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.
2020 sardine run trips
1. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, at Wavecrest, mid-June to mid-July from 36,500 ZAR, approximately $2590
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, 1 hour 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. Every Saturday from 6th June to 11th July. Itinerary here
2. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, at Buccaneers' Lodge, mid-June to mid-July from 34,650 ZAR, approx. $2455
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 for 5 weeks from 24th May to 28th June, 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
3. 6-day and 5-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 35,200 ZAR, approximately $2500
5 nights at the Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner), 4 days on the boat with sandwiches, fruit, cookies, chocolate, fruit juice and water, air support by microlight. No other boats launch from here, the area is all yours. You can swap a day o the boat for a day in the microlight. Transfers can be added from Umthatha airport, or you can self-drive. No single supplement. Runs from the last week in June to the end of July.
After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Itinerary here
3a. 7-day and 6-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 41,700 ZAR, approximately $2930
As 3 above, but on day/night longer. Add another extra day/night: 6050 ZAR ($430 approximately). Itinerary here
4. 8-day, 7-night Sardine Run, Aliwal Shoal and Port St John Package - from 38,450 ZAR, approximately $2725
Starts on 18th June, last day is 27th July
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Blue Ocean Dive Resort – Overnight Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 2: 1 x Reef Dive Aliwal Shoal 1 x Baited Dive Aliwal Shoal, Transfer to Port St Johns – Overnight Cremorne Estate
Day 3 to 7: Full Day Sardine Run Ocean Safari – Overnight Cremorne Estate
Day 8: 08h00 departure to Durban International airport from where it's easy to add on diving or a safari. Itinerary here
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, 1 hour 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. Every Saturday from 6th June to 11th July. Itinerary here
2. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, at Buccaneers' Lodge, mid-June to mid-July from 34,650 ZAR, approx. $2455
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 for 5 weeks from 24th May to 28th June, 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
3. 6-day and 5-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 35,200 ZAR, approximately $2500
5 nights at the Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner), 4 days on the boat with sandwiches, fruit, cookies, chocolate, fruit juice and water, air support by microlight. No other boats launch from here, the area is all yours. You can swap a day o the boat for a day in the microlight. Transfers can be added from Umthatha airport, or you can self-drive. No single supplement. Runs from the last week in June to the end of July.
After the trip, it's easy to add on a safari, a Garden Route adventure, or diving in South Africa or Mozambique. Itinerary here
3a. 7-day and 6-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 41,700 ZAR, approximately $2930
As 3 above, but on day/night longer. Add another extra day/night: 6050 ZAR ($430 approximately). Itinerary here
4. 8-day, 7-night Sardine Run, Aliwal Shoal and Port St John Package - from 38,450 ZAR, approximately $2725
Starts on 18th June, last day is 27th July
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Blue Ocean Dive Resort – Overnight Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 2: 1 x Reef Dive Aliwal Shoal 1 x Baited Dive Aliwal Shoal, Transfer to Port St Johns – Overnight Cremorne Estate
Day 3 to 7: Full Day Sardine Run Ocean Safari – Overnight Cremorne Estate
Day 8: 08h00 departure to Durban International airport from where it's easy to add on diving or a safari. Itinerary here