9 Kayak & Canoe Trips in Africa That Repay the Early Start

1.Marine Life Kayak Tour From the V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 640 reviews · 2 hours · from $37Our pick

Paddle from the V&A Waterfront into Table Bay with a qualified English-speaking guide and a small group of up to 10. Stable kayaks suit beginners, while guides such as Ande, Zach, Renier, and Jordan help spot dolphins, seals, penguins, and whales. You’ll also get striking views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, and the Twelve Apostles.

“Thank you to our guides Zach and Ande we had a lovely time! They were very organised and informative. They also help take nice pictures on the water”

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2.Pelican Point Kayaking Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 349 reviews · from $79Top rated

Start at 8:00 am from Anchors Waterfront Restaurant in Walvis Bay. Ride a 4x4 along the lagoon and salt mines to Pelican Point, then paddle tandem kayaks beside a colony of more than 20,000 Cape fur seals. Guides such as SJ and Jasmine provide wildlife insight, gear, breakfast, and photos.

“Very close to the seals. Great experience. Very peaceful. The guide is really passionate and implicated to the wellness of the wild life.”

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3.Mauritius: Guided Kayak Tour on Tamarin River

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 268 reviews · 1h 30m · from $55

Start at Tamarin Bay and paddle upstream with a French- or English-speaking guide. You’ll learn basic kayaking, pass mangroves and two river branches, and look for monkeys, moorhens, ducks, crabs, and other wildlife. Guides such as Gilles, Rowin, and Eliza add local stories and help beginners find their pace.

“We did this river kayak in September and it was so much fun! Our guide had a lot of knowledge on the different flora and fauna along the river, and we saw monkeys swinging in the trees along the shore. A very beginner friendly activity, and a really peaceful afternoon that made the end of our trip that much better. Would definitely go again if in Mauritius.”

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4.Guided Kayaking in Hout Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 228 reviews · 2 hours · from $37

Paddle from Hout Bay Harbour with a guide such as Clarence, Clemon, Chadley, or Tylo, learning about the bay and Chapman's Peak while watching for Cape Fur Seals, dolphins, and penguins. The two-hour trip suits beginners and experienced kayakers, with equipment and a PFD supplied. Bring a jacket, swimwear, and a change of clothes.

“We have spend at least 40 minutes kayaking around with dolphins 🐬 which was life-changing. Guides were super nice and helpful, we felt safe and entertained and we'll informed the whole time. Location is also great with huge parking, facilities, cafe and a cool market where you can buy souvenirs afterwards. I would recommend it to anyone!”

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5.Atlantic Outlook Kayak Tour Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · from $29

Join Atlantic Outlook at the V&A Waterfront for a guided ocean kayak trip of about two hours. You’ll paddle from the marine reserve toward Sea Point with Table Mountain, Lions Head, Signal Hill, the stadium, and the Atlantic Sea Board in view. Equipment and safety gear are supplied, and beginners are welcome.

“We had to reschedule due to bad ocean swells. But everything was conducted easily and well. Unfortunately i was unable to attend the rescheduled date, but look forward to rebooking in the future.”

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6.Tamarin: Guided Kayak Tour with Dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 190 reviews · 2h 30m · from $64

Start before sunrise with a guide from Nature Discoveries, wearing a green Yanature shirt. Paddle into Tamarin Bay to look for spinner and bottlenose dolphins, then follow the Tamarin River if none appear. Guides including Théo, Yan, Mathieu, and Gilles share local wildlife facts in English or French.

“Fantastic experience to observe dolphins by kayak, way way better than going through boats that are ruining environment and experience afterwards. Jeremy was a amazing local guide. Strongly recommend”

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7.Pelican Point Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 171 reviews · 4h 30m · from $76

Spend a half day at Pelican Point with guides such as SJ, Denzel, or Schalk, driving past Walvis Bay’s birds and salt mines before paddling beside friendly Cape fur seals. No kayaking skills are needed. Expect about two hours on protected ocean water, photo stops, and a simple breakfast afterward.

“Once in a lifetime experience padding with für seals with my daughter.”

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8.Plettenberg Bay: Guided Sea Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 121 reviews · 2 hours · from $24Best value

Launch from Central Beach with an English-speaking guide such as Tristan or Giovanni, after a safety and paddling briefing. The two-hour route changes with wind, swell, and your ability. You may see Cape fur seals, dolphins, seabirds, sharks, or whales, especially from July to October, but wildlife is never guaranteed.

“A great Sea Kayak trip, out in Plattenberg bay we were lucky to see Dolphins, a Bryde Whale and seals. I would recommend this trip is for people who have paddled before.”

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9.Okavango Delta: Full-Day Mokoro/Canoe Tour All-Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 81 reviews · 1 day · from $171

From Maun, you travel by 4x4 to the Okavango Delta’s NG32 Concession for a quiet mokoro ride, island walk, and picnic lunch. Local polers who grew up in the Delta guide you through reeds and waterways, with possible sightings of hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, and birds. This is a nature-first outing, not a predator safari.

“Het was een geweldige trip. De rit in de jeep naar de delta was al heel mooi en de jeep was erg goed. Bij regen konden de zijkanten dicht en er lagen dekens in. De Mokoro tocht was prachtig, de bootmannen namen de tijd om alles uit te leggen en wezen ons steeds op wat er te zien was. Het regende onderweg en we kregen regenkleding. De lunch was zeer goed. we hebben giraffen, Zebra's, wildebeesten en antilopen gezien. in het water een grote kudde nijlpaarden”

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