Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Our cruise is unique in that we operate in the diverse Algoa Bay, rich in wildlife and history. Visiting St Croix island, home to half the worlds remaining endangered African Penguins. This tour is run just once a day instead of trying to run multiple cruises in one day. This ensures that our skippers and guides are fresh and alert for every cruise and makes it possible to spend more time and effort searching for wildlife in our Bay or observing something special that we come across provided that no one on board is in a rush to get back for a flight or bookings previously made. Our main focus is education, conservation and assisting in research which is made possible by the funds generated from our Marine Eco-Cruises out into Algoa Bay. Trees are planted to balance our carbon footprint for each cruise conducted. We use smaller boats so as to keep our cruises personal. Our skippers and Guides are very knowledge and are there to answer any questions and see to the needs of our Guests.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Disabled who can board with assistance from family and crew are welcome to join. There is no age restriction. Life jackets are available for all ages
Please join at your own discretion regarding health and fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Port Elizabeth
We meet our guests at 8am and after a short briefing before we head out into PE's beautiful Algoa Bay on our twin-engine catamaran. The whale season begins in June when we see humpback whales moving along the coast as they head up the East coast of Africa towards their breeding grounds. Humpback whales can be seen in Algoa Bay from June to early December. They make their return journey from October, females with calves in tow. Southern right whales can be seen close in shore from July to September.
Port Elizabeth
Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphins are the most frequently observed dolphins in the bay and can be spotted all year round, in groups from 10-400. These playful dolphins are mostly found in shallow waters either near the beaches or around St Croix Island, and tend to come right up to the boat and ride along in the bow waves. Common dolphins are also a spectacular sight as they are seen in groups of 1000-2000, swimming along at great speeds. These dolphins are often spotted all year round further out to sea, especially on the bird island tours, as they follow large shoals of baitfish which move past the bay. We also get humpback dolphins in Algoa Bay, which usually occur in much smaller groups, anywhere between 1 and 20, and are most commonly seen during the summer months.
What‘s Included
We provide spring water on tap and fresh croissants to snack on during our crusies
Options
Whale, Dolphin & Penguin Island Cruise
Reviews
748 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Breathtakingly unforgettable experience
Voyage32927088885,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If an unforgettable experience is what you are looking for, this is the cruise to go on. I could have spent the entire day in the ocean.
An amazing experience
C7993RDcolinm,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We met the owner Lloyd at the harbour and he gave us a warm welcome.We met the other two members of the crew and they were both pleasant and informative. We boarded the catamaran and left the harbour and not too long into the trip some dolphins were spotted. We cruised along with them for a while and left to go further out to sea. We then saw some fur seals resting on an anchored ship's rudder which was amusing. We next spotted a Brydes whale which was interesting. Next we saw various birds resting on a small island. We saw penguins swimming in a group and then saw a huge school of dolphins which was amazing. Approximately 400 of them! We followed the dolphins for a while and we were kept well informed about all of the wildlife we saw by the crew. What an experience it was and one we will never forget. I would thoroughly recommend it to family and friends.
A Morning with 300 Dolphins!
110leighannp,,Dec 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shared a special morning out on the ocean with my family, on a highly comfortable boat, with very experienced and knowledgeable guides, and seeing a huge number of dolphins and other sightings. The fresh and simple cheese and tomato rolls were delishious too! Highly recommend.
Raggy Charters - Excellent value for money
belindamW3825ZB,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful weather and sea conditions were perfect. The crew knew their story (safety first - no incidents in 30 years), lovely sightings of Bryde whales, dolphins, penguins, seals, cormorants, gannets, black oyster catchers and seagulls. Excellent visuals of Algoa Bay coastline from the sea. Definitely recommend this for the family (this was our 2nd trip)
Just: Perfect.
desireef258,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our experience with Raggy Charters was absolutely unforgettable! From the moment we reached out to Karen via WhatsApp, everything was smooth and easy to arrange — friendly communication and simple booking made the start of our adventure stress-free.Out on the water, we immediately felt safe and well taken care of. Raggy and James, our skippers, were simply fantastic! Their passion for marine life and their dedication to wildlife conservation radiated through every story and explanation they shared. It’s clear that they don’t just run tours — they truly care about protecting the animals and teaching others about them.We were incredibly lucky that day — we spotted so many dolphins, adorable penguins, and even majestic Bryde’s whales gliding through the waves. Every moment felt special, and we couldn’t stop smiling.In total, it was a perfect day at sea — one we’ll remember for a long time. We don’t regret a single thing and can wholeheartedly recommend Raggy Charters to anyone who loves nature, the ocean, and genuine people who care deeply about what they do.
Unforgettable experience
arthurbV6690WS,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely unforgettable experience – highly recommended! We had an amazing time with Raggy Charter Algoa Baywatch. We saw so many dolphins, often incredibly close to the boat – truly an unforgettable experience. A huge thank you to our two guides, Keith and Lloyd, who were both exceptionally kind, knowledgeable, and passionate. They created such a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and clearly care deeply about the ocean and its wildlife. The tour was perfectly organized, we felt safe at all times, and the overall experience was simply outstanding. It was an absolutely incredible time and one of the highlights of our stay. We can highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Port Elizabeth! 🐬🌊
Incredible Nature!
AnleM1,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow! Just the boatrip alone would have been 5*,but we saw 100's dolphins (bottlenose & common), 3 x bryde whales, seals,penguins etc, and a close up with a tanker on anker.. the guides were incredible. Highly recommend!
Sea nature trip
pollaglondon,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great views and well run trip. Would highly recommend. Seen nature most people never get to see. Wales dolphins, sea birds and rare penguins.
Unforgettable Experience
KarlaN1987,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00You have not experienced the breathtaking beauty of our coastline until you’ve been on a cruise with Raggy Charters. Every trip is unique, and Sunday's half-day cruise was nothing short of spectacular. For the first time, I was lucky enough to witness a bait ball in action—an unforgettable sight! A massive thank you to Lloyd and Jake for an incredible, well-hosted experience. Their passion for the ocean truly shines through, and their commitment to marine conservation makes the experience even more meaningful. I cannot recommend Raggy Charters highly enough—cannot wait for my next trip! 🌊🐬
Must Do Experience in Gqeberha.
StaraJon,,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Phenomenal, not to be missed. Found ourselves in the middle of a bait ball feeding frenzy, ganets diving all around us. Saw many penguins, bottlenose and common dolphins, too. The most penguins on St Croix in my four trips since 2022. Knowledgeable and client focused crew, eager to share their knowledge.
From ZAR 3,550.00
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