Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 31 October
Written by October 31 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 31 October 2026:
Bronze whaler sharks were encountered throughout the day either around our Shark cage diving vessel Slashfin or with local operators. Southern Right whales were again spotted in Pearly Beach approaching close, breaching and/or flipper slapping. The critically endangered African Penguins were roaming the island and were found sitting close to the water, where we were able to spot them easily. The Cape fur seals on Geyser Rock were as active as always. Some have been lucky to have gotten a glimpse of our visitor, the elephant seal, while others came across some of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins.
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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.
