Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 16 August
Written by August 16 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 16 August 2026:
An early start brought us a beautiful morning out on the water, with some amazing whale sightings to begin the day. We encountered a Bryde’s whale and humpback whales, making for a memorable start to our trip. The Cape fur seals were also seen throughout the day, while the African penguins could be spotted waddling around Dyer Island. The shallows were a little quieter, and made it more challenging to spot the bronze whaler sharks in the area. Despite that, it was still a lovely morning on the water, with a great variety of marine life making an appearance.
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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.
Humpback Whale Humpback Whale
One of the best-known whale species, they are renowned for their acrobatic behaviour and complex melodious song as well as extremely long flippers and are a special favourite of Dyer Island Cruises guests and crew alike.
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.
