Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 03 January
Written by January 3 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 03 January 2026:
The sightings were nothing but jaw-dropping today, with two trips heading out, one had to launch from Gansbaai harbour because of the spring tide in our bay. The day started off well with the Bryde’s whale being spotted in deeper waters, which was a glorious sight to see. One of our trips was lucky enough to encounter a pod of common dolphins, splashing and playing energetically in the bay, much to everyone’s delight. A visit was then made to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, where guests were treated to sightings of the endangered African penguins as well as the ever-playful Cape fur seals. And of course, no Marine Big 5 trip would be complete without sharks. The beautiful local bronze whaler sharks were seen cruising in the shallows near the shark diving vessel, perfectly rounding off an unforgettable day at sea.
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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.
