Africa · TURTLE & MARINE LIFE

The 15 Best Turtle & Marine Life Trips in Africa

58 tours  ·  from $22

Green turtles off Boa Vista, lemon sharks in the Sal shallows, reef fish everywhere from Marsa Alam to Mnemba. The 15 below note the season, the boat and whether the operator feeds the water to bring animals in.

Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup - Starting in a modern Sprinter
Cape Town Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips in Cape Town, Day Trips in South Africa, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup

1.Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,362 reviews · 10 hours · from $52Our pick

Join an English-speaking guide such as Sylvie, Gordon, Talent, or Isaac for a packed Cape Peninsula day. Hotel pickup, a modern air-conditioned Sprinter, cold water, coastal viewpoints, Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins, Hout Bay seals, Simon’s Town, and Muizenberg are included. Entry fees, lunch, and optional boat and funicular rides cost extra.

“Awesome tour! Everything was smooth and well organized. Nathan was a great guide – super friendly, relaxed, and full of interesting info. Cape of Good Hope and the penguins were definite highlights. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Point and Boulder's Penguins Full Day Tour - Muizenberg’s colorful beach and the road south
Cape Town Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips in Cape Town, Day Trips in South Africa, Full-Day, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Point and Boulder’s Penguins Full Day Tour

2.Cape Point and Boulder’s Penguins Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,118 reviews · from $34Top rated

Spend a full day exploring Cape Town’s southern peninsula, from Muizenberg and Boulders Beach to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. A local English-speaking guide such as Brahm, Paul, or Mark provides commentary from a comfortable coach. You can walk the Cape Point trails or pay extra for the funicular.

“It's a tour with more than 30 tourists. The tour guide is passionate and professional! Good to see African penguins!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town - Bo-Kaap begins the day with color and context
Cape Town Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips in Cape Town, Day Trips in South Africa, Full-Day, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

3.Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,347 reviews · from $48

Spend about nine hours touring the Cape Peninsula in an air-conditioned minivan with pickup and drop-off in Cape Town. Walk through Bo-Kaap, stop at Camps Bay and Chapman’s Peak, visit Cape Point and Boulders Beach, and hear local stories from guides such as Rodney, Candy, Mabee, or Nana. Lunch and several entrance fees cost extra.

“We only really had one full day in Cape Town and this turned out to be a great choice. Candice & our driver Madee were very knowledgeable on all areas we visited. The boat trip to see the seal we enjoyed, even with the rough seas. The penguins, well worth seeiRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Sal: All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour - Meeting lemon sharks at Shark Bay
Cape Verde Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Sal: All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour

4.All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,033 reviews · 4 hours · from $53

See Sal’s biggest natural sights in four hours with a local guide such as Kiki, Vanessa, Tony or Nani. Float in Pedra de Lume’s salt lake, watch lemon sharks at Shark Bay, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye and stop at the desert mirage. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport and entrance fees are included.

“What an incredible experience! From start to finish, this trip exceeded all expectations. Vanessa was absolutely fabulous, she took care of everyone, shared so much interesting information, and kept us laughing with her great sense of humor. Our driver, Mr. 'No Stress' ;-) (Daniel), truly lived up to his name. Such a great guy! Together, they showed us far more than we anticipated, going above and beyond to make the day unforgettable. The tour was worth every moment, I cannot recommend it enough. We had loads of fun, enjoyed a fantastic local experience, and even ended the day with a cheerful grogue toast. Cheers to the Sal Experience team! It…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town - Bo-Kaap’s painted homes and Cape Malay story
Cape Town Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, Small Group Tours, South Africa Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town

5.Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,797 reviews · from $62

Pack Cape Town’s biggest sights into about 10 hours with a guide and a group of no more than 15. Ride Table Mountain’s cable car, see Bo-Kaap’s colorful homes, watch African penguins at Boulders Beach, and visit Cape Point. You pay separately for major entrance tickets, so plan for those extra costs.

