Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 20 August
Written by August 20 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 20 August 2026:
Today brought another beautiful day out on the water, with some wonderful marine life sightings along the way. We had sightings of both humpback and Bryde’s whales, with one of the whales and its calf putting on a playful display nearby. In Shark Alley, the Cape fur seals were as lively as ever, while Bronze whaler sharks were also spotted in the area. We also came across a few pods of African penguins floating peacefully in the water. It was a lovely day at sea, with a great variety of wildlife making for a memorable experience.
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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.
