Africa · DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING

The 15 Best Dolphin & Whale Watching Trips in Africa

44 tours  ·  from $9

Hermanus for southern right whales between June and November, Walvis Bay and Zanzibar for dolphins year round. These 15 note the season, the boat, and how honest each operator is about sightings not being guaranteed.

Hurghada: 3 Islands, Dolphins & Snorkel Yacht Trip w/ Lunch - Hotel pickup and the early start
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Hurghada: 3 Islands, Dolphins & Snorkel Yacht Trip w/ Lunch

1.3 Islands, Dolphins & Snorkel Yacht Trip w/ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,609 reviews · 8 hours · from $47Our pick

Join Go Shalabi for an eight-hour yacht day from Hurghada, with Orange Bay, Giftun, and Magawish Island stops. You get two snorkeling sites, dolphin watching, breakfast, seafood lunch, fruit, and unlimited drinks. Guides such as Fouad, Ahmed, Saef, Ashraf, and Sabry help swimmers of different abilities, while the crew keeps the mood lively and safety in view.

“what a day we had Hussain Ibrahim chef Omar they were all fabulous thank you so much for the best day”

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Hurghada or Makadi: Discover the Magic of Dolphin House - What the boat day looks like from pickup to lunch
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Hurghada or Makadi: Discover the Magic of Dolphin House

2.Hurghada or Makadi: Discover the Magic of Dolphin House

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,198 reviews · from $27

Set out from Hurghada or Makadi to Dolphin House with FLY NEMO TOURS. Look for dolphins in open water, snorkel at two reef sites, try the sofa boat, and enjoy lunch, fruit, water, and soft drinks. Guides including Mohamed, Adam, and Mahmoud help with safety and snorkeling. Dolphin swimming lasts 15 to 20 minutes when conditions allow.

“Absolutely amazing trip from start to finish. The crew really look after you! 2 amazing snorkelling spots and then time to see and swim with the dolphins. Finished off with some water sport fun and jumping of the boat! Special shout out to Mohammad who helped and guided me around the spots!”

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Hurghada: Speedboat Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling with Lunch - From your Hurghada hotel to the marina
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Hurghada: Speedboat Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling with Lunch

3.Speedboat Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,141 reviews · from $40

Set out from Hurghada on a small speedboat with an English-speaking captain and snorkeling guide. Search for dolphins, stop at two or three reef sites, then relax on a bright sandbank or island area with lunch, fruit, drinks, and shade. Guides such as Islam, Ahmed, Karim, and Momo are often praised for safety and friendly service. Parasailing is available as an add-on.

“Fantastic experience. Captain Karim & Ahmed couldn’t do enough for us. Thank you both for the perfect end to our trip to Egypt!! 🌟🌟🌟”

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Hurghada: Dolphin Watching Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Lunch - Two reef stops, with help in the water
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Hurghada: Dolphin Watching Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Lunch

4.Dolphin Watching Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,819 reviews · from $25

Spend 6 to 7 hours on the Red Sea from Hurghada, watching for wild dolphins, snorkeling at two coral reefs, and eating lunch aboard a spacious boat. Guides such as Mido and Abdul help swimmers of all levels, with banana boat and sofa boat rides included. Dolphin sightings are never guaranteed.

“money for value is amazing 1000% worth it and amazing experience”

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Île aux Bénitiers: Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch - Speedboat access and what to expect on the water
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Île aux Bénitiers: Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch

5.Île aux Bénitiers: Snorkeling w/Dolphins Boat Tour & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,635 reviews · 7 hours · from $115

You’ll leave from the west coast by speedboat for a morning dolphin encounter, then snorkel near Crystal Rock with Le Morne behind you. Guides such as Yan, Alex, Kevin, and Lulu lead the boat portion, followed by a three-course beach BBQ, local drinks, and free time on Île aux Bénitiers. Hotel pickup and drop-off across Mauritius are included.

“Just a lovely day out. Slightly disconcerting as to how many boats were out around the dolphins and swimmers. Something that perhaps needs to be looked at.”

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Hurghada: 6 Islands Tour with Dolphin Watching & Snorkelling - Pickup, marina transfer, and the small-boat feel
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Hurghada: 6 Islands Tour with Dolphin Watching & Snorkelling

6.6 Islands Tour with Dolphin Watching & Snorkelling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,624 reviews · 8 hours · from $51

Spend about eight hours on a small speedboat visiting Hurghada’s islands, sandbanks, beaches, and snorkeling sites. You’ll stop at Orange Bay, Magawish, Giftun National Park, and Juzur Abu Monqar, with guides such as Basil and Fatih helping in the water. Dolphins are possible, not guaranteed. Lunch and parasailing cost extra.