“I simply asked him to cancel the reservation. There was a break in communication and the tour was no longer suitable for my needs. There’s a wealth of more detail that goes into this story. But I choose not to sandbag him as He seemed very pRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup - Starting in Bo-Kaap
Cape Town Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup

6.Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,671 reviews · 10 hours · from $65

Spend 10 hours seeing Cape Town’s headline sights in a shared Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Toyota Quantum GL, with up to 15 people and an English-speaking guide. You’ll ride Table Mountain’s cableway, meet penguins at Boulders Beach, visit Cape Point, and stop at Bo-Kaap, Simon’s Town, Chapman’s Peak, and Muizenberg. Guides such as Sylvie, Gordon, Sedick, and Talent are known for lively storytelling.

“A very enjoyable day trip which covered the key highlights of cape peninsula. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks) - Shark Bay: your most unusual 30 minutes
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks)

7.Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,166 reviews · from $36

Spend about seven hours touring Sal with a certified local guide such as Nany or Christian. See lemon sharks at Shark Bay, float in Pedra Lume’s salt crater, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye, and explore Palmeira, Espargos, Santa Maria, Murdeira, and Kite Beach. Hotel pickup, transport, insurance, and guide-taken photos are included. Lunch costs extra.

“The little sharks and the salt swimming in the caldera are great. The guide was lovely and the minibus comfortable”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town: Table Mountain, Cape Point, & Penguins Group Tour - Table Mountain, the day’s headline view
Cape Town Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Town: Table Mountain, Cape Point, & Penguins Group Tour

8.Table Mountain, Cape Point, & Penguins Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,063 reviews · from $62

This full-day bus tour links Cape Town's biggest sights, from Table Mountain and Chapman's Peak to Cape Point, Boulders Beach, Muizenberg, and Bo-Kaap. Guides such as Nuria, Armando, Gabriel, and Albert bring local history, humor, and practical help. Expect a packed day, optional extras, and changing plans when weather affects the mountain.

“the guide, Nuria, was excellent and made the day brilliant. the cable car was closed in the morning but all was changed about and we still got to go later.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town - Bo-Kaap and the Atlantic Seaboard
Cape Town Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, Small Group Tours, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town

9.Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,054 reviews · from $44

Spend 8 to 9 hours touring the Cape Peninsula in a minibus limited to 15 people. You’ll see Bo-Kaap, Camps Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and St James Beach. Guides such as James, Lueya, Gordon, Talent, Sylvie, and Shaqif have led this route. Bring cash for entrance fees, food, and optional boat or funicular rides.

“Seeing and learning about this area that we were visiting for the first time. We were impressed with the depth of knowledge our guide had of the history of the area. The sites he took us to were amazing, w my wife and I highly recommend this tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira - Santa Maria and Murdeira Bay: starting with coast and water
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira

10.From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,003 reviews · 6 hours · from $35

See Sal’s volcanic coast, swim at Murdeira Bay, visit Palmeira and Buracona’s Blue Eye, float in Pedra de Lume, and wade among lemon sharks. Guides such as Yannick, Yuri, and Nelson are praised for warmth, local insight, and patient help. Expect a small group, shared minibus, extra entry fees, and lunch at your own cost.

“Loved the guide, has excellent people skills and relaxed, happy vibes. I don’t think we could have spent more time at the salt pool as it was only 15min there swimming and we only went to one shop in the capital. Absolutely loved seeing the lemon shark bay although we were told on the booking we had to pay entry to blue eye and salt mine. Not shark bay as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals - From Central Beach to the Robberg Express
Garden Route Tours, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

11.Plettenberg Bay: Swim with Seals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 887 reviews · 1h 30m · from $61

Travel by Robberg Express from Central Beach to a colony of about 8,000 Cape fur seals. With a qualified divemaster, you will spend up to 30 minutes snorkeling among curious animals without touching or chasing them. Wetsuits, masks, fins, and tour photos are included. Guides speak English and Afrikaans.

