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.
SARDINE RUN
1. Sardine Run from $2100, 6 nights, mid-June to mid-July
6 nights and 5 days. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near Hole-in-the-Wall, away from the other boats. Includes transfers.
http://wetu.com/Itinerary/VI/11bf32da-c5e8-b761-b6c9-658907e03491
2. Sardine Run from $2500, 9 nights, mid-June to mid-July
5 days Sardine Run, 2 days Aliwal Shoal. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near Hole-in-the-Wall, away from the other boats, then shark dives at Aliwal Shoal, Includes transfers.
http://wetu.com/Itinerary/Landing/d00749df-a9c6-491a-9fe4-c096b2a62d11
3. 5 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS COFFEE BAY WITH AFRICAN DIVE ADVENTURES from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2450
5 nights at the Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay on a half-board basis, 4 days on the boat with sandwiches, fruit, cookies, chocolate, fruit juice and water, air support by microlight.
Extra day/night: 5500 ZAR. Transfers not included. No single supplement.
Itinerary here
4. 8-day / 7-night Sardine Run Port St John Package - from 30,450 ZAR, approximately $2340
Day-1 : Arrive Durban International -- Transfer to Lodge [50mins]-- Overnight Lodge in Umkomaas
Day-2 : 2 x shark dives on ALiwal Shoal -- Transfer to Port St. Johns -- Overnight Cremorne Estate Port St. John
Day-3 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-4 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-5 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-6 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-7 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-8 : Transfer to Durban Airport for Flights after 4pm
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.
SARDINE RUN
1. Sardine Run from $2100, 6 nights, mid-June to mid-July
6 nights and 5 days. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near Hole-in-the-Wall, away from the other boats. Includes transfers.
http://wetu.com/Itinerary/VI/11bf32da-c5e8-b761-b6c9-658907e03491
2. Sardine Run from $2500, 9 nights, mid-June to mid-July
5 days Sardine Run, 2 days Aliwal Shoal. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near Hole-in-the-Wall, away from the other boats, then shark dives at Aliwal Shoal, Includes transfers.
http://wetu.com/Itinerary/Landing/d00749df-a9c6-491a-9fe4-c096b2a62d11
3. 5 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS COFFEE BAY WITH AFRICAN DIVE ADVENTURES from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2450
5 nights at the Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay on a half-board basis, 4 days on the boat with sandwiches, fruit, cookies, chocolate, fruit juice and water, air support by microlight.
Extra day/night: 5500 ZAR. Transfers not included. No single supplement.
Itinerary here
4. 8-day / 7-night Sardine Run Port St John Package - from 30,450 ZAR, approximately $2340
Day-1 : Arrive Durban International -- Transfer to Lodge [50mins]-- Overnight Lodge in Umkomaas
Day-2 : 2 x shark dives on ALiwal Shoal -- Transfer to Port St. Johns -- Overnight Cremorne Estate Port St. John
Day-3 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-4 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-5 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-6 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-7 : Full-Day Sardine Run Action -- Overnight Port St. John
Day-8 : Transfer to Durban Airport for Flights after 4pm