The Marine Big 5 Animals of South Africa – the Cape’s Top Sea Life.

The five most recognizable animals on the continent—the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo—are the focus of discussions about Africa’s Big 5. The Marine Big 5 creatures are the flagship species of the enormous oceans that round the southern tip of Africa. Did you know that?

Whales, sharks, seals, penguins, and dolphins comprise the Marine Big Five. From the Garden Route to Cape Town, South Africa provides outstanding chances to see these famous aquatic creatures throughout the Western Cape Province. These are the most well-known sea creatures in South Africa, and every trip there must include seeing all five of them.

The Big Five Marines
The Penguin of Africa
The Dolphins of the Cape Fur Seal
Whales of the Southern Right
The Great White Shark

5. The Penguin of Africa

With its sleek black and white feathers, this small animal has come back from the verge of extinction. The Western and Eastern Capes of South Africa are home to a few well-established colonies, including Boulders Beach, Bird Island, Dyer Island, Robben Island, Dassen Island, and St. Croix Island.

Boulders Beach is without a doubt the most memorable location for these birds, even if Robben Island in Cape Town is arguably the most well-known home for them and St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay (near Gqeberha, Port Elizabeth) has the greatest population in the world.

With around 3,000 penguins in the Boulders Beach colony, you are sure to see them all year long whether you are strolling along the boardwalk or going down to the beach. Boulders Beach, one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Unique Beaches, is situated in Simon’s Town, about a 45-minute drive from Cape Town.

Visitors can swim with the penguins in this protected cove in addition to taking in the breathtaking views of False Bay! If you’re itching for a more personal experience after seeing the birds up close, Sanccob, a penguin rehabilitation center in Simon’s Town, provides individual tours and volunteer opportunities.

4. The Seal of Cape Fur

Known for its velvety brown fur, the Cape Fur Seal can be spotted from Namibia, all the way down the west coast, and as far as Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), which is beyond Cape Town. They receive a good deal of attention at the V&A Waterfront and are a major tourist attraction at the harbors of Hout Bay and Kalk Bay in Cape Town.

These lugubrious-looking sea giants, who flail around on their clown-shoe flippers and sunbathe, have a humorous appearance. However, you get a taste of these aquatic mammals’ playfulness, agility, and speed as they jump off the dry land and into the water.

In light of this, I was overjoyed to discover that it is possible to snorkel with seals. Seal diving takes place at Duiker Island in the Karbonkelberg Marine Protected Area, which is a section of Table Mountain National Park, on Cape Town’s Atlantic side. This location is ideal for interacting with seals because of the shallow kelp forests, milder Atlantic seas, and very few seals (about 5,000).

Seals are known for their curiosity underwater, despite their caution on land. They have been seen to swim with scuba divers and even approach people. The journey from Hout Bay is quick and simple, and I can be sure there are no sharks in the region! How better to introduce yourself to these aquatic acrobats?

There are boat cruises to many of the seal colonies scattered along the coast if you would prefer not to go in the water with the seals. About 60,000 Cape fur seals may be seen at Geyser Rock, which is next to Shark Alley, and Gansbaai is well-known as a center for all marine gazing. You should go to Kleinzee on the West Coast if that seems a bit small. With more than 350,000 seals, the largest on-land seal colony in South Africa is located just north of Kleinzee!

3. Dolphins

A journey wouldn’t be complete without seeing dolphins, who are linked with the water. Fortunately, South Africa’s coastline is home to a wealth of marine biodiversity, so you can cross this off your list very quickly! Both the Atlantic and Indian oceans are home to these aquatic species, who can be spotted on specialized dolphin tours or jumping in and out of the surf.

Although there are more than ten dolphin species in South Africa, the well-known Bottlenose Dolphin, the Long-Beaked Common Dolphin, and the timid Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin are the ones you are most likely to spot swimming near the coast.

They frolic through the water with more pleasure and joy than any other marine mammal. During the sardine season, which occurs from May to July, dolphins congregate in large numbers to feed on the plentiful food, making it an excellent time to watch them. Similar to sheepdogs herding sheep, you can witness groups of dolphins cooperating to herd the sardines into a “bait ball” that they subsequently push to the surface and consume.

Traveling the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay is a less season-specific choice. While there are many ways to see Plettenberg Bay from land, there are also chances to get up close by going on a boat trip or, for those who are feeling a bit more daring, going on a kayak tour into the vast ocean.

Swimming with dolphins is strictly prohibited since human interactions negatively impact them, and South Africa has some of the best laws governing interactions with marine species.

2. Whales of the Southern Right

These ocean giants are 16 meters long, and their sheer enormity is enough to leave anyone speechless. Whales can be spotted traveling into the warmer shallow waters to calve all along the Western Cape coastline of South Africa between June and December. The Cape Whale Route runs from Cape Town to Cape Agulhas and passes through several bays along the Garden Route.

