Why visit Seal Island Boat Trip
Duiker Island is home to a colony of Cape fur seals — hundreds of animals hauled out on the rocks and swimming around the boat.
It's a short, low-commitment way to add wildlife on the water to a Cape Point day without giving up any of the peninsula highlights.
Where Seal Island Boat Trip is
The boat leaves from Hout Bay harbour, a working fishing port on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, about 30 minutes from central Cape Town.
Duiker Island is roughly 15 minutes offshore, in the lee of the Sentinel headland.
What to expect
A quick harbour departure and a short cruise into Hout Bay, with views back toward the Sentinel and Chapman's Peak.
10–15 minutes circling Duiker Island to watch the seal colony from the boat.
Occasional sightings of dolphins, seabirds and — in season — whales offshore.
Best time to visit
Summer (Nov–Apr) offers the calmest sea conditions and best light.
Mornings tend to be flatter than afternoons.
Trips are weather-dependent and can be cancelled at short notice in rough conditions.
How to include Seal Island Boat Trip in a Wanderer private tour
On a private Wanderer Cape Point tour we can slot a Hout Bay seal cruise into the morning, then continue over Chapman's Peak Drive into the Cape Point Nature Reserve.
Your guide checks sea conditions on the day and only recommends it when the trip will be genuinely enjoyable.
Practical tips
- Bring a light windproof jacket even on warm days.
- Sunglasses and sun cream — reflection off the water is intense.
- Anyone prone to sea-sickness should take a tablet 30 minutes before boarding.