hout bay seal island cruise cape town

CIRCE LAUNCHES

Seal island boat trips in hout bay.

Frolic with Cape fur seals and explore the diverse marine wildlife around Duiker Island on a 2.5-hour snorkeling trip.

Great For Special Celebrations

Take advantage of our amazing SPECIAL and get a 60% discount on private charters. Ideal for birthdays, private family cruises, proposals and more.

The Ultimate Ocean Adventure

Explore the mysteries of Hout Bay harbour on a guided kayaking tour & add a fun Seal Island Boat Trip.

Explore The Bay On Water

Choose from sunrise, sunset and private guided kayak tours with your family and friends. Get close to our marine wildlife!

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Adults (R110): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Please call us to make a booking for larger groups. Children (R55): 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Available Times*: 09:00 - 09:45 (Daily) 09:45 - 10:30 (Daily) 10:30 - 11:15 (Daily) 15:00 - 15:45 (Daily) 12:00 - 13:00 (Weekends & Public Holidays)

Private Charter

We accept Credit Cards, Snapscan and Cash

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL ALL DEPARTURES ARE WEATHER PERMITTING We will confirm your Seal Island Tour with you. WE ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

Ready for a Seal Island Boat Trip in Cape Town?

Ahoy! Prepare yourself for an exhilarating adventure on a delightful Seal Island Boat Trip in Hout Bay just outside of Cape Town. Make sure to book with us to take full advantage of our glass bottom feature.

Circe Launches

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The Original Seal Island Boat Tour Operator in Hout Bay.

Bringing You Closer To South Africa’s Marine Wildlife Since 1973​

Embark on an enchanting voyage aboard the Calypso, our glass-bottomed vessel, as our local captain navigates the scenic waters of Hout Bay. Explore Cape Town’s coastline, accompanied by your family and friends.

Brace yourself for an adventure on our Seal Island boat tours to Duiker Island. Witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of countless Cape Fur Seals plunging and frolicking in the Atlantic Ocean. And if you’re lucky, you might see dolphins, whales and African penguins, too.

Seal Island Boat Trips

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COME JOIN US FOR THE BEST SEAL ISLAND CRUISE!

Cruise times:  08h45, 09h45, 10h45 , 12h00 , 14h00 , 15h15

as well as other additional times for private bookings.

* Departure is 15 min after boarding time.

PLEASE CONTACT US ON +27  71 420 7723 or  [email protected]

TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING!

NAUTICAT CHARTERS ARE AVAILABLE 365 DAYS A YEAR!

Come cruise with us on a wondrous ocean safari and marvel at the playful seals, a variety of birds and beautiful landscapes. On occasion you will see majestic whales, joyful dolphins and various other sea life.

Our vessels, Jester and   Nauticat , have a fully licensed bar , state-of-the-art sound system for onboard parties as well as full toilet facilities for ladies and gents. The Nauticat also has glass bottom windows which make for incredible underwater viewing.

Whether it’s a Seal Island cruise to Duiker Island, BBQ or sunset cruise, staff party, family outing or just an escape from everyday life, you’re bound to enjoy one of our exhilarating, personally curated cruises in and around the bay or open ocean.

We operate out of Hout Bay Harbour and V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa.

The wonderful experience of sharing an event out at sea is unparalleled.

We look forward to having you on board!

PLEASE CONTACT US TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING!

TEL +27 71 420 7723

 EMAIL  [email protected]

Seal Island Cruise

45-60 min trip Hout Bay Harbour

Sunset Cruise

Choice of 2 vessels: Cape Town and Hout Bay

Braai/BBQ Cruise

Snack Cruise

Parties or Functions

“Great for a quick visit” Perfect spot to see Sea Lions, and have a change to buy many different African trinkets. The beach and sea are simply stunning.

Francesca O

“Interesting harbour” It was initial just a stop to go to Cape of Good Home. But it has revealed quite interesting with boats, sun, people and seals... It was really nice to have lots of photos giving color and detail at such a beautiful place.

