Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 16 January
Written by January 16 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 16 January 2026:
With little swell and some wind coming into our bay, we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us. On board Dream Catcher, we made our way towards Uilenkraalsmond, the natural estuary of the area. Shortly after, we spotted two of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins. After spending some time with them, we continued to the Shallows, where the local Shark cage diving vessels were anchored. Stopping by our boat, Slashfin, we got some great looks at the incredible Bronze whaler sharks. We made our way through the local reef system, De Clyde, and headed straight for deeper waters. Numerous Cape Cormorants and Terns were gathered, which gave us a clear indication of where to head. A Bryde’s whale made an appearance almost instantly! Our last stop of the day led us to the island system. Cape fur seals on Geyser Rock are, as always, a highlight on our trips. The critically endangered African Penguins were also spotted either on top of their favourite rocks on Dyer Island or even in the water!
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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.
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.
