Whale Watching Knysna - Close Encounter Experience Ocean Odyssey
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Observing whales in their natural environment leaves a feel-good mark on the soul- Knysna the best places to do this! As Knysna’s only permitted close encounter operator, our team is passionate about showcasing our prolific marine life and our incredibly picturesque & scenic coastline. Every year, both the Southern Right and the Humpback whales leave their icy feeding grounds off Antarctica and migrate to mate and calve in the warmer waters of our Southern African coastline. Knysna is one of the best whale watching destinations in the country. Knysna is blessed with year-round sightings - large pods of Dolphins and regular sightings of Brydes whales. From June through to November/December Knysna’s you can sight our incredible migrating whales, as our waters teem with Southern right and humpback whales and they skirt our coastline while making their way to the tropics.
Inclusions
What's included
- Local guide
- Available on request
What's not
- Gratuities
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.6
- 573
- 413
- 32
- 22
- 13
Ratings come from 93 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Well worth it
Recommended, wear warm clothing, great experience seeing the whales with their babies. We were also lucky to see Dolphins Bring snacks as can be long enough out at sea.
3Limited Whale Sightings
In my opinion, the whale watching experience was not really worth the money. During the trip, we only managed to see one young whale, so I was expecting a little more considering the price. That said, the speedboat ride itself was fun and added some excitement to the experience. Most of my family enjoyed the trip overall, although the children did not enjoy it as much. It was still an interesting experience, but personally, I would not consider it good value for money based on what we saw that day.
5Best experience ever
It was amazing we met three whales , dolphins and seal . Riding speed boat it self was amazing.. you must try it all
1Cancelled last minute...
Highly disappointing to be advised via WhatsApp just one hour before the trip that it would be cancelled as nobody else has booked for the midday trip. Had we been given more notice we could have brought other guests from our accom, arranged an alternative time or tour for what was to be one of the highlights of our SA trip. Pretty amateur approach.
5Whale of a time
We saw a beautiful whale, two different types of dolphins, seals and lovely sights. The team was lovely.
5Lifetime Experience. Wonderful tour.
This trip exceeded our expectations. Friendly , professional staff from the get go. The onboard tour guide was knowledgeable & informative & towards the end of our time, when we were yet to spot Whales(although plenty of Dolphins, birds & a sea Lion) & were inbound to shore, immediately turned the boat round & raced to where a radio communication had informed a sighting. We were able to witness a close encounter with a humpback & her calf. We also went through caves & cliffs. Thoroughly enjoyed our morning. Thank You.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Travel down Long street, over the white little bridge and make your way on to Thesen Island. Just before you reach the traffic circle at the end of Long st our shop is located on the left hand side (Opposite The Time Machine and next to Diana Loon Boutique)
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- Ocean Odyssey Whale Watching Knysna
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- All trips subject to weather & sea conditions
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation - minimum number of passengers required due to vessel operating weight requirement.
- Children are considered a passenger and have a seat allocation.
- Marine mammals are free roaming and wild, sightings of any kind are not guaranteed therefore we do not offer refunds for no sightings-
How it compares in Knysna
- Its from-price is 128% above the median of the 22 experiences we list in Knysna.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 22.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Knysna
Knysna is a lagoon town on South Africa's Garden Route, guarded by two sandstone cliffs called the Heads and backed by ancient forest.
Knysna lies on the Garden Route in the Western Cape, around a broad, tidal lagoon whose narrow entrance to the sea is guarded by two sandstone cliffs, the Knysna Heads. The waterfront has boats, craft markets and cafés, and homes cluster on Thesen Island. The surrounding forest, the largest of South Africa's indigenous forests, shelters the Knysna turaco, a green bird with red wings, and a few secretive elephants.
Top-ranked sights in Knysna: Knysna Heads.
