Gordon's Bay to Cape Agulhas - Accommodation & Shark Diving

The accommodation described below, offer unique opportunities to experience not only the natural beauty of this stretch of coastline between Gordon's Bay and Cape Agulhas, but also get a real thrill of shark cage diving and whale watching. All accommodation can be booked in combination or individually, on a fully tailor-made basis – you decide how long you want to stay and where. A visit to the Shark Alley coastline can be combined with other destinations in South Africa, such as Cape Town and Cape Peninsula and the Garden Route.

Hermanus accommodation
De Kelders/Gansbaai accommodation
Shark cage diving
Sample Itinerary

Hermanus accommodation:

Nelshof
Nelshof is situated in Hermanus, which has lovely beaches, shops, galleries and restaurants. There miles of fabulous cliff paths to walk and a 16 km mountain bike trail, with direct access from Nelshof's front garden. Fernkloof Nature Reserve is only 1 km away and is one of the richest floral kingdoms in the world and a bird-watcher’s paradise! Walker Bay Wine Wander starts just 7km from Nelshof and there are 7 wineries you can visit offering world-class wines.

Nelshof is a beautiful old family home, built in 1921 and restored and refurbished using original furnishings and artefacts. All their rooms have been fitted with tea & coffee making facilities, telephones, televisions and heating. The rooms are either sea facing or mountain/garden facing and most open onto the veranda and Jacuzzi deck. Their breakfast is a famous homemade treat.

Nelshof has some of the best whale viewing available from your bedroom, the veranda & deck or the cosy lounge. There can be more than 120 whales in the bay at the height of season and the population is ever increasing!

Price: 2 nights in Nelshof (double room en-suite) starts from £60 per person.
Price includes breakfast and is based on 2 people sharing.

Nelshof house in Hermanus

Whale watching view from Nelshof's lounge

Whale viewed from Nelshof

De Kelders/Gansbaai accommodation:

Roundhouse breakfast area with fantastic seaviews

Roundhouse Guesthouse
The Roundhouse guesthouse has a unique, modern African design that stands out against the quaint houses of De Kelders and offers stunning panoramic views of Gansbaai and Walker Bay. De Kelders boasts excellent land based whale watching and the Roundhouse whale watching deck and crows nest are specifically designed for this purpose. It is only a couple of minutes walk from the beach, where you can find some great whale watching spots. It is also situated less than 10 mins drive from the harbour in Gansbaai and therefore ideally located for shark safaris.

The Roundhouse is furnished with handmade African style décor giving it a real African feel and complimenting its modern design. It has three spacious luxury suites with a large living area and mini-bar and one standard suite. All suites have king-sized beds, en-suite bathroom facilities, TV, stereo/CD units and an internet connection point.

Breakfast is served in the upstairs thatched bar/entertainment area with a wonderful fireplace/indoor barbecue, where you can relax at night and watch a DVD. A large sliding door leads onto the whale watching deck with an outdoor barbecue (braai) area.

Price: 2 nights in the Roundhouse Guesthouse (standard suite) starts from £45 per person.
Price includes breakfast and is based on 2 people sharing.

Shark Cage Diving:

Marine Dynamics
Shark cage diving can be organised in the Gansbaai region. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to reach the site depending on sea conditions. Small groups of a maximum of 6 people are taken out to sea so as to avoid intrusion on the marine habitat and to allow the maximum amount of time desired below water in the steel shark cages.

The trips are lead by Andre Hartman, a commercial diver for 30 years, who achieved notoriety by working with National Geographic on the great white sharks in the region. The safaris start at around 09.00 hrs and the boat returns to shore at approx 15.30 hrs. Lunch, snacks and drinks on board are all included in the price and all equipment is also provided. Cameras and specialist photographic equipment can be hired, please let us know in advance.

During low/summer season (i.e. UK winter) there is a risk of not seeing sharks – although this is rare! If weather is poor the cage may not be lowered but sharks are still usually seen from the boat. Storms can hit at any time throughout the winter (UK summer), when the boat will not be launched.

Price: One day shark diving will cost £110 per person during the low season and £125 per person during the high season (both based on 2 people booking).

Shark watching with Marine Dynamics

Great white shark cage dive near Dyer Island with Marine Dynamics

Ethical & Environmental Principles

Sample itinerary

BAOBAB Travel is more than happy to suggest an itinerary to incorporate some of the highlights of the coastline between Gordon's Bay and Agulhas and quote you an exact holiday price. But why not stay a bit longer and visit some of the other areas on the Cape and Garden Route? Please check the following web links for further information:

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula

Swellendam to Mossel Bay - Cape Overberg

The Garden Route - Mossel Bay, George, Knysna to Plettenberg Bay

Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant Park

Whale breaching on the Cape Walker's Bay at Hermanus African Penguins at Betty's Bay

Sample Itinerary
BAOBAB Travel has put a 1- and 2-week sample itinerary together to give you ideas of the various options available and the prices. Please check our sample itineraries for the Cape and Garden Route.

However, your stay in South Africa can be fully tailor-made - you tell us your personal requirements, interests and budget and we are more than happy to put a personalised itinerary together. Please contact BAOBAB.