Cape Town’s vibrant marine life and stunning coastal landscapes have long been a draw for ocean lovers. Since 2016, Animal Ocean offered award-winning seal snorkeling adventures, giving people an unforgettable glimpse into the underwater world. But with recent discoveries of rabies in the Cape Fur Seal population, they’ve had to shift gears in an exciting new direction. Enter the Ocean Safari—a fresh, immersive way to explore the wonders of the Cape’s oceans. We sat down with Animal Ocean’s founder to learn more about the challenges they’ve faced, the birth of the Ocean Safari, and what this unique marine adventure has in store for explorers.
There have been some big changes at Animal Ocean. What's been happening?
Yes, big changes indeed. Rabies has been discovered in the Cape Fur Seal population, which dealt a major blow to our previous offering. For 15 years, we built an award-winning seal snorkeling business, but with increasing seal attacks—before rabies was even identified—we felt it was no longer safe to continue. Once the rabies threat was confirmed, we made the tough decision to stop offering seal snorkeling and had to find a new way to share the wonders of Cape Town’s oceans with the public.
What is an Ocean Safari?
Since we had to move away from seal snorkeling, we created the Ocean Safari—a sea-based adventure inspired by traditional wildlife safaris. It's about heading out with an expert marine guide to explore and learn about the ocean’s wildlife and landscape. The trip is both above and below the water, with snorkeling included, allowing you to experience the rich marine life and dramatic scenery of Table Mountain National Park from the water.
What are the highlights we might encounter on an Ocean Safari?
The trip offers incredible views of Chapman’s Peak, with its world-renowned cliffs, and the back of Table Mountain, including the Twelve Apostles. Marine life sightings can include Heaviside and common dolphins, sunfish, African penguins, Southern Right and Humpback whales, and three Cape Fur seal colonies. We also explore the kelp forests, which were highlighted in the popular Netflix film My Octopus Teacher. It’s an immersive way to experience the marine biodiversity of the region.
What makes this more than just a boat ride?
This isn’t your typical boat ride. We’re not rushing to fish or watch a sunset—we’re out to investigate and learn. With a skipper and marine expert onboard, we take our time, observing marine life closely. We also have a special “safari table” where we can bring small marine specimens onboard for brief, educational examinations. It’s like a safari on the water, providing the same in-depth exploration you’d get on a land safari, but on the ocean.
What are you most excited about for the future of Animal Ocean?
I’m most excited about diving deeper into Cape Town’s marine ecosystems. This new experience allows us to explore a wider variety of creatures and habitats—from the open ocean to the kelp forests, to bird life. It’s a richer, more educational adventure than we’ve ever offered, and I think people will love how it allows them to truly explore Cape Town’s unique marine life.
Yorumlar