Marine Big 5 Safari: Experience Wildlife at Dyer Island from Cape Town
4.4
123 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
(123 Ratings)
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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
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
Deepbluesky1
Nov 9, 2023
A trip one should not miss - The group tour was very well organised. I was picked up early in the morning and brought back to my accommodation. Before we're boarded the boat, we received enough information about what to expect as well as the conservation work that the Dyer Island Conservation is doing. Throughout the boat trip, a biologist enlightened us about the whales, sharks, penguins and seals. Due to bad weather, we couldn't stay long enough in the sea to see dolphins. But that's understandable. They provided a small breakfast, muffins and tea, and after the windy boat trip we got a much appreciated hot soup and tea. All in all I could recommend this tour. They really paid attention to details to our satisfaction.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah
Nov 4, 2023
Well worth doing - This was an amazing experience. Though we had a really early start the day did not disappoint. We saw whales, bronze sharks, seals & penguins. We also had a trip to the penguin sanctuary which was informative. I would recommend this trip but just note not all animal sightings are guaranteed. The dolphins were not around this time of year but the other sightings made up for it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellewt9060qx
Oct 30, 2023
Amazing experience. - This was an amazing tip and we had several large whales come right up to the ship and stay there for over 10 minutes! Definitely the tour to choose. The boat is smaller so it only holds around 25 people. This was great because it wasn't so crowded and you got an amazing view right at the rails of the boat. The captain was very respectful of the whales so it didn't seem as though they were bothered or harmed in any way. It was their choice to approach the boat. What a wonderful experience. Book this tour!
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
Sabine_h
Nov 5, 2023
Nice trip with much sea life - Was a nice boat trip with a rough sea. We saw some whales, penguins, sharks and seals. Sadly they didn't even searched for dolphins. I made already such trips before, and there was more effort in searching. But the people was really nice and welcoming and the trip is worth to sea some sea life.
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
May 2024
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