“The trip was amazing, Go Shalabi isso very professional, the lunch was delicious. Thank you very much”

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Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience - Arriving at Hermanus New Harbour
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Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

7.Hermanus: Boat Based Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,180 reviews · 1h 30m · from $93

From Hermanus New Harbour, you’ll take a 90-minute to two-hour boat trip into Walker Bay with an English-speaking guide. Look for southern right whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds while the crew explains local marine life. The boat may stop near whales with engines off, giving you time to watch without disturbing them.

“We had an amazing whale watching experience! 🐋 Before departure there was a clear briefing about which whales we might see, so we felt prepared and excited. The group was limited to only 40 people, and there were different types of boats to choose from, which made everything feel well organized. During the trip, huge whales appeared right next to us and even around us — truly breathtaking! We were lucky to spot a mother and baby whale breaching in the distance. The guide told us it’s a rare sight, which made it even more special. Overall, we are super happy and grateful for such a memorable adventure.”

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Swimming with Dolphin VIP Snorkeling Sea Trip With Lunch and Transfer - Hurghada - Reaching Dolphin House by boat
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Swimming with Dolphin VIP Snorkeling Sea Trip With Lunch and Transfer – Hurghada

8.Swimming with Dolphin VIP Snorkeling Sea Trip With Lunch and Transfer – Hurghada

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,104 reviews · from $9Best value

Spend about eight hours on the Red Sea with hotel pickup, a boat ride to Dolphin House, two guided reef snorkeling stops, water sports, lunch, and soft drinks. Guides such as Mustafa are praised for helping first-time snorkelers. Dolphin sightings are possible, not guaranteed, and extra fees apply.

“Disorganised. We were on the top deck and were not informed of everything that was going on. It was not clear to us that the choice was for orange island or snorkelling.”

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Hurghada: Dolphin World Show with Walruses and Pickup - The dolphins are the main event
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Hurghada: Dolphin World Show with Walruses and Pickup

9.Dolphin World Show with Walruses and Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,075 reviews · 5 min · from $23

Spend a family-friendly morning at Dolphin World Egypt Makadi Bay, watching dolphins, sea lions, and a walrus perform for about an hour. Hotel pickup from Hurghada and Makadi Bay is included, with El Gouna transfers available as an add-on. Swimming and dolphin photos cost extra.

“The show was fantastic. Trip was organised to a professional standard. Would highly recommend.”

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From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure - Swimming with dolphins in open water
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From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

10.From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,043 reviews · 4 hours · from $50

Join Captbarnabatours from Mama Mia in Kendwa for a four-hour boat trip toward Mnemba Atoll. Guides such as Hassan, Ludo, Hamis, Abra, and Ebra search for dolphins without hounding them, then lead you to coral reefs and a tide-dependent sandbank. Gear, fruit, soft drinks, life jackets, conservation fees, and hotel-beach boat pickup are included.

“We had a lovely trip today. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side at the beginning of the trip, but thankfully it cleared up. We especially are very grateful that the captain and our tour guide HD did not chase after the dolphins. We kept our distance and still got to see them. Both the sandbanks and the snorkelling were amazing! The water is so clear and we truly enjoyed the 20 plus/minus sorts of fishes we saw! We had some tropical fruits/water and even made new friends onboard. We can truly recommend Captain Barnaba Tours!”

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Hermanus: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Trip - Arriving at the Whale Shack in New Harbour
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Hermanus: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Trip

11.Hermanus: Whale and Dolphin Watching Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 807 reviews · 2 hours · from $98

Join Southern Right Charters in Hermanus for a two-hour catamaran cruise with whale specialists such as Ken, Jacques, or David. Look for southern right, humpback, and Bryde’s whales, plus dolphins and seals. Tea, coffee, light snacks, and onboard commentary are included, while drone footage costs extra.

“Our guide David was amazing, very experienced and He spottet every movement around us. We where able to see female southern right whales with their calfes, seals and dolphins. Some of the whales even breached out of the water. Overall an amazing experience!”

