You’re familiar with the famous Big Five—the original top hunting trophies of South Africa that today are coveted safari photography prizes—but did you know there is also a Marine Big Five? These are the most sought-after sightings for safari-goers with an eye trained on the ocean off the Western Cape. The great white shark, Southern right whale, African penguin, Cape fur seal and dolphins (of various species) comprise this quintet, and they offer an exciting quest for nature travelers to complement the more familiar terrestrial Big Five. Marine life flourishes in this region due to the influence of two major ocean currents, providing an abundance of food and nutrients that creates a thriving ecosystem sometimes referred to as the Serengeti of the Seas. Your tour guide is Expedition Leader Russell Gerber, who leads this virtual offshore safari to introduce these charismatic sea dwellers. Learn about their natural history, reproduction, behavior and conservation status with your Cape Town host whose expertise as a marine biologist includes an 8-week research expedition to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean centered around South Africa’s research station at Marion Island.
Originally presented November 10, 2021
Traveler Resources
Get Weekly Updates
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more.
Together, Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to arrange nearly a hundred nature travel experiences around the planet, while helping to protect the magnificent places we visit and their wild inhabitants.
Get Weekly Updatess
Discover the World's Best
Nature Travel Experiences
Our weekly eNewsletter highlights new adventures, exclusive offers, webinars, nature news, travel ideas, photography tips and more. Sign up today!
Send Us a Message
Send Us a Message
Have a question or comment? Use the form to the right to get in touch with us.
Refer a Friend
Refer a Friend, Get $250 Off
Earn rewards for referring your friends! We'd like to thank our loyal travelers for spreading the word. Share your friend's address so we can send a catalog, and if your friend takes a trip as a first-time Nat Hab traveler, you'll receive a $250 Nat Hab credit you can use toward a future trip or the purchase of Nat Hab gear. To refer a friend, just complete the form below or call us at 800-543-8917. It's that easy! See rules and fine print here.
View Our 2023 Digital Catalog
View Our 2024/2025
Digital Catalog
Help us save paper! We offer a digital version of The World's Greatest Nature Journeys. If you'd prefer a mailed copy, please provide your contact details here. To view our digital catalog, please enter your info in the form to the right.