Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 02 October
Written by October 2 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 02 October 2026:
Today’s Marine Big 5 trip delivered a wonderful variety of wildlife and a very special surprise! Out in the coastal waters, we were treated to sightings of plenty southern right whales, cruising through the bay. At Dyer Island, we stopped to admire the critically endangered African penguins. Nearby, Geyser Rock was alive with thousands of Cape fur seals, making plenty of noise and creating quite a spectacle. But the highlight of the day for some was an unexpected visitor—a beautiful Pintado Petrel! These oceanic seabirds are not seen every day, making this a particularly memorable sighting.
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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.
Southern Right Whale Southern Right Whale
Southern right whales attract thousands of visitors every year to experience these gentle giants off the South African coast.
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.
