Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 26 July
Written by July 26 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 26 July 2026:
The ocean delivered a perfect day for our Marine Big 5 tours, with calm seas and fantastic wildlife sightings from start to finish. Bronze whaler sharks were spotted around the shark cage diving boats, while the critically endangered African penguins were seen both on Dyer Island and swimming at sea. Geyser Rock was bustling with lively Cape fur seals, providing plenty of entertainment. Along the coastal waters, a pod of bottlenose dolphins travelled gracefully alongside the boat, making for an unforgettable encounter. At Pearly Beach, a southern right whale was seen close to shore, and the second trip of the day rewarded us with a humpback whale. To top it all off, we were fortunate to encounter humpback dolphins later in the afternoon, a special and memorable sighting that rounded off an incredible day on the water and reminded us why every trip is unique.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
Bottlenose Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin
At present there are two recognized species of bottlenose dolphin, and in some cases, both species can be found in the same area. The two species are the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus). In addition, there is a great deal of variation in colouration, diet and behaviour. The difference between the common bottlenose and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin are subtle, but the common bottlenose dolphin generally larger and more robust with a slight darker colouration.
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.
