One Year of Animal Ocean Safari - Animal Ocean Safari's

It’s hard to believe, but Animal Ocean Safari has just completed its first full season.

A year ago, in May, we were faced with one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make—shutting down our incredibly successful seal snorkeling operation due to confirmed rabies in Cape Fur Seals. At the time, the aggression from the seals had escalated so much that the end of the season came with a strange sense of relief.

Traditionally, June to August is our quiet period—cold water, big swell, and fewer guests. But when we got the news in May, we made the swift and painful call to close the business. I’ve written about that moment before—about the trauma and uncertainty it brought. But this post is about what’s happened since.

By November, we had secured a new rental space. By the 1st of December, we were operating from it—building, adapting, and shaping a whole new offering: Animal Ocean Safari. We mapped out our routes, refined them in every condition, and started discovering new snorkel spots. We learned when and where to go, how to read the ocean again from scratch, and what wildlife to expect—from the predictable to the rare and incredible.

What Did We See?

We’ve kept detailed records of every trip, and the sightings speak for themselves:

59% of our trips featured dolphins—with Heaviside’s being the most common, followed by Common and Dusky Dolphins.

24% of trips included Mola Mola (Sunfish).

21% of trips included whales.

Buffle, the Southern Elephant Seal, showed up on 29% of our safaris.

Only 3% of trips included a seal showing signs possibly related to rabies—an important stat we’re watching closely.

We had one-off sightings of Leatherback Turtle, Cape Clawless Otter, Kingklip, and Yellowtail.

Seabird highlights included both regulars and rarities: Cape Gannets, Muttonbirds, Black-necked Grebe, Giant Petrel, Sabine’s Gull, Grey Heron, and Little Egret.

The wildlife diversity was—and continues to be—remarkable.

Building It All from Scratch

Our crew came back on a freelance basis and got stuck in from day one. We made key additions, built a new logistical base in Constantia, and transformed our boat—no longer geared to scuba diving, but reimagined for fast-paced ocean exploration.

We ripped out the stainless steel roll bars, fibreglassed new hatches, opened up deck space, and adapted every feature for flexibility. At the same time, we sorted out the small but important things: floor coverings, shaded areas, wet gear zones, branded kit, informative posters, better storage, and a whole new look and feel to our space.

We trained the team on how to interpret and communicate what we see—from dolphins to penguins to kelp. How to handle first-time ocean-goers. How to guide people through excitement, nerves, or wonder.

Rebuilding the Vision

Behind the scenes, I focused on rebuilding the brand: new messaging, better website design, more engaging content, and sharpening the overall look and feel of what we do. I’ve really enjoyed this part—filming, editing, posting, sharing. It’s storytelling with a purpose.

What Makes Us Different

One of the key things that sets Animal Ocean Safari apart from any other offering along the coastline is our commitment to getting people off the boat and into the ocean—with purpose, safety, and meaning.

We don’t just cruise and observe from a distance. Our trips include guided snorkeling, led by passionate, knowledgeable crew who help guests truly connect with the marine world. Whether it’s drifting through a kelp forest, snorkeling beside seals or penguins, or simply floating in open water with Mola Mola or dolphins nearby, this is a hands-on, immersive experience.

We have the gear, the training, and the time to explore properly. We’re not rushing between stops or ticking off sightings—we're creating space to observe behaviour, learn in real-time, and dive deeper (literally) into the environment. That kind of freedom—to explore, learn, and engage with the ocean—is rare. And it’s this combination of informative guiding, time in the water, and wildlife focus that truly puts our ocean safaris in a category of their own.

We don’t replicate what already exists—we strive to create experiences that don’t.

Where We Are Now

A season in, it feels like we’re not just back—we’re better.

We’re offering something more in line with the original idea behind Animal Ocean: real experiences, wild moments, and meaningful encounters with Cape Town’s incredible marine life.

We're still proudly ranked #1 on TripAdvisor for water sports in Cape Town, and more importantly, we’re getting heartfelt feedback and returning guests who’ve truly connected with the ocean through us.

A massive thank you to the team who helped make this happen—not just showing up but bringing energy, creativity, and real passion into the mix. Lara-hailey Caine, Samantha Sivewright, Danny Jegels, Libby Richardson, Jesse Hearne, Dani Minutelli Joanne Conradie, Jaime Augoustides, Rob Caine, Jayde McDonald, Connor Price, Kate Blomerus, and many more (who I can't find on FB do forgive me). This wouldn’t exist without you.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome more photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

The diversity of photographic opportunities out there is massive—and still largely untapped. Whether you’re an amateur or a serious shooter, this is a frontier that hasn’t been fully explored yet.

We also believe this product will find a solid place in the greater safari industry. It’s the perfect ocean extension to a land-based safari—raw, real, and sensory. Guests come to sea with a safari mindset: curious, present, and excited to see what nature delivers.

There’s still more to improve, more to create, and more to share. But we’re pacing ourselves—growing slowly and purposefully, without overreaching. And we’re loving every second of it.

Thanks for reading—and for being part of this journey.