Diary

New Elephant Seal arrival to Hout Bay Beach

Elephant seal hout bay, Animal Ocean, Seal Snorkeling, Cape Town
Barney on Hout Bay beach. Photographer: Unknown. The week before South Africa was recently put on lockdown, an unexpected arrival appeared in the waters around the Cape Peninsula… Images first emerged of what appeared to be a lone elephant seal at the famous V & A Waterfront in Cape Town during the evening of 19th March 2020. The… Read More
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BUFFEL returns for Summer

Buffel elephant seal
Buffel the Elephant Seal has returned to Duiker Island, Hout Bay. Our famous Cape Townian Southern Elephant seal, Buffel, has returned to Duiker Island. It's great to have him back in the area and we are seeing him daily on our snorkeling trips. He first arrived on Duiker Island on the 14 September this year and settled into his familiar patterns.… Read More
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Cape Fur Seal Pups fill the water

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Cape Fur Seal pups If you've ever imagined a field filled with puppie's and your the only one with a ball to throw for them.... that is what its like at Duiker Island at the moment, except there is water and the puppies are furry flippered seal pups, even better !!! These Cape Fur seal pups were only born in November last year and are now about 6… Read More
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Shysharks and Cape Fur Seals

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Cape Fur seals and Shysharks We often find Dark shysharks (Haploblepharus pictus) around Duiker Island, hiding in the kelp forest. This seemed unusual to me, as it is well know that Cape Fur seals eat most species of small sharks. This has been photographed by many and there are examples online (Chris Fallows). However we often see these small… Read More
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Playful Cape Fur Seals

Animal Ocean Cape Fur Seal Seal Snorkeling
Cape Fur Seals - Water Puppies Over the years we have really gotten to know the mood and behaviours of the Cape Fur Seals on Duiker Island, Hout Bay. They change constantly with the time of year and weather.   During the beginning of the season (September-December) the males are fighting for territory on the land and the heavily pregnant… Read More
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 Buffel – Fish Hoeks Celebrity Elephant Seal

Buffel Elephant Seal Fish Hoek Steven Benjamin Animal Ocean
Buffel - Fish Hoek's Celebrity Elephant Seal Buffel the Elephant Seal is still resting on Fish Hoek beach. It’s the 22nd day now of Buffel's moult and his old skin and fur are gone. A new darker skinned Buffel has been revealed (see past post).  At first the beach goers of Fish Hoek didn’t know what to make of him and flurry of people… Read More
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Southern Elephant seal Fish Hoek Beach, Cape Town

Elephant Seal Animal Ocean Seal Snorkeling
Elephant Seal Fish Hoek Beach It is such an honour to have such a special visitor to the False Bay. The Southern Elephant seal that is resting on Fish Hoek beach is well known and fast becoming a true Capetonian. The Southern Elephant seal, known as Buffel, by the researchers who tagged him has caused a bit of intrigue to the local beach goers. I… Read More
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