Sea Kayaking Penguins Trip

Essential info

Description
This spectacular two-hour trip offers a unique water-based perspective of the region, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view rare and wonderful sea creatures in their natural home.

You'll sit comfortably atop our two-seater kayaks (with a combined weight limit of up to 200 kg) and enjoy a safe, guided 7 km tour. You don't need to be highly "fit" to join—if you can stand up from the ground without assistance, you'll have a great time!

We'll meet in the morning at the Simon's Town Jetty for a paddling introduction and a safety briefing.

Your kayaking tour begins as we paddle past the civilian and Naval Harbours for a close look at the many vessels. Next, we head out toward the penguins, keeping an eye out for seals, starfish, whales, and/or dolphins along the way. Our main destination is Boulders Beach, which hosts the largest land-based colony of African Penguins.

If the tide and time allow, we'll encourage a brief swim from your kayak in this stunning location.

As we make our way back to the Simon’s Town Harbour, we'll traverse the shallow gullies that are teeming with marine life.

Arrangements
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
When: Daily (weather dependant)
8:30 & 11:00 (summner Sept - Apr) & 9:00 & 11:30 (winter May - Aug)
What to Wear: Wear shorts and a T-shirt. Bring a hat and sunscreen. You can go barefoot, but sandals are a good idea (not flip flops, as they tend to come off when you walk in water). You will get wet, so bring a towel and a change of clothes for afterwards. In winter, longs like tracksuit bottoms and a sweater or windbreaker is advised. Quick-dry clothing is recommended rather than cotton/jeans.
Things to Bring: Water, and a snack if you prefer. You should bring a towel and a change of clothes in case you get wet and want to change. Don't forget your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The guide will usually have a camera with them to take pictures of you, which are posted on their Facebook, but you are welcome to bring your own if it’s a small one (or a mobile phone) — at your own risk, of course. We sell waterproof mobile phone pouches at a cost R200 each (cash only).

Requirements
Minimum Age: 8 years. Children younger than 9 usually aren’t the strongest paddlers so the guardian/adult with them needs to be prepared to do most of the work.
Minimum Height: 0.0 m
Maximum Height: 0.0 m
Minimum Weight: 0 kg
Maximum Weight: 120 kg (max 200 kg in total for both paddlers)
Fitness Level: Not very. If you can do a one-hour walk, then you can do this. It’s only when it’s very windy that the trip becomes quite strenuous. And if it’s very windy, we don’t go out – unless you want to do some wind wave surfing, which IS for the fit and adventurous.
Certification: None Required
Qualifications: Not Applicable
Experience Level: No Experience Requirement

Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions: Stable kayaks.
Exclusions: Transport (hotel pickup & drop off), all items of a personal nature, tips

General Questions
How many people do you take?
There are 10 double kayaks, so 20 people max. If your group is more than that, we normally split the group so that half paddle the outward leg, meet the rest on the beach, and then swap so that the other half paddle back

What wildlife might I see during the tour?
Nothing is guaranteed in nature apart from it being a magical experience. You can look forward to possibly seeing the following:

• African Penguin
• Cape Fur seal
• Cormorants (4 species)
• Black oyster catcher
• Seagulls (obviously)
• Fish (yes, the visibility is mad)
• Good looking guides (guaranteed, obviously)
• Sea star/starfish (low tide mostly)
• Octopus (if you’re lucky)
• Octopus eaten by seal (if you’re very lucky)
• Whales, mostly in whale season (Humpback, Southern Right, Bryde’s Whale, Orca)
• Sunfish (if you’re wide awake)
• Smaller shark species, but very rare
• Dolphins
• Baboons

Will I fall off?
Almost certainly not, because our kayaks are very stable. About three people a year (on average) fall in, and that’s usually because they are messing about. It’s also very easy to get back on, and because we’re in False Bay, the water is not too cold.

What kind of boats are they?
We use incredibly stable two-person sit-on-top kayaks. We find that people who have never paddled before become immediately comfortable because they don’t feel constricted as they would in a sit-inside type of kayak, and they also feel that should they fall off, it would be easy to get back on. They like the fact that they are sharing the paddling with another person — usually their partner.

How does it work with double kayaks? What if we are 3 people, or 5, or even just one?
you will either be paired with a guide or with another person from an odd-numbered group.

General/Standard Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation 15 days or more prior to tour date = 100% refund
  - less 4% in the case of online or POS card transactions
• Cancellation 14-4 days prior to tour date = 50% refund
  - less 4% in the case of online or POS card transactions
• Cancellation 3-0 days prior to tour date, late arrivals & “no show” = No refund / Full fee charged

* Please be sure to read through our full terms & conditions here: www.capextreme.com/terms