Cape Town is one of the few cities where you can step off a busy waterfront promenade and, a short cruise later, be anchored off a white beach with Table Mountain behind you. That's the whole appeal of renting a yacht here. This guide covers the boats we list, how many people each one takes, what a charter actually costs in 2026, where you leave from, and the bits locals know about the wind.
Catamarans are the most popular choice in Cape Town, and for good reason. Two hulls means a wide, stable deck, a trampoline up front for lying in the sun, and far less rolling than a monohull. Boats like IQ, Ameera, Tigresse and Serenity One take anything from a couple of dozen guests to 60, so they suit birthdays, family days and sunset cruises. If you're torn, our piece on catamarans versus motor yachts goes through the trade-offs.
Power cats give you the space of a catamaran with more engine and usually a covered saloon, which matters on a cool evening. Enigma takes up to 50 guests, Tigger 2 up to 65 with a flybridge and a dining area that seats 40, and Skyfall up to 120. These are the boats for corporate functions and bigger parties.
If you want speed and polish for a small group, a motor yacht is the move. Only One is a 65ft Princess that cruises at about 20 knots, while Topaz, Luna and Inala Antares are all 12-guest boats with lounges and sun decks. Many motor yachts here are capped at 12 guests, and we explain why yachts often have a 12-guest limit in a separate post.
For something closer to a superyacht feel, Princess Emma is an 85ft Princess with four en-suite cabins, a flybridge and a top speed of thirty knots. Princess Eve is also 85ft, with a rooftop hot tub and a water sports package (jet skis, a high-speed rib, tubing) you can add. Both take small groups by day and up to eight guests overnight.
For proper sailing, Isabella (a restored 42ft Baltic) and Moonshadow take six to eight guests, and on Moonshadow you can learn to sail or take the helm. Spirit of Victoria is a 58ft gaff-rigged schooner with red-brown sails that takes 45 people. Over in Hout Bay, Maximillien takes up to 14.
Be honest about your numbers. A boat at its full limit feels busy, and some pages, like Le Cat's and Explore's, suggest a lower number for comfort.
One hour is a harbour-and-Granger-Bay taster. Boats like Le Cat, Enigma and Serenity One list a one-hour rate, so a short trip is possible.
Two hours is the sweet spot for most people. You'll cruise out past the Green Point lighthouse and Sea Point to Clifton, see the Twelve Apostles light up, and come home. It's also the classic sunset length.
Three to four hours is when it starts to feel like a day out. You can anchor off Clifton, swim if you're brave (the Atlantic is properly cold), eat, and take your time. Princess Emma has a three-hour minimum, so this is where she lives.
Full day and overnight charters open up longer runs and a night on board. Only One, Princess Emma, Princess Eve, Isabella and IQ all offer overnight stays.
Every boat page lists a professional crew as part of the charter, and most also include fuel for the standard route. After that, it varies a lot from boat to boat, so read the page for the one you like:
You can add a lot to a charter. Catering ranges from platters to plated meals, and you can book a DJ, a saxophonist or a violinist. On Tigger 2 the onboard DJ is R2,000 an hour, and there's clay pigeon shooting at R940 per person for a minimum of ten guests. IQ has a gas braai for R500. Jet skis and stand-up paddleboards can be added to many charters, and our jet ski experience from Granger Bay is a good warm-up if you've never ridden one. Browse the add-ons page for the full list.
Almost everything departs from the V&A Waterfront or Granger Bay, which sits just around the breakwater. Tigger 2 leaves from the T Jetty at the Waterfront. IQ is berthed on the North Wharf outside the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. Inala Antares sits in front of the Bascule Bar at the Cape Grace. Le Cat is at the Radisson Blu in Granger Bay, and Moonshadow is moored at The Water Club in Granger Bay. Maximillien is the exception, leaving from Hout Bay. You'll get exact meeting details with your booking confirmation.
The classic route is the one almost every boat page describes: out of Granger Bay, past the old lighthouse and Sea Point, then down the Atlantic Seaboard to Clifton, with Table Mountain, Lion's Head and the Twelve Apostles behind the beaches. Clifton is the favourite anchorage, and on calm summer days you'll share it with plenty of other boats. Le Cat's route list also takes in Camps Bay and, on longer trips, Cape Point.
The other direction is Table Bay and Robben Island. Only One runs a three-hour Robben Island trip with a former prison guard on board telling the island's story. Private boats can't land on the island, so you see it from the water. On every boat, the skipper picks the final route based on the wind and swell on the day. For a longer read on the coast, see our Atlantic Seaboard cruising guide.
