Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 1 April
Written by April 1 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 01 April 2026:
Today was nothing but extraordinary. Not only was the weather in our favour, but the sightings were just as good. We had a Bryde’s whale appear in the bay, giving us a chance to admire the captivating guardian of the ocean. As if that was not enough, a sunfish was seen as well; the water visibility enabled us to see its size and unique features. Along the coast, we were lucky enough to spot the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins, with the bronze whaler sharks being seen around our local shark diving vessel as well. To end the day on a marine-tastic note, we made a stop by Dyer Island and Geyser Rock to get a glimpse of the African penguins and Cape fur seals
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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.
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.
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.
Sunfish
