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.
1. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, mid-June to mid-July from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2310
7 nights and 6 days. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near l, away from the other boats. Includes transfers from East London.
Itinerary here
2. 6 days and 5 nights Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2310
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.Includes transfers from Umthatha airport.
Extra day/night: 5500 ZAR. . No single supplement.
Itinerary here
3. 11-day 10-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, mid-June to mid-July from 39950 ZAR, approximately $2850
Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near l, away from the other boats. Includes transfers. 7 nights and 6 days Sardine Run action, and three nights and two days shark diving at Aliwal Shoal.
Itinerary here
4. 9-day, 8-night Sardine Run Port St John Package - from 34950 ZAR, approximately $2500
Day 1: Arrival and Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 2: 2 Dives at Aliwal Shoal transfer to Port Saint Johns (5hr drive) -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 3: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 4: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 5: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 6: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 7: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 8: 2 x Dives at Aliwal Shoal -- Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 9: Transfer to Durban International Airport
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.
1. 8-day 7-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, mid-June to mid-July from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2310
7 nights and 6 days. Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near l, away from the other boats. Includes transfers from East London.
Itinerary here
2. 6 days and 5 nights Wild Coast Sardine Run, Coffee Bay from 32,000 ZAR, approximately $2310
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.Includes transfers from Umthatha airport.
Extra day/night: 5500 ZAR. . No single supplement.
Itinerary here
3. 11-day 10-night Wild Coast Sardine Run, mid-June to mid-July from 39950 ZAR, approximately $2850
Witness the greatest predation show on earth with thousands of sharks, dolphins, sea birds and whales. Location near l, away from the other boats. Includes transfers. 7 nights and 6 days Sardine Run action, and three nights and two days shark diving at Aliwal Shoal.
Itinerary here
4. 9-day, 8-night Sardine Run Port St John Package - from 34950 ZAR, approximately $2500
Day 1: Arrival and Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 2: 2 Dives at Aliwal Shoal transfer to Port Saint Johns (5hr drive) -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 3: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 4: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 5: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 6: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Cremorne Estate
Day 7: Sardine Run Ocean Safari -- Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 8: 2 x Dives at Aliwal Shoal -- Overnight at Blue Ocean Dive Resort
Day 9: Transfer to Durban International Airport