All pelagic trips have at least two available dates to allow for poor weather on one of the days.

Please remember to contact us the afternoon before the trip to confirm that the trip has not been postponed by one day. Please note that these contact details will be supplied when you make your booking.

The view of Cape Point from beneath the towering cliffs, looking up from the sea level is simply breathtaking. In the right conditions, you can have truly fabulous opportunities to capture albatrosses and petrels in flight as they cruise past little more than an arms-reach from you, or swarm in their thousands behind an active trawler. Whether you just want to capture some images to remind you of your fabulous trip, or you are a serious amature or professional photographer, a camera on a CapeTownPelagics.com trip is a must!

We never put more than 12 passengers on our boats, so there is always plenty of room for positioning your camera optimally. All our regular boats also have a full walk-around, allowing you to shoot along the full length of the boat, from bow to aft. Most boats also have fly-bridges, providing a good diversity of perspective,s from low angles at eye-level with the birds to higher shots from above. Our guides and skippers are all attuned to photographers' needs, and every effort is made to bring the boats to the best angle for lighting and backdrops, follow birds of interest and generally allow you to use our boat as the perfect platform for photographing pelagic seabirds in their element.

Of course one needs to take adequate precautions against salt water spray and bumpy rides. There is plenty of space to stow gear during the commute to and from the fishing grounds.

Safety is our primary concern – which is why we’ve never had a safety incident. We use accredited skippers, all the vessels are fully insured and certified seaworthy for the open ocean, and there are lifejackets and redundant safety systems aboard. To maximise your comfort and trip reliability we reserve the charter vessels for two days. That way, if the weather is poor on the first day, we hold off till the following day. Book with us and you double your chances of a Cape pelagic experience! If a Cape storm prevents the trip from going we’ll give a refund, or re-schedule for you.

Conditions on board can vary substantially from quite hot to very cold indeed, particularly on windy days. Although all our vessels have adequate covered seating or standing room, if you want to stand clear of the wheellhouse when the boat is moving, come prepared for the wet Cape weather. Essential items include a waterproof jacket, a jersey, some spare clothing, and a woolly cap or hat which won't get blown off.

Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential for the glare (don't underestimate the sun offshore - you will get quite burnt even when the air is icy). It is well worth bringing a camera, but be sure to protect it from the salt water.

Light snacks, sandwiches and cold drinks are provided. However, we recommend bringing some extra snacks and liquids if you think you might work up a big appetite

The good news is that there are no nauseating deisel fumes on our boats, and relatively few people (about 10%) get seriously seasick. However, conditions may not suit your constition, or may change during the trip, so be sure to take precautions if you are prone to motion-sickness. Please consult your physician or pharmacist about the latest and most appropriate anti-seasickness medication.