Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 02 December
Written by December 2 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 02 December 2024:
Another sunny day here in Kleinbaai with a beautifully calm sea. Out of the harbour, we hugged the coastline past Uilenkraalsmond where we encountered some endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins and towards the shark cage diving boats where witnessed the great action of Bronze Whaler sharks. Soon we moved on to Pearly Beach where we kept a lookout for other marine life. Unfortunately, it has been quiet and seemed that all southern right whales have moved on and stated their migration down south, but further out in deeper waters, we were able to see the elusive Bryde’s whale. Geyser Rock, our Cape fur seal colony, is now really getting full with all the Cape fur seal pups and we had a wonderful time watching these playful marine mammals. Close by lays Dyer Island, where we made a stop to see the critically endangered African Penguin.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Humpback dolphins are an endangered species, with small populations living very close to shore, typically in water less than 25m deep and an average home range of 120km. Their proximity to land makes these animals particularly vulnerable to human influence.
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.
