Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 01 February
Written by February 1 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 01 February 2026:
Another sunny day with fantastic sightings. After a scenic drive along the coast and a look at some Cape Cormorants, we spotted a couple of bronze whaler sharks near the shark cage–diving boat. Next, we stopped at Dyer Island to admire the island itself, along with penguins and other coastal seabirds.
On our way to the Cape fur seals, we were lucky enough to encounter a Bryde’s whale, surfacing multiple times close to the boat and offering some truly wonderful views. The Cape fur seal colony was another highlight, with countless seals both in the water and hauled out on the island. As we crossed the bay toward Kleinbaai Harbour, we also saw Giant Petrels, Storm Petrels, and more penguins to round out an unforgettable day.
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What species did we see today?
Cape fur seal Cape fur seal
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
African Penguin African Penguin
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.
Bronze Whaler Shark Bronze Whaler Shark
The Bronze whaler (also known as Copper sharks) here in Kleinbaai are very curious and interactive. These sharks eat mostly fish, with sardines being one of their favourites.
Brydes Whale Brydes Whale
The mysterious Bryde's whales visit the Dyer Island area throughout the year, with most sightings occurring during summer into winter.
Giant Petrel Giant Petrel
Around the Greater Dyer Island area we encounter both species of Giant Petrel, the Southern Giant Petrel and Northern Giant Petrel.
