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Experience the big marine 5, each trip is led by experienced marine biologists and guides who will share their knowledge with you, keeping an emphasis on the welfare and conservation of the animal. Responsible tourism is our main objective, so our focus is on research, conservation, education, and the upliftment of our community.
We have two custom-designed vessels that have been built for your safety and comfort, and both are perfect for marine wildlife viewing.
We will have the following stops:
Itineraries
Stop 1
Cape Town
Pick up at your accommodation in Cape Town. The trip to Gansbaai is around 3 hours.
Stop 2
Gansbaai
We ask all our guests to meet at The Great White House.
Stop 3
Safety Briefing
Once you have arrived at The Great White House, you will receive a brief introductory talk about the route, safety, and what to look out for. Passengers are fitted with comfortable life-jackets and waterproof jackets.
Stop 4
Let's see a seal colony
Marine Big 5 Tour length is between 2 and 2.5 hours, depending on sightings and weather conditions. All cruises depart from Kleinbaai harbour near Gansbaai. Dyer Island is located 8 km from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including the endangered African penguin. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 strong Cape fur seal colony. These seals are present all year round. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world-famous ‘Shark Alley’.
Stop 5
Whale hot-spots
We will then take you to the whale hot spots in the bay. With over a decade of experience, we know where to expect the best whale sightings. Southern right whale season is between mid-June to mid-November. Around this time our focus will be on spending some time with these incredible whales who are visiting our shores to mate and calve. We can encounter the more reserved resident Bryde’s whale throughout the year. From mid-December to mid-June we actively search for this species during our tours. We may also sight magnificent Humpback whales at the start and end of their migration season.
Stop 6
Dolphins
We also have three dolphin species that move through the area – common, bottlenose, and endangered humpback – so if we are lucky, we may see one of those.
Stop 7
Sharks
We also hope to show you a bronze whaler shark or a great white shark.
Remember that this is wildlife we are dealing with and sightings aren’t guaranteed, however, our team will do our best to show you as many of our Marine Big 5 as possible.
Stop 8
Back to land
Finish your trip by getting back to the Great White House to talk about your experience
Stop 9
Back to Cape Town
Head back to Cape Town on a 3-hour drive.
• Boat trip and Chauffeur to and from Cape town
• Tea and coffee on arrival
• Bottled water on board
• Extra beverages and snacks
• Binoculars
• Warm clothing (it is cold on the water when the wind blows)
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Warm clothing (it is cold on the water when the wind blows)
• Comfortable closed shoes
0 Years
Covid-19 compliant (masks and temperature checks)
Year-round, seven days a week – weather dependent.the right whale season is generally mid-June to mid-November.
Due to variable weather conditions the trip may not always be possible and is therefore not guaranteed. Time-related itineraries are dependent on tides, weather conditions and the number of tours scheduled for a particular day.
Dyer Island Cruises
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