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Expect breath-taking views of the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive and the Sentinel Mountain. This is an exciting, child friendly 40 minute cruise from Hout Bay harbour to Duiker Island the Seal Colony where you can view thousands of wild Cape Fur Seals, close up in their beautiful natural habitat.

Daily - Subject to weather This ticket is valid for single entry for 14 days after the chosen date

Hout Bay harbour - near our stop No 24

09H15 / 10H00 / 12h00 / 14h00 / 15h15* (* = subject to minimum 15 passengers)

Cruise, Seal viewing

Please see the MEGA PASS

• See thousands of Cape fur seals at the foot of the spectacular Sentinel Mountain
• Family boat cruise around picturesque Hout Bay
• You might also encounter some dolphins and whales

Description

Join a thrilling boat cruise to Duiker Island to see thousands of Cape fur seals in their natural environment. Along the way, take in some of the most spectacular scenery the Cape Peninsula has to offer as you cruise along the rugged coastline from Hout Bay harbour. Expect breath-taking views of the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive and the Sentinel Mountain, in addition to the chance to see other marine life including dolphins and whales.

Drumbeat charters have been cruising the Cape coast since 1989. Their Seal Colony Cruise boat has been specially designed to handle the unique weather conditions of the Cape waters. It’s most-frequented destination is Duiker Island, renowned for its Cape fur seal population and birdlife.

+27 21 511 6000 [email protected]

36 Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, 7420

Copyright © City Sightseeing South Africa 2024

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Boat Trips from Hout Bay to Seal island (Duiker Island)

In the last two decades, hout bay originally named houtbaai (wood bay) by dutch settlers due to the surrounding wooded valley, has changed from being a small fisherman’s village to becoming a bustling little tourist town with fairy tale harbor views..

Hout Bay has now become well known as the port of departure for scenic day trips to Seal island or Duiker Island, home to a colony of thousands of Cape Fur Seals.

The Charters to Seal Island

Drumbeat Charters, has been offering daily scenic cruises to Duiker Island to see the Cape Fur Seals from Hout Bay since 1989.

• The cruises are offered in either an open boat that holds 60 passengers or aboard their flagship vessel holding 120 passengers.
• Cruises vary between 40 minute trips and 1 hour trips, the latter of which return via the Kabonkelberg mountain range to see the shipwreck at Maori Bay or via the caves and cliffs of Chapman’s Peak.
• When boarding the  Drumbeat II , enjoy a glass of wine or an ice cold beer from the vessel’s on board bar facilities. Should you prefer to take your own drinks on board, this is also permitted.
• The boat has ample outside and undercover areas and individual seating.

Photos by Jarred Coetzee

The Cape Fur Seals

Breeding time for Cape Fur seals generally takes place in November/December but on Duiker Island you will see mainly male seals waiting to “come of age” for breeding.

The Duiker island colony is not a breeding colony as the island has very rough waters with the risk of washing away the pups.

Between January and March you will see the most seals with over 6000 Cape fur Seals populating the island as well as a variety of seabirds and cormorants.

Enjoy watching the seals lazily rolling around on the rocks, snorting and groaning with the larger males competing aggressively for dominance & others sliding off into the cold waters with fins held high as if throwing a wave to the passing boats

Facts and Figures

Cruise times

Monday – Sunday (weather permitting) and some subject to minimum numbers so keep the day open.

• 40 minute trips: 08h30; 09h15; 10h00 & 10h45
• 1 hour trips: 12:00 & 13:30
• R 70 per adult
• R 25 per child under 14yrs
• (2 years and younger are free)

How to get there

Follow Victoria Road (the M6) out of town – the road that goes along the sea front to Camps Bay & Clifton all the way to Hout Bay town. Pass through the town and at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Princess Street. Continue onto North Shore Drive which becomes Hout Bay Harbour Road. Turn right onto Atlantic Skipper Street and left again to stay on Atlantic Skipper Street. Take the 1st right onto Rhode Vos Road and you are at Hout Bay Harbour.

