Marine Big 5 Safari: Experience Wildlife at Dyer Island from Cape Town
4.4
124 Ratings
Overstrand
Embark on a thrilling Marine Big 5 Safari from Cape Town to Dyer Island. Witness Southern Right Whales, sharks, seals, penguins, and dolphins in their natural habitat.
Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Dyer Island Cruises - Dyer Island Cruises operates around the world-famous Dyer Island where you might be fortunate enough to see the Marine Big 5: Southern Right / Humpback / Bryde’s Whales, Great White Sharks around the renowned Shark Alley, Cape Fur Seals, the endangered African Penguin and various visiting dolphin species. The are is also home to a variety of seabirds. Our Southern Right Whale Season is normally from June – December, but for the rest of the year we occasionally see Humpback and Bryde’s whales in the area. We have an on-board Marine biologist and experienced crew who promise and educational, life-changing experience.
    Upon arrival at the Great White House, coffee/tea and muffins are served while listening to a dedicated safety and conservation briefing. We provide safety jackets and wet weather gear. After a short walk to the harbour we board custom deigned vessel, Dream Catcher and the adventure will commence. After the trip on sea, guests return to the Great White House for soup and bread followed by a debriefing. Quality trip footage can be bought, and you will receive a downloadable link.
    A free visit to the African Penguin and Seabirds Sanctuary is also included. Dyer Island Cruises supports The Dyer Island Conservation Trust under which we have a number of conservation and community projects. Please be assured that Your choice makes a difference by booking with us and help to fulfil our dream to Discover & Protect.
    If you make use of our dedicated shuttle, we will stop in the beautiful Hermanus. Here you can explore the walkway and curio craft market or have a snack to eat, before heading back to Cape Town.
What's Included
  • Complimentary warm soup and bread post-tour
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off included
  • Expert guidance from a professional guide
  • Refreshments with coffee/tea and muffins upon arrival
  • Safety with inflatable life-jackets and wet weather gear provided
  • Complimentary access to African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary
  • Hydration with bottled water available
What's Not Included
  • Trip footage available for purchase after the trip
Additional Information

Our operations are based out of Gansbaai, near the globally acclaimed Dyer Island. Here your luck may allow you to witness the Marine Big 5 – including Southern Right Whales, Humpback and Bryde’s Whales, assorted sharks, the Cape fur seal (with a population of about 60,000 on Geyser Rock), the at-risk African Penguin, and various transient dolphin species. The region also serves as a habitat to a broad spectrum of seabirds.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Wheelchair accessible, we can accommodate 2 wheelchairs per trip. Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required.
  • Excellent crew - one crew member to look after 6-7 guests.
  • Please note that the Conservation Fee is compulsory.
  • This tour is 2 to 2.5 hours, excluding your travel and briefing time.
Location
Dyer Island Cruises
5 Geelbek Street,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(124 Ratings)
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Kimong_22
May 27, 2024
Top Class - Unbelievable experience and I'd highly recommend it. Great staff, excellent guides and trackers and just incredible to see the animals and birds in their natural environment.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ann_w
May 10, 2024
Seeing the whales - Seeing the whales, the seals and the 70,000 cormorants, plus the albatross, the stingray, the sharks. The staff were excellent.
Review provided by Viator
Ann_m
Feb 23, 2024
Had a great time saw... - Had a great time saw plenty of marine life and the guide and crew on board where excellent . nice buffett on return and driver to and from the plae was excellent a great day out
Review provided by Viator
Tobiassm1359zx
Feb 19, 2024
Take the trip! - Super good and exciting experience. We got to see all the Big five, even though it wasn't the season for whales, but the fantastic crew still found one, out in deeper water. Fantastic treatment and help when you get seasick or have questions or need to identify the animals. Can definitely be recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suddhasatwa_r
Jan 7, 2024
Grab this tour operators need to see shark very good chance you will spotted sharks - If you want see sharks take this tour operators 99 percent chance you can see sharks Really I remember this trip
Review provided by Viator
Madjimbayen
Nov 27, 2023
Awesome experience - Awesome trip and saw so much wildlife. The trip from Capetown was seamless and the driver was friendly. Excellent experience and a MUST do for anyone wanting to see marine life around Cape Town!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Enriquelr678
Apr 13, 2024
Marine Big 5 tour - - It was very well organized and even provided a weathercoat/raincoat which was very welcomed. - Fairly crowded on the boat. It wasn´t horrible but it was sometimes uncomfortable when suddenly a bunch of individuals crowded over to watch. That said, the crew did their best to distribute us. - We spent a third of the time chasing a bryde whale and once we managed to get a good view of it, we continue chasing it for a bit longer. On the one hand, not sure the whale would be very happy being chased non-stop. On the other hand, I reckon once we had the clear view we could´ve continued the trip trying to find new sea creatures. - The guide provided many interesting facts and the crew was nice and knowledgeable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jane_k
Feb 19, 2024
Long drive for OK experience - Let me start by saying it was a THREE hour drive from Capetown. The pick up was prompt and the van comfortable but it was a THREE hour drive from CapeTown. They offered muffins and coffee on arrival and pasta/cheese and salad for lunch. Staff was friendly and it was handled efficiently once we were there. Spent TWO hours on boat and saw penguins, many seabirds, seals, and several sharks that were chummed to the surface for shark cage boat while we looked on. Saw one hammer head shark off on her own near surface. We saw one whale in February- off season for them. No dolphins. Naturalist seemed knowledgeable but hard to hear. So OK trip but did I mention it was SIX hours in van? May have done it anyway but would be nice to be aware ahead of time
Review provided by Viator
Darek_tar_ie
Jan 7, 2024
Good trip to see Sea Lions and some penguins and few coper sharks - Experience was average. Well organised, but no dolphins or whales. It should be advertise more precisely. Like ... maybe you will be extremely lucky and you'll have a chance see a whale(s) or dolphins, but highly unlikely. Great white shark - no chance - twice every 10 year if you are working as staff.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrei_k
Dec 12, 2023
Waste of time - I book the trip and read the explanation. I expect that I will have amazing trip and day. However - it was not so good as i expect. It takes about 8-9 hours, however 5 of them was the road. We were picked up in Cape-Town and have 2,5 hour of transfer to the point. after that we have about 1,5 hours lecture about the penguins etc and only 2 hours of boat ride. It was nice. we see birds, penguins and seals. However - it was possible to have the same from Cape Town and do not loose 5 hours. I have been in Cape Town for 3 days and i does not expect that i will loose 5 hours for the road. The hospital of penguins was interesting but takes about 10 minutes.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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