Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 09 September
Written by September 9 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 09 September 2026:
Although we had thick fog this morning and it was overcast, we had fantastic sightings at sea. Our first highlight came with sightings of southern right whales along the coastline near Pearly Beach. At Dyer Island, we stopped to see the critically endangered African penguins. Watching these special seabirds at the island is always a memorable experience. On of our last stops was at Geyser Rock, where the Cape fur seal colony was as lively and entertaining as ever. Thousands of seals filled the rock, creating plenty of activity and noise. Throughout the day, we also made a stop at the shark cage-diving boats, where bronze whaler sharks were spotted cruising through the water. One of our trips has even been lucky to have spotted some of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
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.
