Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 29 December
Written by December 29 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 29 December 2025:
It was an outstanding day out in the ocean, and we were lucky enough to round up the whole Marine big 5. Both our trips were so lucky to spot the Bryde’s whale after cruising a few minutes into the bay, after some beautiful close up looks at the elusive species the cruise continued as we made our way to Dyer island and Geyser rock, there the cape fur seals greeted us with adorable loud sheepish sounds while the African penguins hid amongst the cormorants on Dyer island. Close to the shallows, we stumbled upon the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins as they put on a show, and the Bronze whaler sharks were observed near the shark diving vessels, ending the day on a good note
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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.
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.
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.
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.