GPS Co -Ordinates: Latitude – 34°S 2min .943sec Longitude – 18°E 20min .509sec

Tel: 021 791 4441, Cell: 082 658 7055

By: Ed Beukes

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Boat Trips From Hout Bay To Seal Island Duiker Island

Seal Island Boat Trip - Drumbeat

Seal Island Boat Trip is available at the first stop of our Cape Point Private Tour. Join Drumbeat boat cruise to Duiker Island to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals in their natural environment and some of the most spectacular scenery the Cape Peninsula has to offer.

Seal Island Boat Trip

The vessel Drumbeat II is licensed to carry 118 passengers and has two toilets and a licensed bar on board.

While aboard you are surrounded with breath-taking scenery of the famous Chapmans Peak Drive and the Sentinel Mountain.

Drumbeat caters for local and international clients and has information leaflets about the seals available in 26 different languages.

Our boat is available for Private Charters throughout the year. Take a look at some of our suggested itineraries.

Join us on our 1 hour special to the ‘Seals & The Shipwreck‘ where you’ll visit Duiker Island home of the Cape Fur Seals and then travel further along the Kabonkelberg Mountain range to Moari Bay to view the Shipwreck of the Bos 400 which ran aground in 1994 in one of our Cape winter storms.

Seal Island Boat Trip - Cape Fur Seals

There are 35 species of seals in the world. Duiker Island is a Cape Fur Seal and bird sanctuary, home to thousands of seals and many birds such as the Cape Cormorant, the Bank Cormorants, Black Back Gulls, Kelp Gulls and Hartlaub Gulls.

Seal Island Boat Trip - Cape Fur Seal Breeding

Breeding is a continuous cycle and takes place in November/December in breeding colonies around the coastline of South Africa and Namibia. After fertilization there is a dormant period of 4 months and thereafter development continues, making the active gestation period 8 months. The pups are then born in late November early December. A cow usually only has one pup at a time when she reaches the breeding age which is 4-5 years old. She knows her pup by its smell and call and she will only mother her own offspring. Pups are entirely dependent on milk for the first 6 months. They are weaned between 8-10 months old.

Seal Island Boat Trip - Cape Fur Seal Growth time frame

They grow quickly and start to swim at 6 weeks old. By about 7 months they can spend 2-3 days at sea on their own and can already swim long distances. It has been noted that tagged seals have swum from Cape Town to Cape Cross in Namibia, a distance of 1600 kms at the age of 8 months. The Cape Fur Seal dives to a depth of 36m on average but diving abilities varies between species. Their ears and nostrils close tightly when they dive, and they cannot breathe underwater. Even while sleeping in the water they have to surface to breathe, every 10-15 minutes for young ones and 30 minutes for the adults.

Seal Island Cruise

• Restroom on board
• Alcoholic Beverages
• 81 Harbour Rd, Hout Bay, Cape Town, 7806, South Africa Turquoise ticket office inside Hout Bay harbor
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 118 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at 81 Harbour Rd 81 Harbour Rd, Hout Bay, Cape Town, 7806, South Africa Turquoise ticket office inside Hout Bay harbor See address & details
• 1 Duiker Island Stop: 12 minutes This is an exciting, child friendly 40 minute cruise from Hout Bay harbour to Duiker Island the Seal Colony where you can view thousands of wild Cape Fur Seals, close up in their beautiful natural habitat. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

More to explore in Hout Bay

Seal Island Cruise - with unbiased reviews

Get in touch with us

• +27 [0]82 556 8940

Seal Island

Drumbeat Charters has been operating since 1989 and is based in the famous fishing village of Hout Bay offering daily scenic cruises to one of Cape Town’s main attractions.

Join our boat cruise to Duiker Island to see thousands of Cape Fur Seals in their natural environment and some of the most spectacular scenery the Cape Peninsula has to offer.

Our vessel Drumbeat II is licensed to carry 118 passengers and has two toilets and a licensed bar on board.

