Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 18 February
Written by February 18 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 18 February 2026:
With two trips heading out at sea today, we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, and we made our way towards Danger Point, where our journey began. On the way, one of our trips was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a sunfish cruising at the surface. Some visiting seabirds that we do encounter every now and then were also seen, such as the Cory’s shearwater and Sabine’s gull. As we headed out into deeper water, we encountered two Bryde’s whales in the same area. And as we cruised on further. At Dyer Island, we saw large numbers of Cape Cormorants and even a few critically endangered African Penguins standing between them on the rocks. A stop was made at Geyser Rock, where the Cape fur seals were as delightful as always. Splashing around in the water or sunbathing on the rocks. Next, we made our way to the shark diving boats, where we got a good look at the Bronze Whaler sharks. On our way back to the Harbour we were very lucky to catch a glimpse of two endangered Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins swimming in the shallow water along the coast. With this beautiful weather and sightings of the entire Marine Big 5, it surely was an unforgettable day on 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.
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.
