Luxury Safaris in the
Whale Coast made for you
Diverse marine life
spot southern right whales and great white sharks
Wine tasting
visit bespoke wineries and larger estates
World-class dining
sample local delicacies and produce at leading restaurants
The marine big five and idyllic wild beaches
As you might imagine, the marine life of the Whale Coast is the main draw of the area, but you can’t help but credit them for picking such a spectacular stretch of coastline around which to gather.
Almost immediately south-east from the outskirts of Cape Town and following the Atlantic shoreline along the Western Cape, this is a protected collection of beautiful bays with crescents of pristine white beaches, wild surf, tranquil mountains that dramatically descend into the Atlantic, sleepy valleys, nature reserves, charming coves bustling with wildlife and pleasant villages brimming with local heritage.
Some of the world’s premier destinations for viewing nurseries of southern right whales, as well as other marine life, are located on this coast, such as Hermanus, Overburg and Walker Bay, and there are also the shivers of great white sharks that gather off Gansbaai.
Being, at most, two hours from Cape Town, this region is also perfect in terms of convenience, extraordinary regarding the choice luxury accommodation, superb for world-class restaurants, and there’s also an excellent range of tours with some particularly thrilling adventure activities, too.
Highlights
Get your pulse racing with thrilling adventure activities
Experience adventure exploring the coast’s archaeological caves and hiking trails
Take it slow and visit local galleries, museums and shops
Visit local reserves on a nature and wildlife tour
Jody van Merode
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in the Whale Coast
Why book with Jacada?
Safari expertise
Our experts bring decades of first-hand expertise. They’ve lived and travelled across Africa and are regularly on the ground reviewing the most exclusive camps and experiences. You’ll also have the support of a personal concierge, based in region.
Unforgettable guides
We handpick the most knowledgeable guides, who bring each destination to life with care and passion. They’re chosen for their ability to provide unrivalled insight into the region’s wildlife and landscapes as well as a genuine, memorable experience.
Positive impact
By travelling with us, you directly support a range of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation to community engagement. Our luxury trips are designed to prioritise experiences that are positive for you and the places you visit.
Trip inspiration
Where to go
Cape Town
Vibrant and beautiful, Cape Town is an essential stop on any South Africa trip. Table Mountain dominates the skyline and offers exciting outdoor pursuits while the streets below are full of history, culture and buzzing bars and restaurants.
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Drakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg mountains are an epic and exciting place to visit. Huge tabletops, massive ranges, ancient san rock-art sites and crashing waterfalls can be explored on hikes, exhilarating zip lines and expedition horse rides.
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Durban
A subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and laid back atmosphere makes Durban a great city to spend time in. It also holds plenty of cultural and political importance as the capital of the KwaZulu Natal region.
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Limpopo Province
Known as ‘The Great North’ Limpopo is characterised by majestic scenery, ancient landscapes and millions of hectares of protected land. There are numerous outdoor activities including some of the best horse riding safaris in the country.
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Luxury Rail Travel
Luxury trains cut through dramatic landscapes, enjoyed from the comfort of stylish carriages. Any journey through South Africa will be a beautiful one and taking the journey by train delivers a wonderful sense of calm or romance.
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Madikwe
Madikwe, in the northwest corner, boarding Botswana and the Kalahari desert is a hidden gem for safari-goers. A great spot for families with little children as there’s no malaria-free area.
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Phinda
Phinda is a private reserve offering exclusivity, conservation-lead hospitality and exciting wildlife encounters. A varied collection of habitats attracts plenty of wildlife and with its proximity to the coast, beach and bush combine perfectly.
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Sabi Sands
A private reserve spanning 600,000 hectares and boarding the game-rich Kruger Park means safari experiences here are exclusive and full of wildlife. A place of leopards and wild dogs, luxury lodges and endless savannahs.
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The Battlefields
One of South Africa’s historically significant regions, a must-stop destination for any historian. Famous for outstanding expert guides who bring the stories to life as you wander the fields.
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The Elephant Coast
Just below Mozambique the Elephant Coast boasts some of the best beaches in South Africa. Highlights include the UNESCO wetlands of Lake St Lucia, the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay with it’s sea turtle residents.
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The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a place of magnificent natural beauty. The coastline is made up of small bays, beaches and quaint towns. In the distance rolling, green hills and forestland runs down to meet the coast, laden with marine life.
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The Kalahari
The Kalahari showcases the massive diversity of the country's landscapes. Unique desert species roam the arid plains, waiting for the rains to bring dry land to life with a flurry of desert flowers.
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The Kruger
A world famous national park, and for good reason. The wildlife in the Kruger is abundant, the big five reside here in large numbers. The park is home to many luxurious lodges for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
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The Western Cape Mountains
The Cape Mountains span the northern and southern capes, taking in the Cederberg mountains and most of the Karoo plateau. A perfect place for jaw-dropping road trips on the famous route 62 and all just a convenient distance from Cape Town.
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The Winelands
Pretty towns and villages punctuate the green rolling hills of South Africa’s Wine Region. Home to fantastic wine, restaurants and plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the stunning landscapes.
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When to visit
The whale season is from July to November. The rest of the year is also good, with the warmer months being October to April.
Whale season
July - November
Warmer months
October - April
Wild flowers
August - September
Plan your trip to theWhale Coast
Whatever you want from your adventure in the Whale Coast, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Everything about our trip to South Africa arranged by Jacada Travel was exceptional. Jody Van Merode, Senior Tavel Designer, listened to our wants and needs and put together a perfect trip that was within our stated budget. She was great to work with! Jody and our assigned concierge, Betty Gatwiri, communicated with us frequently before our trip about what to…
Jacada was great. The knowledgeable people at Jacada - James, Betty, Wade to name the ones we were in touch with - plus all the people who were there meeting us at planes, picking us up at hotels -- on time. While the sights and sounds in the bush were amazing, the hospitality at Lion Sands River Lodge and Thornybush…
We recently returned from a trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia booked through Jacada Travel. From the initial stages of planning through to following up with us at the end of our vacation, Jacada went above and beyond our expectations with personalized service. Jamie and Eugenia, our travel designer and concierge respectively, took our ideas and preferences and ran…
My husband and I recently traveled to South Africa and we utilized Jacada travel services. Jody Van Merode planned the perfect trip for us- we spoke over the phone and she put together an itinerary that would best match what we wanted to see, our interests and our budget! We visited two very different game reserves - each beautiful in…
The trip was perfect from start to finish which I completely attribute to the communication with James and Eugenia. I really felt as if our needs were anticipated and our style of travel understood. They truly picked the best accommodations and made transfers between easy. I've never had such a seamless and well-organized travel experience. It is so worth it…
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
