Whale and Dolphin Watching in Port Elizabeth: Our Unforgettable Trip with Raggy Charters
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing wild dolphins play beside your boat or watching a whale lift its tail in the open ocean, Port Elizabeth (officially Gqeberha) should be on your travel list. This city on South Africa’s Eastern Cape may not be as famous as Hermanus, but it’s home to Algoa Bay, one of the richest marine environments in the country, and, honestly, one of our favourite stops of the whole trip in South Africa this year.
We went whale watching here in mid-October, just as spring was turning into summer, and the experience completely exceeded our expectations. We booked our tour with Raggy Charters, a family-run company that’s been taking people into Algoa Bay for decades, and they were absolutely terrific from start to finish.
Starting our whale watching trip at Port Elisabeth
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Heading Out with Raggy Charters
That morning, we left our cosy beachside holiday home (for 2 nights) in time to reach the harbour of Port Elisabeth just after sunrise. Driving towards the harbour took less than half an hour, and it went quite smoothly, no traffic jams or bad roads!
Just a side-note: we really, really enjoyed our stay at ” Soutelande Country Stay “: close to the 1#Beach in PE. As you can see here in the reviews. Maud and William are terrific hosts, the home was cozy and spotlessly clean, and you can order a delicious breakfast and even dinner, especially when you are travelling around and arrive late, as we did. Wishing we had stayed longer!
We stayed close to Port Elisabeth, about half an hour ride to the port. A perfect place to stay overnight , to go whale watching early in the morning! #southafricatourism
The sea was calm, the sky gold, and everyone on board looked half-awake but full of excitement. After a short safety talk, we were off, and within minutes ( we didn’t leave the harbor yet ), we spotted dolphins in the distance.
Further while leaving the port, a pod of bottlenose dolphins was heading straight towards us. Suddenly, they were all around the boat: sleek silver bodies racing through the surf, leaping, spinning, bow-riding like they were putting on a private show. You could hear people gasp and laugh at the same time. I leaned over the rail and could see them gliding just below the surface, completely effortless. It was pure joy.
This is one of the many reasons why I am obsessed with Africa:
Our guide smiled and said, “Welcome to the Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the World.” Turns out Algoa Bay is home to tens of thousands of these dolphins, and sightings are almost guaranteed year-round.
Once the dolphins drifted off, the captain steered us further out to where humpback whales are often spotted during their migration. We scanned the horizon for any sign: and then, a burst of spray. A tall column of mist shot up from the waves: a whale blow!
We slowed down, cameras ready, and soon saw a massive back roll just under the surface, followed by a graceful tail lift before the whale disappeared again. There were two of them: likely a mother and calf. Everyone fell silent. Watching those gentle giants move so calmly through the ocean made me feel small in the best possible way.
Photographing a complete whale yourself isn’t always easy 🙂
No spectacular breaching that day, but it didn’t matter. Just being there, watching whales in the wild, was unforgettable. The guide explained how October is part of the south-bound migration when humpbacks return to Antarctic feeding grounds with their calves. It felt special to witness even a small part of that journey.
That being said, below there is a quick table about the best times to go whale watching in South Africa, per region 🙂
Best Times for Whale Watching in South Africa (Quick Guide)
Region
Best Time & Highlights
Hermanus & Western Cape south coast
June–Nov (peak Aug–Oct). Prime southern right viewing; great shore and boat sightings.
Cape Town & False Bay
June–Nov for southern right; Bryde’s possible year-round; occasional humpbacks.
Garden Route (Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay)
June–Nov strong for southern right; humpbacks often Nov–Feb with calves; some activity mid-May–Feb.
Algoa Bay / Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
June–Dec/Jan for humpbacks (peaks Jul–Aug & Nov–Dec), southern rightJul–Oct. Year-round dolphins; penguins by St Croix.
KwaZulu-Natal (Durban, The Bluff)
May–Dec migration of humpbacks; biggest movement mid-winter. May–Jul sardine run brings super-pods of dolphins and predators.
Tip: Morning departures usually have calmer seas and better light. Wildlife varies by day—breaches are never guaranteed.
recognizable from a far distance is a whale’s fin!
Penguins on St Croix Island
Next, we cruised towards St Croix Island, home to a colony of African penguins. That’s the time your boat trip goes a little faster, so hang on, especially if you are all the way up on the first floor of the boat!
From a distance, the island looked like a cluster of boulders, but as we got closer we could see dozens of tiny penguins shuffling on the rocks and others swimming near the boat. Some stood with wings outstretched to dry; others tumbled into the sea like clumsy divers.
It was hard to believe this was the same species you see in documentaries — right there, living wild in Algoa Bay. Our guide told us this was once the largest African penguin colony in the world, though numbers have sadly declined in recent years. Watching them from the boat, we felt incredibly lucky to see these endangered birds up close.
The Seal and the Stingray
Just when we thought the day couldn’t get better, nature surprised us again. On the way back to the harbour, a Cape fur seal suddenly appeared near the boat, and it wasn’t alone. It had caught a large stingray and was thrashing it around on the surface! The seal would fling the ray high into the air, then dive after it again while gulls circled above.
It was raw, wild, and a little shocking, but absolutely fascinating. The guide explained that seals sometimes do this to break up their prey. Everyone stood in awe, cameras clicking. It was a reminder that the ocean isn’t a theme park; it’s a living, unpredictable world.
Wait a bit further in this video to see the ‘slap’ of the stingray to the water!
Professional and friendly crew: They made everyone feel welcome, shared loads of interesting facts, and clearly loved the animals.
Responsible approach: Raggy Charters operates under an official whale-watching permit, which means they can approach whales safely and ethically without disturbing them.
Comfortable boat: Spacious, stable, and perfect for photography — even when the wind picked up a bit, we always felt safe.
Conservation focus: The company supports marine research and education projects in Algoa Bay, which made our experience feel meaningful as well as fun.
If you’re planning a trip, check out their reviews here: Raggy Charters on TripAdvisor — you’ll see we’re not the only ones raving about them.
There is a little toilet on board, just don’t bump your head against the ceiling, like I did!
Tips for Planning Your Own Whale-Watching Trip
Best time to go: June – December is whale season in Algoa Bay, with humpbacks and sometimes southern right whales passing through. Dolphins and penguins can be seen all year.
Book a morning tour: Winds pick up later in the day; mornings are calmer and the light is great for photos.
Bring layers and sunscreen: Even on warm days, the sea breeze can be chilly.
Pack a dry bag or waterproof case: Sea spray is guaranteed.
Be flexible: Trips depend on the weather — if it’s rough, they may reschedule.
Go with an open mind: Some days the ocean is quiet, other days it’s full of surprises. Either way, it’s unforgettable.
You might get seasick! I was actually surprised myself that I didn’t get seasick at all. But from the start, I made sure to stare at the horizon whenever I could. That might have helped, I’m not sure!
Poor girl got seasick. You might want to take medication beforehand!
Final Thoughts
Our day out with Raggy Charters was one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’ve left the dock. Watching dolphins race alongside the boat, spotting whales on their migration, hearing the calls of penguins, and witnessing that dramatic seal-and-ray encounter — it was nature at its best.
If you ever find yourself in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, make time for whale and dolphin watching in Port Elizabeth.
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
