Marine Wildlife Sightings on Our Ocean Safaris in Cape Town

Marine Wildlife Sightings on Our Ocean Safaris in Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most spectacular marine wildlife destinations in the world. At Animal Ocean Ocean Safaris, we head out from Hout Bay into the cold, rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean, where currents, nutrients, and geography combine to bring an astonishing variety of species close to shore. Some encounters are practically guaranteed, while others are seasonal visitors or rare surprises. Every safari is different — and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.

Regular Sightings – The Wildlife We Count On

Cape Fur Seals

Duiker Island is home to thousands of Cape fur seals, and they are the most reliable sighting on every safari. They’re endlessly entertaining: leaping through the waves, lazing on the rocks, and — in November and December — busy with the chaos of mating season. By April and May, the new pups are big enough to explore, tumbling in the surf and playing in the shallows.

Southern Elephant Seal

For over a decade, a giant southern elephant seal we call Buffel has been visiting Duiker Island. He usually arrives between September and December to rest, interact with the fur seals, and haul out on the rocks. At several tons in weight, he’s one of the most impressive animals we encounter.

Heaviside’s Dolphins

These small, striking dolphins are endemic to southern Africa, meaning you won’t see them anywhere else in the world. They’re a regular highlight in Hout Bay, where they play in the surf and ride the waves in the shallows. Their acrobatics and curiosity make them guest favourites.

Seabirds Around the Bay

The cliffs and harbour support a variety of coastal birds: Cape cormorants, white-breasted cormorants, little egrets, grey herons, and the striking African oystercatcher. Offshore, we frequently see sandwich, swift and common terns darting across the water in search of baitfish.

Pelagic Birds Offshore

Heading further out brings encounters with true ocean wanderers: white-chinned petrels, giant petrel, sooty shearwater, and Wilson’s storm petrels. These birds follow the wind and swells, and often lead us to action on the water.

Dark Shysharks in the Kelp Forest

When we slip beneath the surface into Cape Town’s kelp forests, we often encounter dark shysharks (Haploblepharus pictus). These small, bottom-dwelling catsharks curl into a defensive circle when approached — hence their name. They’re common residents of the kelp forest ecosystem and a fascinating addition to our regular underwater sightings.

Seasonal Visitors – Whales and Dolphins

Humpback Whales

From October through February, humpback whales migrate through Cape Town’s waters in large numbers. On some days, we encounter hundreds feeding offshore — an awe-inspiring spectacle of breaching, tail-slapping, and coordinated hunting.

Southern Right Whales

Less frequent than humpbacks but just as magnificent, southern right whales can be seen along the Cape coast during their breeding season.

Common and Dusky Dolphins

These dolphins arrive in smaller groups, often travelling with seabirds. Their speed and synchronised movements make them an exciting addition to the day’s sightings.

Rare and Unexpected Encounters

Not every safari brings rarities, but when they appear, they’re unforgettable.

• Leatherback Turtle – A surprising visitor, these giants of the sea are seldom seen in Cape waters.

• Cape Clawless Otter – Exceptionally shy, but one has even surfaced alongside a snorkeler during a trip.

• Risso’s Dolphins – A pelagic species that rarely comes close to shore, yet we’ve witnessed hundreds moving through the bay.

• Basking Shark & Killer Whales (Orca) – Both recorded on past safaris, adding real excitement to our species list.

• Other Rarities – Pygmy sperm whales in the harbour, a stranded whale shark nearby, yellow-bellied sea snakes, devil rays, distressed congregations of sunfish, and even a giant kingklip floating at the surface.

Cape Clawless Otter

The Marine Megafauna of Cape Town

To summarise, the larger marine species we regularly see on Animal Ocean Ocean Safaris include:

• Cape fur seal

• Southern elephant seal

• Heaviside’s dolphin

• Common dolphin

• Dusky dolphin

• Southern right whale

• Humpback whale

• Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)

Sunfish and Freediver

Why Cape Town’s Ocean Safaris Are Special

Although Cape Town is a busy city, it juts out into the Atlantic Ocean — a true crossroads for marine life. Every day brings the possibility of something new, from the reliable charm of the seals to the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of spotting killer whales. At Animal Ocean, we keep detailed notes of every sighting, building a living species list that grows with every season.

When you step onto our boat, you’re not just taking a cruise — you’re stepping into one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet, where surprises are always possible.

A Note on Whale Watching

Our Ocean Safaris are not whale-watching trips. We don’t chase whales, and we strictly adhere to South African whale-watching regulations. When whales appear on our route, we enjoy them respectfully from a legal distance. If your primary goal is dedicated whale watching, we recommend booking with a licensed operator to get you closer.