Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 20 September
Written by September 20 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 20 September 2026:
We had an outstanding day out on the water today, with some truly jaw-dropping sightings. Southern right whales were the highlight, with one curious calf putting on quite a show for us. Humpback dolphins were also seen on some trips, making for some beautiful encounters. Shark activity was a little slow today, so unfortunately we didn’t get to see any sharks. Over on Geyser Rock, the elephant seal was still around, surrounded by Cape fur seals and their familiar sheep-like calls. It was a little tricky to spot the African penguins on Dyer Island today, but luckily one of our trips managed to see a few of them out 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.
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.
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.
