Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 17 June
Written by June 17 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 17 June 2026:
We had some fantastic Bryde’s whale sightings close to Danger Point. First, we spotted a mother and her calf, and later on, an adult by itself. On our way to the shallows, we were lucky to find two of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins close to Uilenkraalsmond. At the shark cage diving boats, we were welcomed by some fantastic shark activity. Last we were heading to Dyer Island to see the penguins and Cape fur seals on Geyser Rock.
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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.
