The Sardine Run – The Greatest Shoal on Earth

Every year, the wild waters of South Africa’s East Coast come alive with one of the most spectacular ocean events on the planet The Sardine Run. Often called “The Greatest Shoal on Earth,” this natural phenomenon is unlike anything you have ever seen.

As shifting weather patterns push a band of cold water north along the coastline, billions of sardines surge toward the Wild Coast  and with them comes an incredible gathering of ocean predators in a feeding frenzy of epic proportions.

Port St Johns, perfectly positioned along this migration route, becomes the heart of the action. Here, you’ll find yourself surrounded by Common and Bottlenose Dolphins, Cape Gannets, Bryde’s and Humpback Whales, Cape Fur Seals, and an impressive variety of sharks — including Dusky, Copper, Bull, Blacktip, and Ragged-Tooth sharks. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a Sailfish slicing through the chaos.

Our goal each day is to locate bait balls swirling masses of sardines pursued by hundreds of predators. While bait ball action doesn’t happen every day, encounters with whales, dolphins, and sharks make every outing an unforgettable Ocean Safari.

The Sardine Run is as unpredictable as the sea itself  but when the ocean comes alive before your eyes, it’s one of the most powerful and rewarding wildlife experiences you’ll ever witness.

Join Shark Explorers for a front-row seat to nature’s greatest underwater show.