Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 23 April
Written by April 23 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 23 April 2026:
After some days on land due to some stormy seas, the ocean was calming down, and we were able to head back out. The sun was shining here in Kleinbaai, and with some easterly wind blowing over the bay. Not far from Kleinbaai harbour, down the coast at Uilenkraalsmond, we spotted the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. They were rather active today, jumping high out of the water. Next up was our usual stop at the shark cage diving boats, where we saw some Bronze Whaler sharks and a rather brave and curious Cape Cormorant in between the bustle. At Dyer Island, we made a stop, but due to the swell, we were unable to head any closer to see the penguins. At the end of our trip, we saw one briefly before returning to Kleinbaai. A stop at the Cape fur seals was a must, and as usual, there were plenty of them. To our luck, we encountered a rather friendly Bryde’s whale in the deep, surfing the big waves next to our vessel. What a nice day to finally be back on the water.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
