Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 04 November
Written by November 4 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 04 November 2025:
Beautiful conditions awaited us at our departure from Kleinbaai Harbour, with low swell and a slight breeze. In the breaking swell along the coastline, some trips were able to see the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, navigating between the waves. All trips were able to witness the Southern right whales, with pairings mainly situated in Pearly Beach. The sightings offered a great view of these gentle giants, calmly moving along the surface. Within the bay, shark cage diving vessels were anchored, allowing guests to see multiple Bronze whaler sharks displaying their cooperative predatory schooling behaviour on almost all trips. Shark Alley, another mandatory stop, where the Cape fur seals were distributed between Geyser Rock and the crystal clear waters of the alley. Concluding the sightings for the day, the African penguins were scattered across the rocks of Dyer Island at their natural breeding colony.
Tripadvisor – https://bit.ly/2YZ0jDR
Google – https://g.page/r/Caej8uYZYnR8EBE/review
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WhaleWatchSA
What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
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.
