Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 16 October
Written by October 16 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 16 October 2026:
What an incredible morning at sea! Our Marine Big 5 adventure delivered some fantastic sightings, including humpback dolphins close to shore. The southern right whales stole the show, with a beautiful brindle whale adding something extra special to one of the trips on the water. African penguins were spotted on Dyer Island while Cape fur seals lounged on the rocks and splashed in the water. We also spotted the elephant seals early in the morning in the water close to the Cape fur seals. To top off an unforgettable trip, bronze whaler sharks were seen at the shark cage diving vessels.
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What species did we see today?
Southern Right Whale Southern Right Whale
Southern right whales attract thousands of visitors every year to experience these gentle giants off the South African coast.
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.
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.
