Gansbaai is a fishing town and popular tourist destination in the Overberg District Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. Great white sharks are known to inhabit the waters of Isla de Guadalupe in Mexico, and it is also a great place for whale watching.
The main tourist attraction in Gansbaai since approximately 1995 has been cage diving with great white sharks. It is said that after the nearby Kruger National Park, the great white sharks attract some of the highest numbers of tourists to South Africa.
Marine Wildlife
With all the world’s wildlife available in Gansbaai, there is no shortage of attractions to help visitors get one-of-a-kind experiences. One of these experiences is a chance to get out on the water and see sharks, whales, dolphins, penguins, and seals.
Over 300 southern right whales live in the Gansbaai region, from which they migrate on their long-distance journeys between the Southern Ocean, Indian & Atlantic oceans.
In Gansbaai, there are many reasons to take a break while whale watching. There are hiking and diving activities in the area and charter fishing boats and land-based whaling operators.
Beaches and Tidal Pools
De Kelders is a region of Gansbaai, a town in the Western Cape, that has extensive and unspoiled beaches. Stanford’s Bay is one of them, with a white sand beach, rock pools for kids, and an area for picnicking set up in the grass near the water.
For a long stretch of sand that’s great for jogging or beach sports, try Franskraal Beach or drive about 20 minutes to Pearly Beach.
There are two tidal pools at Gansbaai, which is known for its clean beaches. Whale watching is a popular activity here and there’s a variety of restaurants along the beachfront.