Summer, roughly November to March, is peak season. The days are long and warm, but the south-easter (the "Cape Doctor") often blows hard in the afternoons. Mornings and early evenings are usually kinder, and the Atlantic side stays chilly all year, so swims are short.
Winter, June to August, brings cold fronts and rain, but the days between fronts can be still and clear with glassy water. Several boats charge less outside summer. IQ and Explore, for example, had lower rates from April to August 2026. Southern right whales are generally around from June to November.
The best advice on the boat pages is worth repeating: don't book your charter on the last day of your holiday. Weather here changes fast, and a spare day lets us move you if the skipper calls it off.
These are the rates on each boat's page right now. Hourly rates are for the whole boat, not per person. Bigger groups, sunset slots and festive dates can cost more, so check the page or ask us for a quote. For more detail, see our yacht hire price guide.
| Boat | Type | Max guests | 2026 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Cat | Sailing catamaran | 12 | R7,000 per hour, plus R1,500 for sunset |
| Isabella | Sailing yacht | 8 | R9,000 for 2 hours; half day from R15,000; full day R20,000 |
| Moonshadow | Sailing yacht | 6 | R9,000 for 2 hours; half day from R15,000; full day R20,000 |
| Cape Town Fishing Charters | Fishing boat | 10 | Inshore R6,600 per hour; offshore R5,250 per hour |
| Serenity One | Sailing catamaran | 40 | R12,100 per hour for up to 20 guests |
| Enigma | Power catamaran | 50 | R12,400 per hour for up to 30 guests |
| Ice Blue | Motor yacht | 12 | R12,000 per hour by day |
| Spirit of Victoria | Schooner | 45 | R12,000 per hour by day |
| Ameera | Sailing catamaran | 38 | R13,800 per hour by day |
| Inala Antares | Motor yacht | 12 | R15,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Escape Cat | Sailing catamaran | 36 | R15,500 per hour by day |
| Topaz | Motor yacht | 12 | R15,829 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Luna | Motor yacht | 12 | R16,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum over sunset |
| Eclipse | Power catamaran | 40 | R16,000 per hour for up to 20 guests |
| IQ | Sailing catamaran | 33 | R16,500 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Maximillien | Sailing yacht (Hout Bay) | 14 | R16,850 for 3 hours |
| Explore | Catamaran | 30 | R17,500 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Princess Emma | Motor yacht, 85ft | 12 | R20,867 per hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Tigger 2 | Power catamaran | 65 | R21,600 per hour, 2-hour minimum, up to 20 guests |
| Tigresse | Sailing catamaran | 60 | R21,800 per hour by day |
| Only One | Motor yacht, 65ft | 12 | R32,000 for 2 hours; R72,730 per night |
| Skyfall | Power catamaran | 120 | R32,000 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Princess Eve | Motor yacht, 85ft | 8 | Ask us for the current rate |
| Sea Princess | Power catamaran | 140 | Ask us for the current rate |
A few rates change with the calendar. Topaz has a festive rate of R17,047 an hour from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2027, and Ameera, Tigresse and Ice Blue list higher rates from January 2027.
Locals pay by EFT or a secure payment link, and international guests get a secure link. Book early for December and January. Those weeks fill up fast.
Tell us who's coming and what you're celebrating, and we'll suggest two or three boats that fit. You can also start from the Luxury Yacht Charters homepage, read our wider guide to hiring a yacht in South Africa, or look at ready-made tours and cruises if you'd rather pick a set package.
On the boats we list, private charters start at R7,000 an hour on Le Cat. Twelve-guest motor yachts like Topaz and Luna are around R16,000 an hour, Princess Emma is R20,867 an hour, and big party boats like Skyfall are R32,000 an hour with a two-hour minimum. Rates are for the whole boat, not per person.
Nearly all of them leave from the V&A Waterfront or Granger Bay next door. Maximillien leaves from Hout Bay. Your confirmation email gives the exact jetty or berth.
Yes. Every boat page lists a professional crew as part of the charter, so the crew handles the boat and you get to enjoy the ride. Most rates also include fuel for the standard route.
It depends on the boat. Small sailing yachts take six to eight, many motor yachts take 12, catamarans take 30 to 60, and Skyfall takes up to 120.
The skipper makes the call on the day, and safety comes first. That's why we suggest you don't book on the last day of your trip, so there's room to move the charter if needed.
On longer charters, boats often anchor off Clifton so you can swim. Be warned that the Atlantic is cold all year, so most people manage a quick dip and then head for a towel.
