Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 24 October
Written by October 24 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 24 October 2024:
We have been facing a bit of wind again today but still had some great conditions as we encountered only a little swell. As usual, we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us excited about what we might encounter today. We once again successfully encountered 5 of the Marine Big 5! Whales, dolphins, sharks, fur seals and penguins. Very curious Southern Right whales were spotted throughout the day just casually swimming close to the boat relaxed as can be. Our beloved Bronze Whaler sharks were fascinating not just to the close-up divers but also to our guests who got some views of the sharks circling the boats. Knowing our Cape fur seal colony will most certainly leave an impression we were excited to head into Shark Alley where the seals greeted our guests loudly showing off by playing in the water or vocalizing on Geyser Rock. The endangered African Penguins, the smallest members of the Marine Big 5 were spotted on top of the boulders overlooking the close waters.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
