Gansbaai, Afrikaans for "bay of geese," is a fishing village in the Overberg District and a popular tourist attraction in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is best known for its huge population of Great White Sharks and as one of the best whale-watching locations.
Due to its isolation and lack of communication with the rest of South Africa and the rest of the world, up until the late 20th century, Gansbaai was known only as a prehistoric fishing village. Its economy received a major boost during World War II, when a small factory was built to process sharks livers for Vitamin A and lubricant. This was short lived however, as after the war; demand fell and their years of success were over. Today tourism plays a large part in Gansbaai’s economy.
Gansbaai accommodation offers you the opportunity to experience the Great White Shark capital of the world, which is often bustling with National Geographic Society film crews and researchers from around the globe. For that to do list and an exciting afternoon spent, shark cage diving is what Gansbaai is famous for.
It has also become a popular whale-watching spot for the Southern Right Whale, which can be seen in large numbers while on a boat with a knowledgeable skipper and proves to be a phenomenal experience. They can also be viewed from the beach, a few metres off the shore. The whales move to the Gansbaai coastline from July to mate, calve and nurse their young. Along with these magnificent creatures, the coast line is also home to thousands of Cape Fur seals and African penguins as well as numerous other birds.
Gansbaai accommodation brings you that much closer to the remarkable Cape Floral Kingdom, a premier destination for the nature lover. Rare plants can be found in abundance as well as the infamous fynbos-plantations. For the archeologist, one of the world’s earliest remains of modern man, dating 80 000 years back, have been found in caves along the shore. On the beach this cove is a fresh water fountain.
Gansbaai is not just a visit, it is an adventure!