The sardine run
the
sardine run
The Sardine Run… The Greatest Shoal on Earth
The winter months along the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast are characterised by the annual Sardine Run, known as #TheGreatestShoalonEarth. When the waters are cool enough, visitors to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast are treated to a spectacle which is believed to be the planet’s greatest biomass migration, taking place just inshore.
Millions of the silver sardines move along the coastline, bringing with them a feeding frenzy that attracts all manner of marine species, including bigger game fish, dolphins, sharks, whales and overhead seabirds that torpedo themselves into the mass.
This is a must-see event that is entirely unique to the area, with activity tracked from the Wild Coast through to the North Coast.
The Sardine Run in South Africa is recognized as one of the world’s most spectacular marine events. Annually, from May to July, vast shoals of sardines migrate from their temperate-water home off South Africa’s southern coast and travel north-east into the sub-tropical coastal waters of the Wild Coast. Following the shoals is an unparalleled concentration of marine predators including seabirds; sharks; game fish and marine mammals.
the
greatest shoal on earth
When predators meet prey, a feeding event of unmatched proportions begins. Thousands of common dolphins charge after the shoals, separating them into densely packed bait balls and driving them to the surface. Watched by the omnipresent Cape gannets, an aerial assault on the sardines occurs when tens of thousands of gannets begin their spectacular plunge diving displays. Below the birds, the bait balls are easy pickings not only for dolphins, but also for shivers of bronze-whaler, dusky and blacktip sharks. The final player, is the behemoth Bryde’s whale. Its huge mouth can decimate an entire bait ball in a single lunge.
experience
marine life
There’s a constant presence of dolphins and whales in the warm waters of the South Coast that can be spotted from decks located in Ramsgate, Margate and Umtentweni. This allows for a perfect opportunity to pack a picnic basket and watch the sun set over our glorious coast.
From July to September whales navigate north to their breeding grounds off the Mozambique coast, allowing for the curious to spot them from our sandy coastal shores. This is until they return from September to November to fulfill their natural cravings for the nutrient-rich waters of Antarctica. The thrill of seeing such magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is a divine experience like no other that offers something truly special