While aboard you are surrounded with breath-taking scenery of the famous Chapmans Peak Drive and the Sentinel Mountain.

Drumbeat caters for local and international clients and has information leaflets about the seals available in 26 different languages.

Our boat is available for Private Charters throughout the year. Take a look at some of our suggested itineraries.

Join us on our 1 hour special to the ‘Seals & The Shipwreck‘ where you’ll visit Duiker Island home of the Cape Fur Seals and then travel further along the Kabonkelberg Mountain range to Moari Bay to view the Shipwreck of the Bos 400 which ran aground in 1994 in one of our Cape winter storms.

Beautifully situated within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town, not 20 minutes from the city centre, you will find the renowned holiday destination and fisherman’s village of Hout Bay, nestled between mountains and sea.

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• Your Cape Town Sightseeing Pass
• No need to buy tickets, feel like a VIP
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Seal Island Cruise

Included FREE with your PASS.

• Opening Times
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Attractions Nearby

Step aboard the MV Calypso to experience an amazing cruising experience. Boasts two glass viewing ports at its bottom, which provide passengers with a clear and extremely rare view of the marine activity.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 45-minute cruise from Hout Bay to Duiker Island & Sentinel Mountain.
• See thousnads of Cape Fur Seals and possibly other marine life.
• Beautiful underwater viewing ports. 

DID YOU KNOW:

• Hout Bay is best known for its timber and fishing industries. It is home to South Africa’s first Harbourfront Emporium, known as the Mariner’s Wharf.
• Mountains surround Hout Bay to the north, east and west, while the Southern Atlantic Ocean lays on the south side. There are only three roads that lead to and from the area that all pass through the mountains.
•   The bay is situated just 20 kilometres south of the Central Business District of Cape Town. ‘Hout Bay’ can refer to the town, the bay on which it is situated, or the entire valley.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Enjoy spectacular views of the Bay’s surrounding mountains on an exciting 45-minute cruise from Hout Bay Harbour to Duiker Island and its native seal colony. Be sure to bring your camera. This charter offers once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. Enjoy breathtaking views of thousands of wild Cape Fur Seals and their pups in their natural habitat.

Circe Launches has been sailing from the Hout Bay harbour since 1972. In the early days, Circe used two World War II Sea Rescue boats to take visitors to seal and bird watching on Duiker Island. The island is home to 6,000 of the seas, the majority of which are young males waiting to reach mating age. With such a huge number of seals, it’s no surprise that the waters surrounding the island house a number of hungry great white sharks.

IMPORTANT: This experience is normally R100 but is included in your SMART PASS, see the prices for all Passes HERE .

see the: full list of attractions included »

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Kiosk #2, Hout Bay Harbour, Cape Town

+27 82 552 2904

Seal Island Boat Trip / Hout Bay

Combine your trip to Hout Bay with a fun activity for the whole family! Go onboard a glass bottom boat and go out to Seal Island and Sentinel Mountain! The boat rides take approximately 45 minutes and go around the bay, out to the seals and back to the harbour. This activity is weather dependent, but on a hot, sunny day it shouldn’t be a problem to secure a spot on the boat.

There are a few different time slots available throughout the day.

• Monday to Friday: 09:00, 09:45 & 15:15
• Saturday and Sunday: 09:00, 09:45, 13:45, 15:15, 12:00 (1h boat trip weather permitting)

The boat is wheelchair accessible, so really anybody can join the trip! But for those who struggle with a sensitive stomach, it might not be the right activity. There is a slight chance of getting sea sick when the water is rough.

Our Experience

If you’re a little sensitive on boats, this might not be the right trip for you. Depending on the water condition, it might get a little bumpy and people can get sea sick. Otherwise, it’s a nice little adventure for the kids to get onboard, cruise along the harbour to finally see the seals in action. Most of them are chilling on the rocks, but you can watch some of them jump into the water and having fun diving and swimming along the boat. It’s a great activity for a sunny day!

