Hout Bay Harbour, Cape Town
Cape Town birding charters
Dedicated pelagic birding trips to the same offshore grounds we fish for tuna.
Dedicated pelagic birding trips to the trawling grounds, where up to seven albatross species have been recorded.
Why is Cape Town a world-class pelagic birding destination?
Cape Town’s waters are home to seven species of albatross, making this one of the top albatross destinations in the world.
The deep-sea trawlers processing their catch at sea create a food source where a large volume of world-class birdlife can be seen, particularly from May through to September.
What can you see?
Recorded here, in roughly descending order of how often they are seen:
- Black-browed albatross
- Shy (white-capped) albatross
- Indian yellow-nosed albatross
- Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross
- Wandering albatross
- Southern royal albatross
- Northern royal albatross
- Sooty shearwaters, white-chinned petrels and Wilson’s storm petrels, all commonly sighted
At a glance
- Duration
- 8 to 10 hours
- Guests
- Up to 10, excluding the guide
- Albatross species recorded
- Up to 7
- Departs
- Hout Bay Harbour, first light
- Season
- Year-round, best May to September
What it costs
- Private birding charter, 8 to 10 hoursR 27 000
per boat · up to 10 guests
Questions
When is the best time for pelagic birding in Cape Town?
May to September. The southern winter brings albatrosses and petrels north, and the trawl fleet working the shelf edge concentrates them.
How many albatross species can you see off Cape Town?
Up to seven species have been recorded: black-browed, shy, Indian yellow-nosed, Atlantic yellow-nosed, wandering, southern royal and northern royal.
How many people can join a birding charter?
Up to eleven guests including the guide, on trips of eight to twelve hours.
Read next
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- guideWhat to bring on a Cape Town fishing charterSun protection, a warm windproof layer, soft-soled shoes, extra water, seasickness medication and a dry bag for your phone. Tackle, bait and safety equipment are supplied.
- guideWhat happens if the weather cancels your charterThe skipper makes the call and you are offered the next available date, or you owe nothing. No deposit is taken and you are never charged for a trip the boat does not run.