Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 13 March
Written by March 13 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 13 March 2026:
With fog rolling through the bay today, we geared up our guests and welcomed everyone on Dream Catcher. Leaving Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, we headed down the coastline, past the natural estuary of the area, where we shortly after spotted two of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins! Next up, the Shallows, where sightings of the Bronze whaler sharks were waiting for us. Encounters of the critically endangered African Penguins were either on Dyer Island or in the open, spotted as a raft. The Cape fur seal colony was busy as usual. Just behind the island system, a Bryde’s whale popped up next to the boat, and with that, our Marine Big 5 has been successfully ticked off!
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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.
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.
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.