When you’re lucky, you can also take some fun pictures with the seals chilling in the sun. It’s a bit smelly, but totally worth it. They are too cute.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Opening Times: Monday to Sunday at designated time slots
• Age Group: 0 – 99
• Rates: Adults = R100, Children (0-13y) = R50
• Baby Changing Facilities: No
• Kids Menu: n/a
• Fun Factor: 5/5
• Free WIFI: No

https://www.circelaunches.co.za/ Phone: +27 (0) 82 552 2904

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60 Minute Chapmans Peak Cruise

This is a 1 hour cruise which leaves from hout bay harbour to duiker island to view the cape fur seals. from there the boat will cross the bay and travel back to the harbour along the cliffs and caves of chapmans peak...

Adults: R140 • Children under 14: R70 • 2 years and under: FREE WILL DEPEND ON WEATHER

Chapmans Peak is named after John Chapman who was the first mate of an English ship called the ‘Consent’ which was becalmed near Hout Bay in 1606.

The captain sent Chapman ashore to look for a safe anchorage and fresh water who then recorded the bay as Chapmans Chance. This name stuck and became official on all East India charts.It was also the first English name to be given to a geographical feature in the Cape. Until then it was Dutch and Portuguese names that were used.

In the early 1900’s Sir Nicolas Frederick de Waal, who was the first administrator of the Cape Province, ordered the construction of a road linking Cape Town to the southern suburbs. The road known as De Waal Drive was a big success and due to this he called for another road linking Hout Bay to Noordhoek.

Two routes were under consideration and although it was going to be costly and seemed impossible, De Waal decided on the more scenic route along the cliffs.

Construction started in 1915 with convict labour from the Hout Bay side and the following year work began from the Noordhoek side.

It took 7 years to complete and cost 20,000 pounds and was opened to traffic on Saturday 06 May 1922.

In 1962 a section of the road was widened and in 1977 a portion of the road was washed away and subsequently the road was closed in May after a large section was washed away. This damaged section was replaced by a bridge at a cost of R150.000

On 29 December 1999 a falling rock caused the death of a Noordhoek resident. Then in early January 2000 another motorist was killed on the drive due to rockfalls which was concerning as the weather conditions were good and the rockfall risk was not considered to be high.

Adding to this in January 2000 the worst mountain fires in many decades raged in the Cape Peninsula including in the mountains above Chapmans Peak Drive causing massive rock slides onto the road and Chapmans Peak was closed to traffic indefinitely.

There was a lot of work to be done and many decisions to be taken as to what was going to be the best solutions to repair the road and make it safe to traffic.

Extensive work at a cost of R156million was undertaken on the cliffs, road surfaces and bridges to make the road safe.

Measures to contain the loose rock and soil on the mountain side include concrete cladding of the mountainside, catch nets and a half-tunnel excavation.The catch nets are of Swiss design and constructed of intertwined steel rings with fiction grips .

The half tunnel ,or overhang is the first in the country. It allows falling rock and soil to overshoot the road and roll down the steep mountainside.

Chapmans Peak drive was re-opened to traffic as a toll road on 20 December 2003 much to everyone’s joy as it is an international tourist destination.

However the upgrade was put to the test in July and August 2004.Serious rainfall caused further rock slides resulting in damage to the catch nets and the drive was closed again for 55 days to clear the debris and replace 4 of the nets.

The much loved and travelled road was back in the news again when Chapmans Peak was once again declared unsafe for use and in June 2008 was closed for major upgrades and repairs.

This took over a year and eventually the road was reopened on 09 October 2009.

Since then it closes temporary for routine maintenance and during dangerous weather conditions.

It is truly one of the most scenic and breathtaking roads one can travel and should definitely not be missed.

The huge colony of seals on Duiker Island is visible from a few meters as we take you right up to the island for great photo opportunities.

Once we leave the island, we head across the bay to Chapmans Peak. The raw beauty of the sheer cliffs battered by the fierce Atlantic can be truly appreciated from sea level.