Gansbaai & Dyer Island

For anyone wanting to get in the water and discover more about great white sharks, Gansbaai is the world capital of these fabulous creatures, and Dyer Island presents one of the best places in the world to see them.

Located on the Western Cape, two hours drive from Cape Town, the fishing town of Gansbaai is a popular tourist destination renowned for observing sharks and whales. Across the peninsula the small village of Kleinbaai, with its natural harbour, is the departing point for boat trips to observe these iconic creatures in their natural habitat.

Dyer Island is the largest of a group of islands eight kilometres from the mainland. Uninhabited, it's home to a population of African penguins. Nearby, a colony of 50,000+ Cape fur seals reside on Geyser Rock and the shallow channel between these is known as Shark Alley, a hotspot for great white shark encounters.

Great white sharks are protected in South Africa and local communities are heavily involved in marine research, conservation and education projects also covering whales, seals, dolphins, penguins and other marine bird species. Further information can be found locally at the Great White House in Kleinbaai.

From June to December, the waters are home to the southern right whale when the coastline becomes the breeding area for these giants of the oceans. Gansbaai is also located at the heart of the Fynbos Biome, the smallest, and richest, floral kingdom in the world. Stay a night or two at one of a selection of excellent of guesthouses to enjoy this area also popular with nature lovers and hikers.