Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome to Gansbaai.
Home of the Marine Big 5.
Enter the natural habitat of the Marine Big 5 in South Africa, for the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, penguins, seals and great white sharks!
Book NowWhale Watching and Marine Big 5 Tours in South Africa
Only a 2 hour drive from Cape Town (transport options are available), Dyer Island Cruises offers our guests the potential to see more marine wildlife in one trip, than anywhere else in the country:
- Board Dreamcatcher - our 5 Star, custom-built whale watching vessel.
- Enter the home of The Marine Big 5 in comfort.
- Expert crew and guides attend to your every need.
- Amazing wildlife photo opportunities.
- Families of all ages and sizes welcomed on every trip.
- Annual international award winning company.
Why choose Dyer Island Cruises?
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher is our custom-built, luxurious, 5-Star whale watching vessel, offering 4 deck levels, 360 degree views and comfort.
About our boat
Expert Crew
Our specialist team has contributed to ground-breaking research and appeared on various international TV shows across the globe.
Meet the team
Shark Alley
Shark Alley and Dyer Island are world-famous for great white shark sightings and the Marine Big 5 - let us take you there.
Our area
FREE visit to APSS!
Every one of our guests gets taken on a free visit to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, to see and learn more about our seabirds.
About APSS
The Marine Big 5
One of the many ways in which Gansbaai is a truly unique, special prospect for people who want to work with marine wildlife, is how diverse the area is. Between The Marine Big 5 and countless other species, few places in the world are home to so many incredible animals.
Marine Big 5 Safaris near Cape Town
Species we work with:
Great white sharks
Gracious, beautiful, misunderstood - three words used by guests of Dyer Island Cruises after witnessing South Africa's most infamous marine species: The Great White Shark.
The Great white sharkSouthern right whales
These gentle giants are one of the strongest draws for our visitors, as thousands come back every year to experience the majesty of the Southern Right Whale.
The Southern Right WhaleCape fur seals
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
The Cape fur sealAfrican penguins
As one of only 17 penguin species left in the world (and the only one on the african continent), the african penguin often breed in offshore colonies, such as Dyer Island.
The African penguin
Whale Watching Blog
Life never stops at Dyer Island Cruises. Our newsroom is regularly updated with new wildlife stories, blogs from our various tours and experiences from our own team.
Spring Tide, Seal Pups And A Copper Shark Or Two, 21 January 2018 Spring Tide, Seal Pups And A Copper Shark Or Two, 21 January 2018
By Jax, January 21
An Oceanic Adventure, 20 January 2018 An Oceanic Adventure, 20 January 2018
By Jax, January 20
A Swell Trip Out, 19 January 2019 A Swell Trip Out, 19 January 2019
By Jax, January 19
A Hammerhead Shark In The Shallows And 4 Of the Marine Big 5! Trip Update, 17 January 2018 A Fly Day On The Ocean, 15 January 2019 A Fly Day On The Ocean, 15 January 2019
By Jax, January 15
Daily Trip Update, 10 January 2019 Daily Trip Update, 10 January 2019
By Jax, January 14
A Great White Day, 09 December 2019 A Great White Day, 09 December 2019
By Jax, January 9
A Stunning Ocean Safari,08 January 2019 A Stunning Ocean Safari,08 January 2019
By Jax, January 8