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Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise - What Algoa Bay can show you
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Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

12.Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 687 reviews · from $185Top rated

Meet at 8am at Nelson Mandela Bay Yacht Club for a four-hour cruise with Raggy Charters. A small group of up to 20 boards a twin-engine catamaran to look for humpback and southern right whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds, and African penguins at St. Croix Island. Crew members, including Jake, explain local wildlife and conservation.

“We were in a small group on the boat and were lucky enough to see a pod of 200 dolphins, penguins hunting for fish and some seals sunbathing. The team really care about the wildlife and spent time explaining to us the different animal behaviRead more”

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Hurghada: All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House & Massage - Leaving Hurghada early for the Dolphin House reef
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Hurghada: All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House & Massage

13.All-Inclusive Elite VIP Dolphin House & Massage

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 654 reviews · 450 minutes - 8 hours · from $45

From Hurghada, Royal Cruise takes you by yacht to Dolphin House for wild dolphin watching, two reef stops, breakfast, lunch, drinks, and a back massage. Guides including Salam speak English, German, and Arabic. Dolphin swimming is possible but never guaranteed, and the boat may be windy in cooler months.

“It was absolutely amazing. The staff were really friendly and helpful. We got to swim with dolphins, a lot of them, and it was really amazing. The reefs were nice and a lot of fish. They have a wonderful masseur and the food was great. I can really recommend this trip. (Some of the underwater pictures are really bad quality because I took a picture of the underwater camera display)”

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Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat - Swimming with spinner and bottlenose dolphins
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Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

14.Black River: Dolphin Swim and Whale Watching by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 595 reviews · 5 hours · from $129

From Grande Riviere Noire, you ride a speedboat with up to 14 passengers and two skippers. Swim with spinner and bottlenose dolphins, watch whales from the boat, then snorkel a coral reef. Guides such as Globis, Conrad, Alan, Ronaldo, and Fabio have been praised for calm, careful wildlife handling.

“Die Guide did a very good job. We saw everything we wanted to see! Most imported - he took v3r4 good care of the animals. He was very careful and kept a secure distance to the animals! Thank you for that nice experience!”

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Mnemba Island: Dolphin Swim & Snorkeling with Optional Lunch - From your hotel to Muyuni Beach
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Mnemba Island: Dolphin Swim & Snorkeling with Optional Lunch

15.Mnemba Island: Dolphin Swim & Snorkeling with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 591 reviews · 3.5 - 5 hours · from $21

Set out from Muyuni Beach, or add hotel pickup, for a 3.5 to 5-hour trip with guides such as Khamis, Ali, or Ramadan. You will search for wild dolphins, snorkel among fish and coral near Mnemba, and pause for fruit, a sandbank, or optional Swahili lunch. Sea conditions and boat traffic can shape the day.

“Fortunately I had the chance to see and swim with dolphins. It was my first time meeting dolphins, and their faces were so pretty. The guides were nice and we enjoyed some fruit together. One thing to improve is that the shop was a bit hard to find since there were many stores, and at first I got confused. But overall, I had a wonderful experience with the dolphins ！”

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New in Dolphin & Whale Watching

★ 5.0Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale TourFrom $51155 reviews
★ 4.5Tamarin: Guided Kayak Tour with DolphinsFrom $64190 reviews
★ 4.2Speedboat to Ile aux Benitier: Dolphin Encounter & LunchFrom $70144 reviews
★ 4.0Mauritius: Ocean Swim with DolphinsFrom $93125 reviews
★ 4.8Mauritius Le Morne: Eco-Friendly Dolphin Watching Tour123 reviews
★ 4.3Matemwe: Mnemba Island Dolphin & Snorkeling Boat TripFrom $35152 reviews
★ 4.7La Preneuse: Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling Speedboat TourFrom $5892 reviews
★ 4.6Knysna: Close Encounter Whale Watching Tour by BoatFrom $113207 reviews
★ 4.6Private Speedboat to Dolphin House with Pickup150 reviews
★ 5.0Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling & Buffet LunchFrom $26177 reviews
★ 4.7Gansbaai: Whale Watching Trip by BoatFrom $146127 reviews
★ 4.1Full-Day Hermanus Whale Watching TourFrom $120119 reviews
★ 4.6Whale Watching Tour in Hermanus and GansbaaiFrom $249110 reviews
★ 4.6Hula Hula Island Speedboat Tour with DolphinsFrom $42100 reviews
★ 4.8Whale Valley and Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls TourFrom $15093 reviews

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