Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 03 November
Written by November 3 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 03 November 2026:
Another day on the water with the Marine Big 5. We had some sunny conditions with a little wind picking up later in the day. Close to shore, we spotted the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins as well as some southern right whales. We still have a few pairs in the bay of Pearly Beach. Another stop in the coastal waters was at the shark cage diving boats, where we saw the Bronze whaler sharks and some got a brief look at a short-tailed stingray. The water around Geyser Rock was filled with plenty of Cape fur seals, and we managed to get a look at the elephant seal that has been hanging around for several weeks. Before reaching the harbour, we spotted a few penguins on Dyer Island.
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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.
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.
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.