The endangered southern right and humpback whales, which are frequently a short distance from the coast, can be seen playing in protected bays like False Bay and Hermanus.

Southern right whales move up from the frigid waters of the Antarctic to the warmer climate of South Africa’s stunning coastline. They were named this because they were thought to be the “right” whales to hunt. They can be seen playing just offshore, raising their young, bobbing their tails, and waving their fins. If you’re lucky, you might even get a glimpse of one of these 60-ton giants breaking out of the water to create a huge splash.

The seaside village of Hermanus is just over an hour and a half away from Cape village. With more than 12km of cliff path walking, where whales can occasionally be spotted from just a few meters away, it is among the greatest locations in the world for land-based whale viewing.

The now-famous Whale Crier, who blows on his kelp horn to signal the approach of whales in the harbor, also resides in Hermanus. It is amazing to see these gentle giants thriving given that they were once so severely persecuted that they were on the verge of extinction.

1. The Great White Shark

The great white shark is without a doubt at the top of the marine food chain. Adult sharks, the largest fish species on the planet, may grow to a length of 4.5 to 6 meters, weigh roughly 2.5 tons, and swim at nearly 25 kilometers per hour. Did I mention that they have many rows of serrated teeth that regenerate over time?

The great white shark is a deadly and feared predator and a popular choice for any sea safari because of its speed, agility, and raw force.

One of the most exciting and humble animal experiences on the globe is unquestionably getting up close and personal with the top predator of the marine realm. With hotspots like Seal Island in Mossel Bay, Dyer Island and Geyser Rock near Gansbaai, and the notorious Seal Island in False Bay—home of the “flying” great white sharks—the Western Cape is among the best places to see great white sharks up close and daring.

Perfect’safety first’ legislation have made it easier than ever to enter the shark’s native habitat below the surface.

Very little is known about these predators, which are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Companies like Marine Dynamics, based in Gansbaai, offer eco-tourism experiences where conservation is at the center of all activities, and public perception of sharks is shifting. This implies that your heart-pounding encounter with the great white directly advances the science aimed at preserving shark populations and keeping them safe.

The Southern Peninsula and Gansbaai

Although there are many opportunities to observe the Marine Big 5 throughout the Western Cape coast, there are two locations that are so rich in marine life that you may be able to see all five in a single trip.

Whales, sharks, dolphins, penguins, and seals are all abundant along this rocky coastline close to Africa’s southernmost tip, and Gansbaai is the one-stop shop for seeing them all. Shark Alley is a fitting name for the region between Geyser Rock and Dyer Island.

During the winter, great white sharks congregate in this unusual location to feed on the colony of obese Cape Fur Seals that nest close by on Geyser Rock. Endangered species like the African penguin, Cape cormorant, gannet, and black oystercatcher breed on nearby Dyer Island, a protected bird sanctuary.

The giant southern right whales’ oceanic playpen is Gansbaai and the surrounding area, which includes Walker Bay. From May to December, these delicate creatures congregate here to mate, date, and give birth in protected bays.

Throughout the year, dolphins of many species, including the lively bottlenose, are frequently spotted surfing the waves. Even the locals were enthralled as a massive pod of around 2,000 animals rushed across Walker Bay in 2011!

Another amazing location with the whole complement of whales, seals, penguins, sharks, and dolphins is the southern peninsula, which gently curves around False Bay.

You may see the seals at Kalk Bay Harbour, kayak with the penguins at Boulders Beach, surf with dolphins in Muizenberg, sunbathe on the charming beaches while observing whales, and save the best for last with a shark cage diving excursion in the afternoon.

The South Peninsula’s breathtaking landscape is made even more remarkable by the abundance of excellent dining options in Cape Town’s central business district, which is only forty minutes away.

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, sometimes known as the Serengeti of the Sea, is one of the most respected nature reserves for seeing marine life and is close to Gansbaai.

How to get there: St. Croix Island: Take a guided tour from Cape Town or rent a car and drive from Dassen Island. Access from Port Elizabeth’s Gqeberha: check out our next excursions Leaving Port Elizabeth
Island of Robben: From Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, take the ferry to Robben Island.

Boulder Beach: You may either drive from Cape Town to Boulders or take one of our Cape Peninsula excursions that depart from Cape Town.
Island of Dyer: Take one of our reasonably priced shark cage diving tours or take a drive from Cape Town to the Cape Whale Coast.

Garden Route: Take one of our reasonably priced Garden Route Tours or fly to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) or Cape Town and drive to the Garden Route.
Drive from Cape Town to Hermanus & Gansbaai or take one of our Cape Whale Route Tours.