“Top activity and definitely must do when you're nearby. You do not chase any animals, you go in the water nearby and they will come to you. The animals love to play along you or even with you. You should be somewhat confident in water. Floating devices are available! But when you first jump in you can be a bit nervous (depending on the weather). after a couple of minutes we got more confident and could fully enjoy! There are many animals! Not 10 or 20, but many! So no worries, you will be able to see and 'interact' with them. The guide will provide you with the correct size…”

Check availability →Read our full review

St. Anne Marine Park, Moyenne & Cerf Island Tour with Lunch - Snorkeling over coral and watching the tide
Island Trips, Island Trips in Mahe, Island Trips in Seychelles, Mahe Tours, Seychelles Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

St. Anne Marine Park, Moyenne & Cerf Island Tour with Lunch

12.St. Anne Marine Park, Moyenne & Cerf Island Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 862 reviews · 6 hours - 390 minutes · from $92

Spend about six hours around St. Anne Marine Park, Moyenne, Long Island, Round Island, and Cerf Island. You will ride from Eden Island, see reef life, snorkel at two sites, visit giant tortoises, and eat a beachside Creole BBQ. Guides such as Michel, Rasta, Smiley, Chris, and Perry are known for lively explanations and careful water supervision.

“A brilliant day out and would highly recommend, Christopher and Hadley were amazing!! The island was stunning and the bbq lovely.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise - What Algoa Bay can show you
Boat Trips & Cruises, Boat Trips in Garden Route, Boat Trips in South Africa, Dolphin & Whale Watching, Dolphin & Whale Watching in South Africa, Garden Route Tours, Island Trips, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

13.Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise

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

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town: Marine Life Kayak Tour From the V&A Waterfront - Learning the basics before leaving shore
Cape Town Tours, Kayaking & Canoeing, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Town: Marine Life Kayak Tour From the V&A Waterfront

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

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

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town: Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Day Tour with Pickup - Morning pickup and the ride along the Atlantic Seaboard
Cape Town Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips in Cape Town, Day Trips in South Africa, Marine Life Trips in Cape Town, Marine Life Trips in South Africa, South Africa Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

Cape Town: Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Day Tour with Pickup

15.Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 581 reviews · 10 hours · from $29Best value

Spend 10 hours touring the Cape Peninsula in an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking guide such as Mike, Togeda, or Pamela. See African penguins at Boulders Beach, optional seals at Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope. Entry fees and lunch cost extra.

“We had an absolutely fantastic day exploring the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach! Huge thanks to our guide, Mike, whose knowledge and storytelling made the trip truly special, and to our driver, Jeph, for the smooth and safe ride. Everything was perfectly organized. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Turtle & Marine Life

★ 5.0Table Mountain, Boulders Penguins & Cape point Private Day TourFrom $162236 reviews
★ 5.0Cape Town Private Group Tour to Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Colony80 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Tour to Cape Point , Penguins, Wine or Beer TastingFrom $18680 reviews
★ 5.0Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape TownFrom $54129 reviews
★ 5.0Full Day Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguin ColonyFrom $71110 reviews
★ 4.5Half Day Boulders Penguins and Cape Point Small Group TourFrom $44322 reviews
★ 5.0Half day African Penguin TourFrom $7198 reviews
★ 4.2Swimming With Turtles AT Salaam Cave AT Kizimkazi ZanzibarFrom $50112 reviews
★ 4.5Salt Mine, Natural Pool, and Shark Bay TourFrom $34165 reviews
★ 4.5Sal Island Sea Turtle Watching ExperienceFrom $37256 reviews
★ 4.6Salt Lake Tour, Shark Bay and Pedra de Lume VillageFrom $36274 reviews
★ 4.5Plettenberg Bay: Seal Colony Viewing ExcursionFrom $34100 reviews
★ 4.3Snorkeling Excursion in Blue Bay Marine ParkFrom $29126 reviews
★ 4.1From Sal Island: Blue Eye, Salt Lake, Lemon Sharks, PalmeiraFrom $32248 reviews
★ 4.0Entry Ticket: Grand Aquarium HurgadaFrom $33273 reviews

Keep browsing

Boat Trips & Cruises242Island Trips124Snorkeling Trips74Scuba Diving22Dolphin & Whale Watching44Nile Cruises71Beach Days36Water Sports23
Scroll to Top

Where the days out are

Pick a desert, a park, a reef or a medina.

Sand and stone

Desert ToursThe SaharaCamel RidesDesert CampsQuad & Buggy

Parks and wildlife

SafarisNational ParksSerengetiMaasai MaraWhale Watching

Boats and reefs

Boat TripsIsland DaysSnorkellingNile CruisesBeach Days

Souks and kitchens

Medinas & SouksHistorical SitesMuseumsFood ToursHammams