review here, but overall this experience definitely gets a thumbs-up from me.
Check 100+ 5-star reviews and book your spot on the Aquila Safari here!
4. Big 5 Ocean Safari Waterfront
Season: year round
Budget: R1,100
In my opinion, this boat trip is the best way to see marine life in Cape Town! It’s 1.5 hours long and it leaves from the V&A Waterfront, so it’s super easy to fit into your itinerary and it’s more affordable than doing a full-day trip.
But it’s not only great in terms of logistics – I was super impressed by this experience. I’ve got a full review here but basically, I booked it during the summer, so I didn’t think we would see whales.
And I was wrong – we saw four of them! They were so close to us, too. It was better than I could have hoped for.
We also spotted dolphins, penguins, and lots of seals. The only member of the Marine Big Five we didn’t see was a sun fish, but I was just over the moon to have seen whales.
Check availability and book this marine safari here!
5. Shark cage diving
Season: year round
Budget: Check the latest prices here!
I was so excited to go shark cage diving but if I’m honest, I actually found the experience a bit underwhelming.
You can read my full review of the experience here, but I’ll share the basics now. I took a tour from Cape Town and it was just too much driving for one day. We went with the cheapest possible option so we only got an hour on the boat, which didn’t feel like a lot compared to all of the drive time.
Basically, if you do want to do it from Cape Town, I’d recommend booking this tour as it has way better ratings than the one I did! You get two hours on the boat, plus breakfast and lunch in a well-rated restaurant. Overall, it seems like a much better choice if you’re keen to see sharks.
6. Hermanus Whale Watching and Wine Tour
Season: June to mid-December
Budget: From R4,400
Hermanus is known as the whale watching capital of the world – yes, the WORLD! And it also has some fantastic wineries, so you can experience them both with this this full day tour.
There’s a little more travel time involved with this tour. We’re talking about two hours each way! I think it’s worth it if you don’t have time for an overnight stay in Hermanus.
Plus, the travel-to-activity ratio is pretty good in my eyes. As well as a 2- to 3-hour whale-watching cruise, you also get to visit the Stoney Point penguin colony and have the option to get lunch at Creation Wine Estate. I’ve been wine tasting here and it was heavenly!
Hundreds of whales are spotted off the coast of Hermanus every day – the record is 196! So if you’re passionate about these beautiful, graceful creatures then I think this tour is well worth it. And no, I’m not just saying it because there’s wine involved!
You can book your spot on this tour here, with free cancellation!
7. Cape Point Ostrich Farm
Season: year round
Budget: R160
Ostriches kind of give me the heebie jeebies, but if you don’t share my aversion then you can take a guided tour of the Cape Point Ostrich Farm. It’s definitely interesting to learn about the ostrich life cycle, and they do a lot of great rehabilitation work here with both ostriches and a variety of reptiles. Plus, during breeding season, you can even see chicks hatching, which is pretty cute!
8. Birdwatching tour
Season: year round
Budget: R2,000
If you’re into birdwatching, make sure to check out this awesome tour led by Alfie, who’s been guiding safaris for ages. He’s a real pro at spotting birds!
You’ll be picked up from your hotel by Alfie and then the first destination of the day is Kirstenbosch Gardens, which are breathtaking and home to tons of rare plants, which in turn attract tons of rare birds, like Cape Sugarbirds and Orange-breasted Sunbirds.
Then, it’s onto Strandfontein Sewage Works. I know, it sounds gross, but it’s surprisingly the best spot in Cape Town for waterbirds. You can spot up to 80 different kinds in just two hours, and no, it actually doesn’t smell.
What’s really cool is that it was a private tour, so Alfie will be totally focused on helping you and your group find birds. I think it’s great to support small local tour operators like Alfie, who is so passionate about what he does, and for a private, full-day tour, you get a lot of bang for your buck here.
Click here to find out more and book your spot!
9. Scuba diving in Simon’s Town
Season: year round
Budget: R1699
If you’re like me and have always wanted to try scuba diving, but don’t have your PADI certification, then you can try this Discover Dive in Simon’s Town, under the guidance of a pro diver. I think this is such an amazing opportunity, especially if you’re new to diving!
Your instructor will spend time teaching you the basics skills in shallow waters, and then you’ll move into a deeper area. Here, you’ll be able to swim through kelp forests, and spot seals, penguins, and small sharks – but no Great Whites, don’t worry.
I think one of the coolest things you can see down here is pyjama sharks, which are catsharks known for their distinctive black stripes.
What makes this tour even more ideal in my opinion is that it’s a private experience, so you’ll have your instructor’s undivided attention. It’s perfect if you’re a bit nervous about scuba diving for the first time!
You can book your scuba experience here, with free cancellation!