Marine Big 5 Safari with transport from Hermanus
Description
We operate from Gansbaai around the world-famous Dyer Island where you might be so fortunate to see the Marine Big 5 – the Southern Right Whale/Humpback/Bryde’s Whales, various shark species, the Cape fur seal (around 60 000 on Geyser Rock), the endangered African Penguin and various visiting dolphin species. The area is also home to a wide variety of seabirds.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
The African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) serves as a custom-designed, world class, marine bird rehabilitation centre in the Overstrand area. We provide temporary rehabilitative care to diseased, displaced, injured, oiled and abandoned marine birds with special focus on the endangered African Penguin. Marine bird rescue, rehabilitation and release form part of the conservation management plan to conserve and maintain African Penguin populations, and other seabirds. Through continued research, education and awareness programmes, we aim to mitigate human impacts on our colonies
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please wait for us outside or at the front door of your accommodation. The exact pick-up time will be confirmed 24hours prior to the pick-up. Please note that the tour departure time you select is not your pick-up time, but the actual time the boat leaves.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Reviews(83)
On August 3rd, we visited the facilities at Maryne Dynamics to enjoy the Marine Big 5 Tour. We traveled from Spain to Hermanus specifically for this tour, and we were very disappointed. After the tour, we tried speaking to the people in charge, but were told we had to send an email, we all know where those emails end up. We did get a reply by e-mail, but naturally, there was no compensation; they don't care since they’ve already got our money. Their website states that if conditions aren't suitable for a good trip, the customer gets a refund. In their email, they claimed the sea wasn't rough, but they failed to address the fact that there was extremely heavy fog, making it impossible to spot any marine life. Out of the three-hour tour, there was only half an hour without fog; the rest of the time, we saw nothing. They claim to post photos from the tour on their blog every day; that day, they posted photos that clearly didn't reflect our actual experience. There were photos of whales looking as if they were right next to us, whereas we saw the whales meters and meters away. They say boats aren't allowed to get that close, but then don't post such close-up photos, because it creates unrealistic expectations. It’s completely misleading. I’m attaching a video to provide a visual element to my review so you can see part of how this company misleads people. I do not recommend taking any tour with them. They create unrealistic expectations and will never cancel a tour, even if the weather is bad and the experience is ruined because it’s not in their interest. They insist the sea wasn't rough, but in my opinion, heavy fog isn't ideal weather for this kind of tour either; after all, you go to enjoy marine wildlife, not a scene from a horror movie.
Good day. We are sorry that the conditions on 3 August left you disappointed. We do, however, need to clarify several points in this review. Our skipper assessed the conditions at the time and determined that it was safe to operate. Fog and mist at sea can change very quickly. They can move in, clear and return, which is very different from a fixed weather condition that can be predicted for the full duration of a trip. On this departure, the skipper also moved further out, beyond the fog and in an effort to give guests better viewing opportunities. The suggestion that no marine life could be seen is also not consistent with the feedback from other guests on the same tour (3 August). Guests described had positive feedback about this tour, specifically mentioning the Humpback whales and the animals they saw. Another guest described it as a nice tour with good information, while also saying that the mist and cold were unfortunate. We believe that is a fair reflection of the conditions: the mist affected visibility, but wildlife was encountered. We also want to clarify the photographs published on our daily blog. The photographs from 3 August were not taken from another tour. They were taken on that day's departures, including photographs by Sandra and Sonja. Wildlife photography can show an animal appearing much closer than it was to the vessel, particularly when using longer lenses. Our vessels must also comply with South African whale-watching regulations and cannot simply approach whales closer than 50m to improve a photograph or viewing opportunity. Whales can however decide to approach the vessel, which is allowed, but not always the case. The daily blog is available via this link: https://www.whalewatchsa.com/whale-tours-news/marine-big-5-daily-blog-03-august-4/ Our daily blog is intended to document the wildlife encountered that day, not to suggest that every guest saw every animal at the same distance or under identical visibility conditions. Wildlife watching is inherently variable, and conditions can differ considerably even during the same departure. Finally, the suggestion that we “never cancel” because guests have already paid is simply not correct. The safety of our guests, crew and the wildlife comes first. When conditions are unsuitable for safe operation, our tours do not go out. On 3 August, after assessing the conditions, the skipper determined that the tour could safely operate. We fully accept that the experience did not meet your expectations. We cannot, however, accept the suggestion that the tour was misleading, that the photographs were from another trip, or that our decision to operate was made for financial reasons. Our team made a professional assessment of the conditions, followed the regulations governing responsible whale watching and made every effort to give the guests the best wildlife experience possible on the day.
I had the best experience ever was the best tour i ever did thank you marine dynamics the staff and everybody that works there are super nice special shout out to Zile thank you so much for the opportunity for me and my son..
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your son had such a special time with us. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Zile – she'll be delighted to know she helped make your experience even more memorable. We hope to welcome you both back to Gansbaai again soon!
100% perfect experience. Very professional. Highly-recommended. Thanks to Go2Africa for booking us with the best!
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a 100% perfect Marine Big 5 Safari experience and that our team delivered a professional and memorable trip for you. It means a lot to know you’d highly recommend us. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to the crew and partners involved. We hope to welcome you back aboard Marine Dynamics Whale Tours on the ocean in the future!
