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Ocean Safari: Explore Hout Bay's Marine Life
5.0
262 Ratings
Cape Town
Experience an intimate wildlife encounter with Cape Fur seals at Duiker Island in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Snorkel with Animal Ocean, the experts in seal snorkeling since 2009!
Experience an intimate wildlife encounter with Cape Fur seals at Duiker Island in Hout Bay, Cape Town. Snorkel with Animal Ocean, the experts in seal snorkeling since 2009!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 41 Victoria Ave - Embark on an exciting journey filled with fun, passion, and ocean exploration with Animal Ocean’s ocean safari. Be amazed by the stunning mountain cliffs and explore a kelp forest while snorkeling at your leisure. Although conditions may vary, our skilled guides ensure a safe experience. We will navigate the ocean, seeking…
- 41 Victoria Ave - Embark on an exciting journey filled with fun, passion, and ocean exploration with Animal Ocean’s ocean safari. Be amazed by the stunning mountain cliffs and explore a kelp forest while snorkeling at your leisure. Although conditions may vary, our skilled guides ensure a safe experience. We will navigate the ocean, seeking wildlife from the boat before reaching Duiker Island to snorkel in the nearby kelp forests. No prior experience is necessary, but participants must be over 10 years old, weigh less than 120 kg, and be able to swim. Please note that due to the rabies outbreak in seals, seal snorkeling is no longer available; seals will be observed from the boat.
What's Included
- Professional Skipper and Marine Guides
- All equipment provided
- Access to all facilities: hot showers, change rooms, WiFi
- Educational and safety briefing included
- Professional Skipper and Marine Guides
- All equipment provided
- Access to all facilities: hot showers, change rooms, WiFi
- Educational and safety briefing included
What's Not Included
- Transfers to Snorkel Centre
- Camera rental
- Gratuity
- Transfers to Snorkel Centre
- Camera rental
- Gratuity
Additional Information
Experience the wonders of the ocean with our brand-new Ocean Safaris! Although we are moving away from our seal snorkeling origins, we are thrilled to present an unforgettable adventure exploring the stunning marine landscapes of Hout Bay. Our Ocean Safaris offer a captivating journey, allowing you to observe diverse marine life in their natural…
Experience the wonders of the ocean with our brand-new Ocean Safaris! Although we are moving away from our seal snorkeling origins, we are thrilled to present an unforgettable adventure exploring the stunning marine landscapes of Hout Bay. Our Ocean Safaris offer a captivating journey, allowing you to observe diverse marine life in their natural environment, all set against the backdrop of magnificent mountain views. This immersive experience includes a guided boat tour with knowledgeable crew members eager to share the marvels of the sea. Delight in the excitement of spotting dolphins, seabirds, and other amazing wildlife as you cruise along the coastline. After your adventure, relax at our Safari Centre with hot showers, changing facilities, or unwind in our welcoming lounge and sunlit garden. Join us for an extraordinary ocean experience that celebrates the enchantment of the marine world!
- Please add a contactable cellphone number and valid email address to your booking
- Children must be 10 years or older to participate
- Minimum of 4 people booked per trip required to operate
- Maximum of 10 people on each trip
- Activity is weather dependent - if cancelled a full refund or alternative date is offered
- Guests must be confident swimmers
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers over 6 months
Location
41 Victoria Ave
Victoria Avenue
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(262 Ratings)
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300vincentn
Mar 31, 2026
On top! - Experience at the top! I recommend 100%. We had the chance to observe dolphins, a moonfish, hundreds of seals. Two beautiful snorkeling spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N5064zzemiliet
Feb 15, 2026
Brilliant way to spend a morning - We had a brilliant time on this excursion. Our guides were a great mix of fun, friendly and informative making it a great trip and a really unique way to enjoy the area. Diving on the wreck was a really wonderful experience, seeing the wildlife up close, and the treats on the boat were delicious. A great way to spend a morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maps32890009681
Jan 28, 2026
A must-do experience for everyone in Cape Town! - My favourite experience in Cape Town by far! The team were welcoming and informative from the moment we walked through the door and delivered an incredible and authentic experience. I loved that we got to snorkel in the kelp forest, unlike many other ocean tours in the area. The hot chocolate and snacks afterwards were a lovely edition! This tour gave me a whole new perspective of Cape Town as we got to see many features and animals (dolphins, seals, sunfish, small sharks) that I would never have discovered from land! Highly recommend to both visitors to the area and locals 🦭
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dirtyfreedomadventur
Dec 8, 2025
Don’t Miss the Snorkeling - I booked the ocean safari in Hout Bay with snorkeling, and it turned out to be one of the most awesome parts of my trip. Our crew—Daniel, Georgie, and Jesse—made the whole experience fun, safe, and surprisingly relaxing (except the parts where we were happily racing over waves, of course, which were exhilarating).
