Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 30 October
Written by October 30 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 30 October 2026:
A day that started with a bit of mist turned into a sunny day out at sea! Launching from Kleinbaai Harbour, we headed straight to the Shallows, the island system, or Pearly Beach. Within the Shallows, we were able to make a stop by the Shark cage diving boats to get a glimpse of the Bronze whaler sharks of our area. Pearly Beach offered great encounters with Southern Right whale pairs. The island system, home to our Cape fur seals on Geyser Rock and our critically endangered African Penguins on Dyer Island, was, as always, a mandatory stop.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
