Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 07 September
Written by September 8 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 07 September 2026:
After being land-bound for a few days due to strong winds, we finally headed back out into the bay to see what the ocean had in store for us. All trips enjoyed some fantastic sightings, including southern right whales cruising through the bay and Bronze whaler sharks spotted around the shark cage-diving boats. Closer to Dyer Island, we stopped to look for the critically endangered African penguins, while thousands of Cape fur seals greeted us on Geyser Rock. Some trips were also lucky enough to encounter dolphins out at sea, including a brief sighting of the elusive humpback dolphin. Earlier in the day, a massive pod of common dolphins also made an appearance, providing a spectacular end to an already incredible day on the water.
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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.
Common Dolphin Common Dolphin
With an 'hourgalss' patch on either side and aerial activity the common dolphin is an agile and majestic species, that may easily reach a speed of 40km/h.
