Knysna: a 75-minute lagoon cruise
The shortest of the three (currently R 500 per person): 75 minutes on the Knysna lagoon with Knysna Boat Charters. It is a boat trip rather than an active outing, which makes it the easy option if you are staying in Knysna or passing through. Our check could not confirm the departure point — see the product page.
Reviewers like the guides and the views. Two reviewers say their cruise was shorter than the advertised 75 minutes, and one found that the guide gave information only when asked. The cruise depends on the weather; one reviewer had theirs moved to the next morning because of rain.
Plettenberg Bay: swimming with Cape fur seals
Offshore Adventures takes you by boat from Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay into the Robberg Marine Protected Area, home to a large colony of Cape fur seals (currently R 1,295 per person). You spend up to 30 minutes in the water with the seals; wetsuit, mask and fins are provided, and the whole trip takes about 1.5 hours.
- Meeting point: Offshore Adventures, Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay — arrive 30 minutes early.
- Bring: swimwear and a towel; they are not provided.
- Who it suits: you should be comfortable swimming and getting into the water from a boat. Not suitable for children under 6.
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What reviewers report about rabies
Three reviews from December 2025 to April 2026 mention rabies in connection with the seals. Two of them say this was not made clear before booking; one reviewer writes that they only found out on site that special protective measures had to be taken. Read the current notes on the product page before you book.
Three reviews are unhappy with the photos taken in the water: stock photos, the full set of images and videos only available for a fee, or photos that did not arrive. Other reviewers praise the guides, the safety briefing and how close the seals come.
Storms River: the Tsitsikamma canopy tour
Stormsriver Adventures runs a canopy tour of about 2.5 hours in the forest at Storms River, at the eastern end of the Garden Route (currently R 895 per person). It is the natural activity for a night in Storms River Village — which is where the four-day Bokbus tour spends its second night.
Our check could not confirm the meeting point, the minimum age or any weight limits for this tour. For a canopy tour these details matter, so read them on the product page before you book.
Reviewers praise the guides and the views through the treetops. Three reviewers found it tamer than expected, and one spent more time waiting in the group than ziplining. On safety the reviews differ: one asks for a higher standard, others praise it.
On a guided tour?
The multi-day tours from Cape Town set their own programme, and free time for extra bookings depends on the day. On the Hotspots2c tours, optional activities such as the Bloukrans bungee jump or an elephant encounter are offered during the tour and paid locally. If you want to add one of the activities above to a tour, check the itinerary of that tour first — the operator decides where the group stops and for how long.
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In short
An hour on the water with no effort: the Knysna lagoon cruise. In the water with wild seals, if you are happy swimming from a boat: Plettenberg Bay — read the current notes on the product page first. Something active in the forest: the canopy tour at Storms River — check its requirements first. All three can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
