Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 08 November
Written by November 8 2023

Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 08 November 2023:
Another day out at sea with some amazing sightings ahead of us! Leaving Kleinbaai Harbour we cruised along the coastal areas and hoped for some more amazing encounters. As usual, we did not get disappointed. Several southern right whales were spotted throughout the day and our guests got some great looks at this beautiful species. On some of our trips, we were even lucky enough to have spotted either Bottlenose or humpback dolphins. Letting them be after spending some time with them we made our way over to the Shark cage diving vessels where we got a glimpse of our beloved Bronze Whaler sharks. Shortly after it was time to head over to Geyser Rock and Dyer Island. Several Cape fur seals showed up in front of the boat and of course, numerous seals were on the island relaxing. Before it was time to head back to Kleinbaai Harbour we stopped by Dyer Island to get some nice views of the endangered African Penguins.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
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.