I initially planned to skip the snorkeling because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to climb back into the boat afterward. The receptionist encouraged me to try it and reassured me I’d have help, so I took the plunge—literally. I’m so glad I did! Daniel lifted me back into the zodiac so easily that I didn’t even have time to be embarrassed.
The safari itself was the perfect blend of calm and thrill: peaceful stretches cruising along the coastline, mixed with exhilarating bursts of speed across the bay with wind and salt spray flying everywhere. Woo hoo! We even passed a fascinating shipwreck, which felt like discovering hidden treasure right off the coast. It was eerie!
The light snacks, hot cocoa, and warm water poured into our wetsuits after snorkeling—like a cozy ocean spa moment—were much appreciated.
At the end, we got warm showers to wash off the saltwater. They also have a private changing room. The gear (wetsuits and rain jacket) were high quality and in excellent, clean condition.
If you’re in Cape Town, don’t miss this. Even if you think you won’t snorkel… try it. Honestly, I worried about nothing, and it was cool.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A1713oimelissav
Nov 10, 2025
Unforgettable Ocean Adventure! - Our Ocean Safari was absolutely amazing! The crew was so friendly and welcoming, and the whole experience was unforgettable. We saw lots of wildlife, including seals and dolphins and got to snorkel around a shipwreck, which was such an incredible adventure. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and unique!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
X8404blalexanderv
Oct 26, 2025
Simply outstanding - Absolutely wonderful experience. The team was fantastic, the information engaging, the location breathtaking, and everything was perfectly organised. Couldn’t recommend it more highly!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jeannemarit
Sep 2, 2025
A little mermaid dream! - I had such a fantastic experience with Animal Ocean today! The team was professional, welcoming, and made the whole adventure feel safe and fun. Snorkeling in the kelp forest was amazing -the underwater world was magical and full of life! And the Dolphin sighting was epic! Everything was really well organized, from the briefing to the boat ride and time in the water. I can’t recommend them enough if you’re looking for a unique and memorable experience in Cape Town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
429jackl
Feb 13, 2025
Awesome Ocean Safari - The ocean safari was incredible. In addition to a beautiful view of the bay from water, we got to see many seals and their frolicking pups, and even got to see a few whales passing by late in their migration.
We also got to snorkel the shipwreck at the bay, which coupled with the kelp forests, schools of fish and rock lobsters resting in the wreck was an unbelievable experience. We were given ample time to snorkel, always felt safe, and were never rushed (the guides even offered spare weight belts for free-diving), and the wet suits provided great protection in the cool water.
Our guides were lovely and accommodating, full of information about the history of the bay and interesting facts about the habits of its wildlife.
And just to cap a perfect day, as we were returning there was a pod of over a hundred dolphins leaving the bay, which swam beside the boat for about half an hour.
Overall it was an incredible and unique experience in the water. I’d recommend anyone even mildly interested in the marine life of South Africa to do this tour 👍. Thanks again for a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sabine
Feb 8, 2025
There is NO swimming with seals for a long time - The team around was great and also very experienced and helpful.
But Msn should change the expectations from the provider, as currently NO snorkeling or swimming with the seals is possible.
I did this tour to swim with the seals. I also realize it's weather dependent. However, among the seals the rabies has broken out so gsd the organizers are so much aware that they do not allow swimming.
So , should you book the tour to swim with seals, there will be no more for a long time. Otherwise the tour was complete 👌
We saw the seals from the boat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrea_s
Feb 6, 2026
Not Worth It - Not worth it. We traveled pretty far by boat, jumped into the freezing water & nothing! Very poor visibility area with no sea creatures in sight. Nice seeing seals & dolphins along the way but a complete waste of time & money as far as "underwater safari" goes
Review provided by Viator