Marine Big 5 Daily Post 26 July
Written by July 26 2023
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 26 July 2023:
It was an early start for our day onboard Dreamcatcher, launching with the sunrise from Kleinbaai Harbour for our first trip. We made our way straight to the next bay and came across a group of three adult Southern Right whales partaking in mating, we kept our distance but enjoyed fantastic views as these three slowly cruised around on the surface together. We spent some time at the Islands, watching the Cape fur seals of Geyser Rock, and paid a visit to Dyer Island where we were able to spot a few groups of African penguins. We finished the trip with a cruise through the Shallows, stopping at our sister company Marine Dynamics, which specializes in sharks, but unfortunately, there were no sharks around at that time to see. On the second trip of the day we again headed straight for the next bay and were lucky to pick up on three Southern Right whales again, these gentle giants allowed us to watch them for a while, with some interesting activity before we made our way towards the Islands. On the way, we encountered a large pod of Common dolphins along with a shy, lone Humpback whale. The trip finished with visits to both the Cape fur seal and the African penguin colony.
Trip 1
Trip 2
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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.
Common Dolphin Common Dolphin
With an 'hourgalss' patch on either side and aerial activity the common dolphin is an agile and majestic species, that may easily reach a speed of 40km/h.
Humpback Whale Humpback Whale
One of the best-known whale species, they are renowned for their acrobatic behaviour and complex melodious song as well as extremely long flippers and are a special favourite of Dyer Island Cruises guests and crew alike.
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.
