Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 09 November
Written by November 9 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 09 November 2024:
As it is the last month for our seasonal visitors, the Southern Right whales, to be here we are not wasting time and using every minute of the day we can get! Once again, we started our day early and welcomed our guests aboard our whale-watching vessel Dream Catcher. Leaving Kleinbaai Harbour behind us as usual, we headed along the coastal area towards the Shark Cage diving vessels, where Bronze whaler sharks made an almost instant appearance. After seeing the sharks so active around the cage we let them be and throughout the day headed towards the island system and Pearly Beach. Around the island system, we were able to pay the Cape fur seals a visit. Numerous bulls were vocalizing and fighting on Geyser Rock whereas the younger Cape fur seals were playing or relaxing in the cool waters of Shark Alley. At Dyer Island, we could see some of the endangered African Penguins waddling along the beach. In the shallow areas in Pearly Beach, we encountered some of our beloved Southern Right whales. Our second tour has also been lucky to encounter the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins after leaving the shark boats behind, what a treat!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