We thoroughly enjoyed our marine 5 boat sea safari with Marine Dynamics. From the moment of reaching out to make the booking, through to the boat trip & return transport, everything was well organised with good communication. Pick up and drop back at the hotel was provided by a clean, air conditioned van with safe driver. The sea safari was thoroughly enjoyable with plenty of space for everyone to see the animals from the boat. We were lucky enough to see a bryde’s whale, dolphins, penguin and cape fur seals. We’d definitely recommend buying the optional drone video after your trip, we found it well worth it especially as it showed the size of the whale vs the boat. It’s will be a great way to treasure these memories. Thanks again to Marind Dynamics and all their amazing staff
Dear Jenny, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review and for sharing your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Marine Big 5 safari from start to finish, and that the booking process, transport, and communication all met your expectations. It’s great to know you felt comfortable with the transfers and had plenty of space on board to fully enjoy the sightings. Seeing a Bryde’s whale, along with dolphins, penguins, and Cape fur seals, is always a special combination. What a fantastic day on the water! We’re also so pleased you enjoyed the drone video; it's a unique way to relive those moments and appreciate the scale of these incredible animals. Thank you again for your kind recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another memorable ocean adventure. Warm regards, The Marine Dynamics Whale Tours Team
Well organised trip , good pickup from the hotel. The penguin sanctuary is smaller than expected and only a brief stop off but their work is interesting. The highlights of our safari was seeing sharks and dolphins. U fortunately we did not see whales , but we were out of season. Food provided was a bowl of soup, not great but given we did not expect anything quite acceptable. The staff were knowledgeable and informative
Very organised team and great service. Good at explain and wonderful experience. A good team that makes you feel comfortable. Always ready to serve
Thank you so much, Timothy, for taking the time to share your 4-star review with us. We’re delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience on our Marine Big 5 Safari and that our team’s organisation, service, and clear explanations made you feel comfortable throughout the trip. Creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for our guests is something we truly value. Your kind feedback means a great deal to our crew, and we appreciate you choosing Marine Dynamics. We hope to welcome you back again in the future for another memorable ocean adventure. Warm regards, The Marine Dynamics Team
A fantastic day out from start to finish. Communication was excellent and the warm, friendly reception set the tone right away. The team is very well informed and clearly passionate about what they do. Everything was well organised, and they really made an effort to search for wildlife rather than just going through the motions. We were lucky enough to see penguins, sharks, whales and seals, which made the experience even more special. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, educational and memorable marine experience in Gansbaai.
Dear Chris, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review and for taking the time to share your experience with us .🐋 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed a well-organised and memorable Marine Big 5 Safari, and that our team’s passion, knowledge, and warm reception made a positive impression from the start. It’s always our goal to genuinely search for wildlife and create meaningful, educational experiences rather than simply going through the motions, so your feedback truly means a lot to us. How special to have seen penguins, sharks, whales, and seals all in one day; those are the moments that make each trip unique and unforgettable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Gansbaai again in the future for another incredible marine adventure. Warm regards, The Marine Dynamics Team
The trip to see the whales was a great experience and highly recommended, the operator made the trip run smoothly and enjoyable, we sailed to see some shark cage diving as a starter, where you could see the sharks going to the cages where people where excitedly waiting for the shark encounter, and they and we, were not disappointed, we then proceeded to see a South African penguin colony and also a seal colony, before we encountered the famous Souther Right whales, with a mother and her calf being the star attractions, and we had plenty of time to observe them playing near to our boat, and fantastic experience, enhanced by the helpful crew who always pointed out where the whales would be and gave us interesting facts along the way.
Thank you so much, Johntav1, for your wonderful 5-star review and recommendation! We’re thrilled to hear that your Marine Big 5 Safari from Hermanus was such a smooth, enjoyable and memorable experience. It sounds like you had an incredible day — from watching the excitement around the shark cage diving, to visiting the African penguin and seal colonies, and of course spending time with the Southern Right whale mother and her calf. Those special moments near the boat are truly unforgettable. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another adventure. The Marine Dynamics Team
Superb experience. Picked up from our hotel in a comfortable bus by excellent driver and taken to Gansbaai. Coffee and cake followed by a superb boat trip. Southern Right whale mother and calf spotted. Bronze whaler shaft and seals and penguins galore. Safety on boat excellent and guide very knowledgeable. The conservation work being done by the company is inspirational. Lovely soup and roll served on return which was unexpected. Very clean rest rooms. The driver kindly stopped in at the penguin sanctuary on the way back. 100% recommend this tour.
Hi kwcannons, Thank you so much for your fantastic 5-star review! 🌊🐋 We’re thrilled to hear that your Marine Big 5 Safari was such a superb experience from start to finish. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the comfortable transport, warm welcome, and of course the incredible sightings — from Southern Right whale mom and calf to bronze whalers, seals, and penguins. Our team is passionate about safety, guiding, and conservation, so your appreciation truly means a lot. We’re glad the visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary and the soup on your return were pleasant surprises! Thank you for the heartfelt recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable marine adventure. — The Marine Dynamics Team
Professional well run trip - friendly guides. Saw everything promised - whales sharks penguins seals over a trip of slighly less than 3 hours. Big seas and swell but excellent skipper with good safety on board. Close viewing to all the animals/birds. Plenty of tme to enjoy the baby whale breaching - no sense of urgency or having to keep to schedule. Comfort food snacks before and after
Hi 8jacquil, Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review! We’re delighted to hear that your Marine Big 5 experience exceeded expectations. Our team takes great pride in offering professional, friendly guiding and creating memorable moments — and it’s fantastic to know you enjoyed close-up sightings of whales, sharks, penguins, and seals. We’re especially happy that you felt safe and well taken care of in the bigger seas, and that you had plenty of time to enjoy the baby whale breaching. Moments like those are truly special! Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future. — The Marine Dynamics Team
