Things to Do in Gansbaai: Sharks, Birds, Whales
Quick Orientation
- Gansbaai is in the Overberg, Western Cape, roughly 160 to 165 km and 2 to 2.5 hours by road from Cape Town.
- Hermanus is the nearest larger town, about 40 minutes up the R43.
- Kleinbaai has the harbour and the boats. De Kelders has the cliffs and Walker Bay Nature Reserve.
- All prices here are South African rand (R). Do not drive after dark, and keep to sheltered water when swimming, as strong sea currents cause drownings along the coast.
Shark Cage Diving
Marine Dynamics runs the cage dive from its office at 5 Geelbek Street, Kleinbaai, using the catamaran Slashfin. The cage floats at the surface, you hold your breath when a shark comes by, and nobody needs a scuba licence. A boat ride of roughly 20 to 30 minutes takes you to the anchor point, where the crew use chum and a bait line to draw sharks in.
What you will see matters. White sharks have been scarce since about 2017, after orcas killed several of them near Gansbaai, and operators say a sighting is never guaranteed. Most divers now meet bronze whalers (copper sharks) and broadnose sevengills. On some trips nothing comes to the cage. Dives go out all year when the weather allows.
Rates for 2026, per person:
- International adult R3,655, international child under 12 R2,070.
- South African adult R2,268, South African child R1,188, under 5 free.
- A compulsory R150 conservation fee for the Dyer Island Conservation Trust on top.
- Free entry to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary with your ticket.
- Shuttles: R1,000 per person from Cape Town, R700 from Hermanus.
Press coverage mentions breakfast, a wetsuit and a snack, so ask what your ticket includes. White Shark Projects, at 16 Geelbek Street, is a different company with separate pricing, and Apex Shark Expeditions also runs trips.
African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust opened this sanctuary in Kleinbaai in 2015 to rescue and rehabilitate African penguins and other seabirds. It is free to enter, open every day from 09:00 to 16:00, and holds a public penguin feeding at 15:00. Donations are welcome. Which birds are in care varies, so you cannot count on seeing a particular species.
Marine Big 5 Boat Trip
This Marine Dynamics Shark and Whale Tours outing (the former Dyer Island Cruises) leaves from Kleinbaai and lasts about 2 to 2.5 hours. It looks for seals, penguins, dolphins and whales when they are present. International adults pay R2,340, children under 12 pay R1,725, and under 5s are free, with the R150 fee added. South African citizens pay R1,728 for adults and R864 for children.
Where to Swim
The open sea has cold water, rips and sharks, so skip it. Stanford’s Cove in De Kelders is a sheltered cove with a lawn, toilets and outdoor showers. Perlemoenbaai has a tidal pool on Kus Weg. Kleinbaai Harbour is a working harbour, not a bathing beach.
Read more: Gansbaai attraction tours for whale boats and Grootbos, or sightseeing for the cliffs and lighthouse.
Compare trips on Viator , and read the operator’s rates page .