Claudia Richardson is a Two Oceans Aquarium volunteer and secretary of the Volcom.

On Saturday 14 November at the crack of dawn, and not so much shining but anticipating a great day, we piled into two minibuses that were tasked with taking us to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) in Gansbaai. After much chatter and one emergency pit stop, we arrived safely.

Brenda du Toit and Shamima Brett of APSS welcomed us with a smile and a very welcome, “coffee and tea this way!”

Brenda gave a brief history of the sanctuary and their sponsors, while a video in the background told of the work they do.

Trudi Malan, the rehab advisor, gave us more information on the Dyer Island penguin colony and spoke of how they promote keeping African penguins in their natural environment as much as possible, and only remove birds in serious distress.

Thereafter, Trudi, Xolani Lawo and Mervin Visagie (both seabird rehabilitators), proudly showed us their fantastic facility.

The sanctuary makes clever use of modern technology. When speedy medical intervention is required for injured or sick birds, blood samples are taken, analysed and photographed before being emailed to the veterinarian in Hermanus. The vet can then make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment, which is to begin immediately. The procedure room is equipped with a live-streaming camera. This camera allows staff to project their activities, like cleaning oiled birds and tube feeding of dehydrated birds, to the visitors’ area.

We all signed the APSS visitors’ book before our departure to the Great White House restaurant, where we were treated to a very tasty lunch under Suzi, the southern right whale skeleton.

After lunch we made our way back to Cape Town via Gearings Point in Hermanus, for whale watching.

Unfortunately the weather did not favour our whale watching and we drove on to Stony Point in Betty's Bay to see African penguins. As we arrived we were greeted by a large group of moulting penguins sunning themselves on the launch area, and more as we made our way to the entrance gate. Some were frolicking in the water and others drying off after a recent swim. The Cape Nature guide filled us in on the 2 500-strong breeding pairs currently at Stony Point.

There were also dassies to be seen, fluffy darter chicks, as well as kelp gull chicks. The parents kept a beady eye on their broods.

We had to bid our feathered friends a hurried farewell, as time does not stand still and Msa (Maseko, Two Oceans Aquarium Floor Manager and Volunteer Coordinator) herded us back to the minibuses. Everyone was tired after a fantastic outing.

Thank you to all who made the outing possible, APSS and the Great White House restaurant, not forgetting our two drivers and our gaardjie (she knows who she is)!