Reviews: Kayaking with seals

"The kayaking itself was a fantastic experience, bringing us in very close contact with the Cape seals. All aspects of the activity were very well organized. In addition, Jeanne is hugely knowledgeable about the area and its wildlife. An added bonus was that Jeanne provides without charge the pictures taken by her of us kayaking as a reminder of a wonderful morning." Read more about this whole safari

"It was fun! Who'd think that fur seals, so passive ashore, would be so playful in the water. We did couple hours of light kayaking not leaving the Pelican Point lagoon due to expected high wind. This was an easy exercise & it was very nice to be in the water for a change. Jean is great too." Read more about this whole safari

"This trip was one of the highlights of our holiday. Jeanne drove us past the salt pans, the flamingos, jackals and the Mad Max film set to Pelican Point, where we got into our kayaks. Amazingly, the seals along the lagoon love to play with you - swimming under the kayaks, jumping over, or on to, them, somersaulting, and frolicking next to you. It was a unique experience. We saw dolphins too. Afterwards, we had hearty sandwiches and hot coffee to warm us up." Read more about this whole safari

"As prearranged, we met Jeanne, the owner-operator of her business, at 7.30am by the Walvis Bay waterfront. We were incorporated into a party which comprised four customer-couples, setting off around 8am on the hour's journey to Pelican Point. Our party was driven around the bay, crossing salt-pans and desert-beaches, by Jeanne's partner in a large 4x4, with a trailer of kayaks in tow. As we progressed, the cheerful Jeanne commented on the wildlife we encountered (including jackals, flamingo and the film-crew of the new Mad Max set) and she entertained us with accounts of the area and previous experiences.

Stopping near the end of Pelican Point we were each kitted out with waterproof jacket, trousers, shoes and camera-bag, woolly hat and flotation jacket. We were launched in double-kayaks into the bay (sheltered from open sea by the Point and - so Jeanne took care to assure us - shark-free). The cavorting seals were obviously used to such visits and immediately incorporated us into their jinks. Some took great pleasure in drenching us - shooting out of the water in skilfully executed corkscrew flips to smack the surface at us with their tail-flippers.

We were not used to kayaking but, in common with the other couples, found it easy to manoeuvre the light boats. Jeanne and her partner buzzed around us in single kayaks, giving directions and guidance. We visited three separate groups of seals frolicking in the water, against a background of sustained honking and barking from the large colony sun-bathing on the beach. As we neared the rougher water outside the Point we had two or three brief encounters with bottle-nosed dolphins, busy in their flight from pursuing boats of dolphin-watchers.

From time to time, Jeanne produced a camera and took a series of stills and movie shots of each couple. Later she obtained our email addresses and sent all concerned the pictures of their escapades. We thought that this might enable us to settle a debate as to which of Anni and I was most guilty of sneaky rests from paddling – but, alas, the issue is still unresolved.

After two enjoyable hours on the water we returned to the 4x4, where Jeanne broke out snacks and drinks. We had to cut short our guzzling, because at this stage in the proceedings our next host arrived at Pelican Point in his Landrover, ready to take Anni and I on to Sandwich Harbour. We bid Jeanne and the others goodbye and left with fond memories of a very pleasant excursion." Read more about this whole safari

"a most magical experience which was a definite highlight of our holiday. Jeanne is an amazing, passionate, welcoming and enthusiastic host. highly, highly, highly recommend" Read more about this whole safari

"We were both a bit stressed about doing this activity at first, but motivated each other into doing it as "if we're already all the way here, we better do all these things that we will not be able to do once we leave!".
Best. Decision. Ever.

It is amazing to be so close to the sea lions and see them just splash around and play with you. We were not lucky enough to see dolphins close by (we saw them some 50 meters away), but what we did was still enough to make it the most relaxing experience of the whole trip (and one of the most ever, in my case at least). The light sport, the sea, and being so "in the middle of it" seeing the wild sea lions playfully interact with you was just fantastic.

Take a camera with you (a small, inexpensive one that you won't be so stressed about if it gets a bit wet). You will want to remember that moment.
Personal recommendation, we arranged at the last minute to combine this activity with a 4x4 drive to Sandwich Harbor. Also worth it! It's a great activity, with action (quite a fun bumpy ride in the 4x4 in the dunes and the beach), great views of the dunes meeting the sea, and a VERY nice lunch in the middle of the dunes." Read more about this whole safari

"We were taken out with Craig and Bill, his father -in-law, to kayak with the seals off Pelican Point. It was quite a long drive from Walvis Bay but very interesting to see all the salt works and some flamingoes en route.

Kayaking was quite easy to pick up though very tiring and we paddled out past Pelican Point first to try and see some whales. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful but we did catch glimpses of dolphins. We then paddled back along the shore line to see the seals in their hundreds. They were leaping and diving all around us and we ended up soaking wet from their splashing!

This was a great experience finished off with tea/soup/sandwiches to warm us up which was very welcome." Read more about this whole safari

"Jeanne organises this trip and is very friendly and welcoming. The drive to Pelican Point becomes part of the trip and is enhanced by her knowledge and enthusiasm.

We are complete novices at kayaking but any worries were quickly dispelled by Jeanne who is also organised, very reassuring and clearly loves both the kayaking and the seals. When you are in the water Jeanne is always nearby to help if required and provides sandwiches and drinks as refreshments on the beach once the kayaking is finished.

It is also a nice touch that Jeanne takes a photo of you on the water and emails it to you as a reminder of your trip." Read more about this whole safari

"What fun, paddling among the seals, with youngsters nibbling at the paddles. Just us four plus the guide. What is more, I had not realised how short a time the motor boats spend by the seal colony in Walvis Bay - we had two or three hours, the boats more like two or three minutes.

A waterproof bag is provided so my wife took her camera for close ups of seals and the inevitable jackal. The drive out to Pelican Point was also very interesting, as were the seabirds and dolphins we saw. This is an experience definitely not to be missed and was probably the highlight of the holiday. Angela was definitely spot on in recommending it." Read more about this whole safari

"We were picked up at the coffee house on time but there was a short delay while a payment was dealt with. Once we began the drive out to the point was interesting before we even started the kayaking.

Francoise unloaded the vehicle and explained what we were going to do and where we were going to go. He efficiently got us all into the double kayaks and off on our adventures. We had a fantastic trip with loads of dolphins and seals surrounding us throughout the trip. It was incredible!" Read more about this whole safari