THE SARDINE RUN
the 'greatest shoal on earth'
An incredible natural phenomenon that normally occurs between mid-June and mid-July. Video here.
Hundreds of millions of sardines migrate close to the coast in pockets forming a superschool 15 kilometres long over several hundred kilometres of coastline from Port St. John’s to Durban. The shoal is preceded by small pockets following the cooler waters that brush the beaches at this time of year and attracts tens of thousands of dolphins and sharks, sea birds and humpback whales. Daily life stops immediately when a school comes close to a beach and everyone drops what they were doing and runs to the beach to catch what they can with nets, buckets and even in their t-shirts. Out on a RIB or on the beach it’s an amazing spectacle. The best way to experience this is to spend five days going out hunting bait balls in a Zodiac, dive gear at the ready.
Hundreds of millions of sardines migrate close to the coast in pockets forming a superschool 15 kilometres long over several hundred kilometres of coastline from Port St. John’s to Durban. The shoal is preceded by small pockets following the cooler waters that brush the beaches at this time of year and attracts tens of thousands of dolphins and sharks, sea birds and humpback whales. Daily life stops immediately when a school comes close to a beach and everyone drops what they were doing and runs to the beach to catch what they can with nets, buckets and even in their t-shirts. Out on a RIB or on the beach it’s an amazing spectacle. The best way to experience this is to spend five days going out hunting bait balls in a Zodiac, dive gear at the ready.
2025 sardine run trips
1. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, Chintsa, ZAR 45,950, approx. USD 2,300
Start either 25th May or 8th June
7 nights and 5 days on the water with one spare day for Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve big five wildlife viewing. Located at Buccaneers' Lodge, Chintsa, 45 km north of East London, runs Sunday to Sunday. Beach launch, no other centres launch from here. Includes transfers from East London airport. After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Itinerary here
Start either 25th May or 8th June
7 nights and 5 days on the water with one spare day for Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve big five wildlife viewing. Located at Buccaneers' Lodge, Chintsa, 45 km north of East London, runs Sunday to Sunday. Beach launch, no other centres launch from here. Includes transfers from East London airport. After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Itinerary here
2. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, at Wavecrest, 1st to 29th June
Per person sharing: 54,900 ZAR, approximately $3175 USD
Single supplement add 4100 ZAR, approximately $235 USD
7 nights and 6 days on the water. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Located at Wavecrest, 2 hours north of East London, with exclusive use on a river running into a wide bay for easy launches. Includes transfers from East London airport. After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Starts every Sunday from 1st June to 29th June. Itinerary here
Per person sharing: 54,900 ZAR, approximately $3175 USD
Single supplement add 4100 ZAR, approximately $235 USD
7 nights and 6 days on the water. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Located at Wavecrest, 2 hours north of East London, with exclusive use on a river running into a wide bay for easy launches. Includes transfers from East London airport. After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Starts every Sunday from 1st June to 29th June. Itinerary here
3. 9-day, 8-night Sardine Run, Aliwal Shoal and Port St John Package - from 3250 EUR, approximately 3,650 USD
Starts on 110h June, last day is 26th July
2 Night's Accommodation Blue Ocean Dive Resort, 6 Night's Accommodation Spotted Grunter Resort, Breakfast &
Dinners, 2 Reef Dives on Aliwal Shoal, 5 Sardine Run Boat Days, Boat Lunches on Sardine Run, Weights & Cylinder
(12/15L), Nitrox, Return Airport Transfers, Transfer from Blue Ocean to Port St Johns. Itinerary here
4. 13-day, 12-night Sardine Run, Aliwal Shoal and Port St John Package - from 5150 EUR, approximately 5,775 USD
Starts on 10th June, last day is 26th July .
2 Night's Accommodation-Blue Ocean Dive Resort, 10 Night's Accommodation Spotted Grunter Resort, Breakfast & Dinners, 2 Reef Dives on Aliwal Shoal, 9 Sardine Run Boat Days, Boat Lunches on Sardine Run, Weights & Cylinder(12/15L), Nitrox, Return Airport Transfers and Transfer from Blue Ocean to Port St Johns. Itinerary here
Starts on 110h June, last day is 26th July
2 Night's Accommodation Blue Ocean Dive Resort, 6 Night's Accommodation Spotted Grunter Resort, Breakfast &
Dinners, 2 Reef Dives on Aliwal Shoal, 5 Sardine Run Boat Days, Boat Lunches on Sardine Run, Weights & Cylinder
(12/15L), Nitrox, Return Airport Transfers, Transfer from Blue Ocean to Port St Johns. Itinerary here
4. 13-day, 12-night Sardine Run, Aliwal Shoal and Port St John Package - from 5150 EUR, approximately 5,775 USD
Starts on 10th June, last day is 26th July .
2 Night's Accommodation-Blue Ocean Dive Resort, 10 Night's Accommodation Spotted Grunter Resort, Breakfast & Dinners, 2 Reef Dives on Aliwal Shoal, 9 Sardine Run Boat Days, Boat Lunches on Sardine Run, Weights & Cylinder(12/15L), Nitrox, Return Airport Transfers and Transfer from Blue Ocean to Port St Johns. Itinerary here
