Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 07 December
Written by December 7 2023
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 07 December 2023:
We had a sunny day with only a light breeze, just perfect to cool off a bit. Our first tour of the day was lucky to see all of the Marine Big 5 and on the second tour, we were able to spot only three, the Bronze Whaler sharks, Cape fur seals, and penguins. The dolphins were close to shore just past the shark cage diving boats in the morning but must have moved on rather quickly as we were unable to find them later on in the day again. On our way back from the island we were lucky to see a Bryde’s whale mother and her calf that we also couldn’t locate again later in the day. Nevertheless, we had a great time on both trips to see the Cape fur seals, their colony Geyser Rock is currently covered in pups. On the second tour, we were also part of rescuing some penguins that needed to be brought from Dyer Island to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. What a great day!
Trip 1
Trip 2
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
