Whale Watching Knysna - Close Encounter Experience Ocean Odyssey

Name: Whale Watching Knysna - Close Encounter Experience Ocean Odyssey
Price: 1650 ZAR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.63 (90 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

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.

Additional Info

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-

The tour will be accompanied by other passengers.

Not recommended for children under the age of 3 years

Not recommended for travellers with high risk pregnancies

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Guests will check in at our reception where they are required to sign an indemnity form. Once all guests have checked in our crew will start preparing them with life jackets. Once every one is ready they will be given a briefing on the tour they will be departing on and what to expect. A safety briefing will be given by the skipper once all guests have boarded the boat before departing.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Available on request

Gratuities

Options

Whale Watching

Reviews

4.63

90 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Cancelled last minute...
FoodieJDS,,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
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.
Whales and dolphins
StephanieS7382,,Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very nice staff, have seen whales, Define and seals. The life jackets are there. I would recommend putting on a jacket as it can get fresh (and a little wet depending on the swell)
Whale of a time
LOANNE L,,Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We saw a beautiful whale, two different types of dolphins, seals and lovely sights. The team was lovely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic experience with Ocean Odyssey Knysna!
Roam53643864634,,Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was a highlight of our stay. The team is professional, friendly and superbly organised – you always feel safe and in good hands. Best of all: We actually saw whales because the crew remained incredibly persistent and engaged. Their patience and dedication were absolutely worth it and made the trip unforgettable. The coastal landscape, the exciting information and the great atmosphere on board completed the experience perfectly. Clear recommendation!
Trusted provider
Oliver Q,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The tour started as planned. When we left the bay we already saw the very high waves. After a good 10 minutes the skipper stopped the boat and said it was already very extreme conditions and we would probably not see any whales. For this reason, he would advise termination. The group agreed and so it went back. Once on land we learned that we can arrange a new appointment or get a part refunded. Few expected that.
Must have in Knysna!! We will repeat.
SvenMerseburg,,Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Very big cinema, what you experience and see on the sea. The passage of the Heads alone is worth the experience and Johannes alone makes the boat tour on the coast a very big experience. Great team, very nice and fair. Unfortunately we didn't see whales, but a huge dolphin school (almost in the boat) and many seals accompanied us for a long time. The permanent view of the coast is fantastic. Travel tablet for vulnerable is recommended. We were outside in calm seas, but the sight from land is deceptive. Many thanks to the entire team. Great!
Lifetime Experience. Wonderful tour.
Anne S,,Oct 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
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.
Waste of time
tanjagJ8706MF,,Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
This was a colossal waste of time and money. The staff were all nice and professional, the security briefing was reasonable. It was explained that in nature, there can be no prediction if we will see anything BUT it was emphasised that tours will only go out when the spotters have previously seen something. So we went out and got driven around for two hours through wind and rain, and all we got to see was a dead seal and three other seals in a different spot, otherwise nothing. I assume they knew exactly that that was nothing to see out there, anyway they went straight into the rainstorm…
A great whale watching experience and a must do in Knysna
Malcolm T,,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
A great experience to see whales in their natural habitat- although rather choppy waters we got to enjoy watching humpback whales fin & tail slapping but best of all breaching- we highly recommend !
Excellent!
Suzanne C,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Lovely boat and really committed staff - we saw humpback whales with calves. Obviously no-one can guarantee sightings but we couldn’t have done much better!