Nestled in the heart of Cape Town’s bustling V&A Waterfront, The Waterfront Duck Company offers a one-of-a-kind tour experience that seamlessly merges the charm of historical Cape Town with the serene beauty of its waters.
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The Waterfront Duck is a 40-seater vehicle that can travel on both land and water.
Once operations launch, the tour will start at the V&A Waterfront, pass the Cape Town Stadium, and follow the Atlantic Seaboard coastline to see famous sights.
It will then return to the V&A Waterfront, leave land and launch into the water near the Cape Grace Hotel, and cruise around the V&A Marina and Harbour.
Co-owner of the Duck Company, Keith Lindsay, was inspired by the unique concept while abroad so he embarked on a challenging yet rewarding journey to bring this amphibious adventure to life.
He shares the story behind The Waterfront Duck Company, its challenges, and what makes it a must-try activity with Cape {town} Etc.
The idea for The Waterfront Duck Company took root during a family holiday in Boston in 2008. Lindsay was captivated by the popularity and appeal of the amphibious tour concept, which delighted both young and old.
He recognised the potential for a similar attraction in Cape Town.
‘It was perfectly suited to this story-rich city, combined with an interesting body of water. In my mind the City of Cape Town and the world-class V&A Waterfront fitted both.’
Bringing the concept to Cape Town was no easy feat. Unlike other amphibious tours around the world that utilise repurposed WWII landing craft, Lindsay prioritised safety and modern standards.
The search led to Seahorse Amphibious in Windsor, UK, whose Seahorse MKIII design started primarily as a boat, ensuring optimal safety and suitability for both land and water use.
This vehicle underwent rigorous safety scrutiny by both the UK’s Marine and Coastguard Authority and South Africa’s Maritime Safety Agency, a process that took over two years. Additionally, adaptations were made to ensure the vehicle could navigate Cape Town’s specific environment, including lowering the roofline and adding a bow thruster for enhanced control.
Lindsay emphasises these safety measures: ‘In terms of new amphibious vehicles, many manufacturers actually start with a bus chassis and then convert it to be able to float, which they were not in favour of. We eventually settled on a craft from a company called ‘Seahorse Amphibious’ based in Windsor in the UK. We really liked their approach to design and safety. They started primarily with a boat design and then made sure it was suitable for road use. We believe that this was a way safer and better way to go.’
Safety is paramount for The Waterfront Duck Company.
The amphibious vehicle complies with all necessary regulations, featuring lifejackets, multiple sealed compartments, and automatic bilge pumps.
Lindsay underscores this further: ‘On land, our brakes, seats, lights, etc, all meet the required standards, as would any new bus on our roads. Of course, this is not only a vessel requirement, but also a human one.’
‘Our skipper/drivers (who we call Quacktains) have to be both a skipper with passenger endorsement and a heavy duty driver with PDP. Also, unlike in the USA, where the driver is also the tour guide, our tours will include a separate tour guide (who we call a ConDUCKtor!) who is also a qualified deck-hand crew member.’
‘For safety, we never leave the confines of the V&A harbour wall, always remaining inside the Victoria Basin. Tours will be postponed if the weather is deemed to be outside of acceptable operating parameters.’
‘In terms of comfort, our 36 seats are fully imported, access is easy via 7 short steps and with the roll-up flaps, there is always plenty of fresh air!’
Lindsay explains that The Waterfront Duck Company is set apart from other tourist activities in Cape Town because of its uniqueness.
‘As far as we are aware, this is the very first amphibious tour bus in South Africa – How could you be more unique?! You get the best of the city and the waterfront by land and water!’
The tours are not just about sightseeing; they provide ‘edutainment,’ blending entertaining and engaging commentary with historical and ecological insights.
‘The other point of difference is the focus on ‘edutainment’. Entertaining live tour guides who deliver interesting content in a quirky and engaging way. Our tour covers some interesting historical snippets as well as taking on bit more of a marine/eco theme as we enter the water.’
Finding the right people to operate the amphibious vehicle is crucial. Quacktains must have both a skipper’s licence and a heavy-duty driver’s licence, ensuring they are well-equipped for their dual roles.
ConDUCKtors serve as tour guides and deckhand crew members, adding to the educational and entertaining experience for passengers. A sense of fun and enthusiasm is a must for all team members.
Looking ahead, The Waterfront Duck Company has exciting plans.
‘We have many plans in the making but the key ones are: a) getting our first Duck fully operational as soon as possible; and b) planning our second Duck.’
‘Our order for this has already been placed and it is currently under construction in the UK and is due arrive in Cape Town early in the new year! Our branded apparel and accessory store will also open up soon at the V&A Waterfront at our ticket office in front of the Silo Hotel!’
Experience Cape Town like never before – on land and sea – with The Waterfront Duck Company!
Tickets are not yet available for purchase but will be one month before the launch.
For more information, visit The Waterfront Duck Company’s official website.
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Picture: Supplied
