CAPE TOWN - The dream to see Africa's Big 5 is often fulfilled in South Africa, as many a traveller can attest at the end of their holidays in South Africa.
However, if you know where to go, you can now round off your pursuit of tourist attractions in South Africa by also watching a Southern Right Whale and a Great White Shark - even on the same day!
Gansbaai, the Great White Shark Capital of the world, is also home to the Big Marine Two. This is the only place where it is possible to see both the Southern Right Whale and the Great White Shark on the same day.
This is from a recent trip:
"All in one week we had the return of Nemo - our favourite little distorted finned female. A distinctive female with a hole in her dorsal fin from a satellite tag returned in the third week of May (last seen December 2008) and finally...the long awaited Slashfin!
"Slashfin arrived in Gansbaai in 2004 with a completely shredded dorsal fin. There are many theories as to how the damage occurred, boat propellers, or a bite from another shark are a couple of examples. Photos of lemon, basking sharks and raggies with similar scarring to Slashfin were confirmed to be the result of bites from other sharks.
"Slashfin is one of the most fascinating animals to enter Gansbaai each year and has become a real favourite amongst the shark boats. He has a certain area behind Geyser rock in which if he's picked up by a shark boat he will rush and circle and put on the most amazing behavioural displays..."
Read more here: http://www.kontrei.co.za/
Most whale watching takes place in Pearly Beach area, where one finds the highest concentration of Southern Right Whales. The Southern Right Whale come to these calm bays every year from June to December to either calve and nurse their young or to mate.
With a special permit the trip operator can approach the whales from up to 50 meters. Curious whales will come right to the boat.
More about Southern Whale watching and whale facts here: http://www.kontrei.co.za/




