Gansbaai is the World Capital of the Great White Shark, with Dyer Island presenting the best place in the World to discover, observe and dive with these elusive and wonderful animals. From June through December, Gansbaai becomes Home to the Southern Right Whale. This coastline and the many bays then become the breeding area for these giants of the Oceans.Gansbaai is also located at the Heart of the Fynbos Biome, the smallest Floral Kingdom in the world but also the richest. Our rich and scenic region includes the small towns of De Kelders, Perlemoenbaai,Kleinbaai, Franskraal, Pearly Beach and Dyer Island and Geyser Rock

The World capital of the Great White Shark
Fantastic land based whale watching
Geographical location

Gansbaai nestles at the foot of Duyenefontein Mountains, and boasts a beautiful coastline with magnificent "Fynbos" vegetation. In 1881, one Johannes Cornelis Wessels, an 18 year old fisherman, walked all the way across the dunes from Standford to the now Gansbaai.(named after a colony of Egyptian geese that used to nest in the area) Fishing was so good that he decided to settle here in a hut he made from stone, daub and reeds. Soon other families followed and built primitive dwellings amoung the dunes close to the sea. Along with the fishing industry, Gansbaai has grown into a charming village and holiday resort. It has primary school, churches of various denominations and shops to provide for every need. Fishmongers are stocked with fresh catches daily. Gansbaai is a popular holiday resort for boating and fishing enthusiasts and whale watchers. Dyer Island near Gansbaai is a breeding colony for jackass penquins while seals breed on nearby Geyser Island.A warder, stationed on Dyer Island, protects the birds breeding there. A number of these are endemic species, such as  the Oyster Catcher and  the Swift Tern. There is a narrow channel in the sea between Geyser Rock and Dyer Island which is home to up to 60 000 Cape Fur Seals.The sea around these islands have become the feeding ground of the endangered great white shark and regular shark safaris are undertaken from Gansbaai. Since the area around Dyer Island has been declared a nature reserve, boats may only enter this area with a permit given by the Department of Nature Conservation