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Wild Coast, South Africa · Every June–July
The Sardine Run
The greatest shoal on Earth, and every predator it draws.
When
June–July
Every year · the winter run
Where
Wild Coast, SA
Off the Eastern Cape
Who
Small group
Plus Dani & expert skippers
In the water
Snorkel & dive
Fast, wild, unforgettable
A migration like no other
Billions of sardines, and the ocean comes alive
Each winter, cold currents push vast shoals of sardines north along South Africa’s Wild Coast, a migration so big it’s often called the greatest shoal on Earth. Where the sardines go, everything follows.
Common dolphins herd the fish into glittering bait balls; gannets dive like spears from above; sharks, whales and seals tear through the chaos. You’re right there in the water as it unfolds, heart pounding, surrounded by life.
The cast of the run
Who you’ll meet in the water
Common dolphins
Thousands strong, working together to corral the bait balls.
Cape gannets
Diving from the sky in their hundreds, piercing the surface around you.
Sharks
Bronze whalers and duskies cutting through the shoal in the action.
Whales
Brydes and humpbacks join the feast, sometimes lunging through the bait.
How the days run
We follow the birds
The run is wild and unscripted, no two days are alike. We head out with expert local skippers and spotter planes, letting the diving gannets and feeding birds show us where the ocean is coming alive, then slip in quietly when the moment is right.
It’s exhilarating, but always unhurried and on the animals’ terms. As a marine biologist I’ll help you understand the behaviour unfolding around you, and capture it so you can stay in the moment.
Join the run
Be in the water for the greatest shoal on Earth
Tell me which winter you’re dreaming of and I’ll share dates and everything you need to know.
Wild Mermaid
Intimate ocean expeditions · Sardine Run, every June–July