Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 12 July
Written by July 12 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 12 July 2026:
We had two trips out at sea today, each offering its own unique wildlife encounters. Our first trip was fortunate enough to spot Indian Ocean humpback dolphins just a few minutes after leaving the harbour, giving everyone a fantastic start to the day. A usual stop was made in the shallows, where bronze whaler sharks were seen gracefully cruising around the shark diving vessels. At Dyer Island, the African penguins proved a little more difficult to find as many were tucked away between the boulders. The Cape fur seals at Geyser Rock were as lively as ever, filling the air with their calls and playful behaviour. To top it all off, both trips were rewarded with sightings of a Bryde’s whale in the deeper waters, making it a memorable day on the ocean.
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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.
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.
