Shark cage diving
In 1990, South Africa was the first country in the world to protect the Great White Shark. Kleinbaai is the home to Great White Shark Cage Diving.
With the 50 000 Cape Fur Seals living on Dyer Island, the Great White sharks have a natural feeding ground. All shark cage diving boats launch from Kleinbaai’s natural harbor and give visitors the opportunity to experience the Great White Shark up-close and personal a real “face to face”.
Shark cage diving is for all people big and small, young and old. The excursion takes between 3 – 4 hours. No scuba experience is required. When not in the cage, you can still enjoy excellent sightings of the great white sharks from the deck. A 50% discount is available to our booked in guests for any shark diving trips that are booked through the Slip-a-way office.
Whale Watching
Following ancient pathways, the Southern Right Whales return to our shores each year as they enter the bay from the south at the end of their annual migration. For six month they will spend time in one of the world’s most important oceans nurseries, rearing calves in the shallow, sheltering waters of the Walker Bay Sanctuary. The Southern Right Wales start arriving by the end of June and tailing off in December with their new born calves.
The sightings of the visiting Humpbacks Whales and Bryde’s Whales in the bay is an exciting opportunity to see the migratory species as it travels past our shores, either en route to breeding grounds in warm tropical waters, or returning to distant feeding grounds in the remote reaches of Antarctica. These whales can be spotted all year round. Occasional sightings of Killer Whales have been made.
Experience the best Whale Watching boat tour from our Kleinbaai harbor. It is a 2 – 3 hour boat drive and you will experience the Marine Big 5.
Crocodile Cage Diving
Afrikanos is an eatery and crocodile sanctuary in Danger Point within 1.5km from our property and it is home to one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Africa: crocodile cage diving. Crocodiles have been around for millions of years on Earth and they are some of the oldest living creatures on this planet. If you want to get close and personal with these creatures without risking your life, then crocodile cage diving is just for you!
Golf
Located 1km from Slip a Way Lodge is the Gansbaai Golf Club offers golfers a beautiful 9-hole golf course, nestled between blankets of indigenous fynbos and the ocean. The course has a links style layout, promising stunning sea views from most of the fairways. The course is home to an abundance of bird and animal life, including kiewiets, anguilla tortoises and the Cape grysbokkie, who will watch quietly as golfers make their way toward the 19th hole. The clubhouse is also home to a squash court and the Kleinbaai Function Hall.
Fishing
The Kleinbaai surrounds, Gansbaai harbour, the Plaat, the Gruis and Pearly Beach offers plenty of angling opportunities. For the boating enthusiast, inshore and offshore fishing trips can be arranged with local charters.
The Slipway which is 100m from our lodge, has become the business hub of Kleinbaai, where commercial and recreational vessels set out to sea daily. Here you find some of the locals wetting their fishing lines off the pier, fisherman launching to catch the daily “bread for the table” and you may observe them coming back with Kabeljou, Yellowtail, Geelbek (Cape Salmon), Snoek and various other varieties caught off the coastline between Kleinbaai and Pearly Beach.
Gansbaai harbour, located within 5km of the lodge, offers excellent launching facilities.
Franskraal, also offers a natural launching area for smaller boats and rubber ducks.
From Kleinbaai towards Franskraal, kayak fishing has seen an increase in popularity along the coast and have proven to be successful in their fishing endeavours.
Swimming
Kleinbaai Tidal Pool is to the right of Kleinbaai Harbour on Kabeljou Street. The tidal pool is safe and a great place to take the kids or just relax. The large lawn has ample space for the little ones to run plus the jungle gym is an added bonus. There are ablutions and a convenient parking lot so that travel is made easy. For those who prefer the open waters, Uilkraalsmond beach is within a 5km radius of the property and allows for safe swimming and walking.
Hiking trails
Duiwelsgat
This wonderful hike from Gansbaai to De Kelders takes one along some of the most incredible coastline in the Western Cape. Tidal pools, coves, beaches safe for swimming, milkwood trees and ancient figs, and limestone cliffs infused with fynbos, give way to sheltered bays that offer the chance to see the southern right whales that use this bay as their annual nursery.
4 x 4 Trails
Walker Bay
This activity offers visitors to the area the fantastic opportunity of trying out their 4×4 skills on the Walker Bay Fisherman’s 4×4 Trail, which is situated in the Die Plaat section of the reserve. The route is some 20 kilometres long and takes an hour or two to complete. However, it is only a grade one trail and is, therefore, more about appreciating the loveliness of the countryside than testing your capacity for adrenalin.
Danger Point Lighthouse
The Danger Point Lighthouse stands sentry over the rock aptly named Danger Point, on the southern point of Walker Bay near Gansbaai, Western Cape. A few decades after the wrecking of the HMT Birkenhead in 1852 at Danger Point, the present lighthouse was erected in 1895. The rock the Birkenhead struck is visible from the lighthouse. The many steps to the top of the lighthouse can be climbed, allowing for a marvelous 360 degrees span over the ocean and the hinterland of the peninsula.