About the trips - what to expect

Meet our guide at 07h00 at the specified meeting point for a birding and safety briefing. The boat leaves promptly at 07h15. The trips return between 14h00 - 15h00. These times do sometimes vary, so please check your booking details to confirm departure times.

Safety is our primary concern - 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 until 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 out, it's your choice to either re-schedule your trip to another date or to receive a full refund (less our administration costs).

Conditions on board can vary substantially from quite hot to very cold, particularly on windy days. Although all our vessels have adequate covered seating or standing room, if you want to stand clear of the wheelhouse when the boat is moving, come prepared for the wet Cape weather. Essential items include:

1. Waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, a jersey, some spare clothing, and a woolly cap or hat which won't get
    blown off.
2. Splash proof covers for binocular and camera as wind and waves can sometimes create a lot of spray.
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential. (The sun offshore is very strong and can cause burns even when the
     air is icy).

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 Cape Town Pelagics trip is a must!

Our regular boats take between 7 - 12 passengers (excluding guides and crew), and allow plenty of room for optimally positioning your camera. The larger boats also have a full walk-around, allowing you to shoot along the full length of the boat, from bow to aft. Some boats also have fly-bridges, providing a good diversity of perspectives 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 space to stow gear during the commute to and from the fishing grounds.

Most trips include a light and simple lunch, such as sandwiches, snacks, cold drinks and water. If you think you might work up a big appetite, then we recommend bringing some extra snacks and drinks. If you have any dietary requirements or allergies please notify us when booking so we can advise our caterer accordingly.

The good news is that there are no nauseating diesel fumes on our boats, and relatively few people (about 10%) get seriously seasick. However, if you think you may be prone to motion-sickness, we recommend consulting your physician or pharmacist about the most appropriate anti-seasickness or anti-nausea medication.