Whale watching with Raggy Charters

Take a trip with Raggy Charters for a closer look at marine and bird life, and if you go between June and December you might spot a whale. Whales come into the bay to calve over that period. 

Raggy Charters is the only licensed boat-based whale- and dolphin-watching company operating from Port Elizabeth.

The company recently won the National Lilizela Tourism Award in Service Excellence for Best Marine Adventures in South Africa. "[It is] a hugely remarkable achievement, which could not have been attained without extensive support from the locals and the amazing guests we have taken out into Algoa Bay who have written us such lovely reviews,” says Raggy Charters manager Ellie Bottomley.

Most of the funds generated from the tours goes to the Penguin Research Fund, an organisation which highlights the dramatic decrease in the African Penguin population and tries to intervene to make help the population to thrive. They also do beach clean-ups along Port Elizabeth. Their latest project is to plant an indigenous tree for every cruise they do, to offset their carbon footprint. 

The most popular trip they offer is whale watching, but you can also be on the look-out for penguins, dolphins, sharks and birds during your trip. Because they have a permit Raggy Tours can came withing 50 metres of a whale, whereas other boats have to stay at least 300 metres from a whale. 

Whale watching happens between June and December, from January to June they do  Penguin Island Cruises, their catamarans take guests out to St Croix Island, home to the largest breeding colony of the endangered African penguin. There Dolphin Watching Cruise happens all year round. The Dolphin watch cruise also goes to St Croix Island.

Raggy Charters also offer Beachfront Cruises, Bird Island Cruises, Pelagic Birding Cruises, and Fishing Charters. Their catamarans have viewing platforms giving their guests great spots to view the bay and marine life.

The trips take between three to four hours and the catamarans can cover up to 50km. Their trips start from the Algoa Bay Yacht Club.

Prices range from R500 to R2 400 per person, depending on the cruise you're going on. You have to pre-book your tickets and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.