Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 11 February
Written by February 11 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 11 February 2026:
Although it was overcast, we had a great time on the water. Not long after leaving Kleinbaai Harbour we spotted some bird activities that were shortly followed by a whale’s spout. To our surprise, the whale came up lunge feeding g and surfaced multiple times afterwards so we could get some great looks at it. On our way to the Cape fur seals colony, we saw another whale. The fur seals were fun to watch, multiple of them swimming in the waters of Shark Alley.
At Dyer Island, we spotted a few critically endangered African Penguins and plenty of Cape Cormorants. Our journey continued to the coastal waters, where we stopped at the shark cage diving boats to see some Bronze Whaler sharks. On our way home, we sailed along the coastline and ended the trip with two humpback dolphins.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
White-breasted Cormorant White-breasted Cormorant
White-breasted Cormorant is the largest African cormorant and they have an iconic white chest, it is a favourite for many of our repeat visitors, and professional wildlife photographers.
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.
