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Witness the Wild World of Water at South Africa's Annual Sardine Run
Published by Mona Rae, Writer
Country: South Africa 
The Experience
In the waters just off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, there exists a natural phenomenon considered by some to be the greatest sardine shoal on earth. Every year, tourists from around the world travel to South Africa to witness this seasonal migration of millions of sardines from the colder southern oceans off Cape Point to the warmer waters along the South African coast farther north. It is one of the most unique migrations in the world to watch, and this annual sardine run has become a major tourist attraction, known around the world as the Sardine Run.
What makes the Sardine Run so spectacular for the many spectators that participate—is the massive number of silvery sardines crossing the ocean in such huge waves. Furthermore, this particular movement of sardines attracts a variety of predators like sharks, dolphins, seals, cormorants, albatross, penguins, and hundreds of other birds and sea animals. Their darting and dashing as they hunt sardines is like watching a play directed by nature. Even rarities like humpback whales come for the migration to feed. People who have witnessed the Sardine Run in the South Africa say that words cannot adequately describe the whole experience.
Normally, most sea life and birds are very difficult to spot, which is why many biologists and naturalists from around the world rush to the city during this migration to witness what is normally so difficult to see. From the surface, it is not usually possible to see the whales and dolphins as they chase sardines, but if you are lucky, they might swim closer to the shore (where they don’t usually go), preferring instead to remain a greater distance from the coastline.
For this reason, to see the Sardine Run better, it is advisable to take a boat and go farther out to sea. Furthermore, the Sardine Run is spread out over several kilometres of ocean, and the shoal is often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 m deep, and is clearly visible from spotter planes. Because of its size, there is no specific point to observe it, so there is lots of room for improvisation. Without doubt, the best way to view the Sardine Run is by scuba diving.
If you are a good scuba diver then you are in for a treat from nature. When you dive into the ocean and watch the Sardine Run, it is both an amazing feeling and a special experience that you will never forget. Millions of sardines flow by in groups as they form waves just like the water itself—and the ocean actually looks crowded. If you are a brave diver, then you can see sharks up-close since they are everywhere, hunting. However, one thing you can be sure of is that the sharks are not interested in you, but fully focussed on their prey: the sardines. If you’re not interested in scuba diving, but you still want to get into the water for the Sardine Run, then you can also choose snorkelling as another option. Furthermore, for experienced swimmers and divers, bringing an underwater camera will be very rewarding.
If you’re unsure about any of these options, and you prefer to watch from the safety of a boat, then get a good set of binoculars and bring a camera. You will want to see clearly and take lots of pictures because, once you get there, you will be witnessing something that has few equals anywhere else in the world.
What makes the Sardine Run so spectacular for the many spectators that participate—is the massive number of silvery sardines crossing the ocean in such huge waves. Furthermore, this particular movement of sardines attracts a variety of predators like sharks, dolphins, seals, cormorants, albatross, penguins, and hundreds of other birds and sea animals. Their darting and dashing as they hunt sardines is like watching a play directed by nature. Even rarities like humpback whales come for the migration to feed. People who have witnessed the Sardine Run in the South Africa say that words cannot adequately describe the whole experience.
Normally, most sea life and birds are very difficult to spot, which is why many biologists and naturalists from around the world rush to the city during this migration to witness what is normally so difficult to see. From the surface, it is not usually possible to see the whales and dolphins as they chase sardines, but if you are lucky, they might swim closer to the shore (where they don’t usually go), preferring instead to remain a greater distance from the coastline.
For this reason, to see the Sardine Run better, it is advisable to take a boat and go farther out to sea. Furthermore, the Sardine Run is spread out over several kilometres of ocean, and the shoal is often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 m deep, and is clearly visible from spotter planes. Because of its size, there is no specific point to observe it, so there is lots of room for improvisation. Without doubt, the best way to view the Sardine Run is by scuba diving.
If you are a good scuba diver then you are in for a treat from nature. When you dive into the ocean and watch the Sardine Run, it is both an amazing feeling and a special experience that you will never forget. Millions of sardines flow by in groups as they form waves just like the water itself—and the ocean actually looks crowded. If you are a brave diver, then you can see sharks up-close since they are everywhere, hunting. However, one thing you can be sure of is that the sharks are not interested in you, but fully focussed on their prey: the sardines. If you’re not interested in scuba diving, but you still want to get into the water for the Sardine Run, then you can also choose snorkelling as another option. Furthermore, for experienced swimmers and divers, bringing an underwater camera will be very rewarding.
If you’re unsure about any of these options, and you prefer to watch from the safety of a boat, then get a good set of binoculars and bring a camera. You will want to see clearly and take lots of pictures because, once you get there, you will be witnessing something that has few equals anywhere else in the world.
When to Go to Sardine Run
Travel to South Africa to witness the annual Sardine Run which takes place between May and July. Because there are several options to view the Sardine Run, it is best to contact a travel agent or communicate with a tour company to make the arrangements that are most suitable for you.
Odds n' Ends
The months of May to July are wintertime in South Africa, and the temperature cools down a great deal. The ocean waters also get colder, and even people who are used to extreme cold can feel uncomfortable. If you are planning to watch the migration from a boat then definitely take warm clothes.
Places to Eat
- Belthazar Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Aubergine Restaurant
- Aubergine has received numerous local and international awards and is rated among the top restaurants in the country
Recommended Places to Stay
- Atlantic Pearl
- This magnificent villa with wraparound views of the sea and mountain is the perfect family getaway, offering generous interiors with four bedrooms and four bathrooms and an open-plan living style that flows onto the aspect of its lush garden and pristine swimming pool. Spacious balconies and a palm fringed lawn invite long, relaxed balmy days enjoyed in privacy and comfort outdoors, and hours of swimming provide the much needed antidote to Cape Town’s long, hot summer days.
- Dunmore Place
- Experience the Mediterranean-like charm of the elite suburb of Clifton, Cape Town. Enveloped by majestic mountains and glorious pristine beaches, Clifton is an upscale vacation paradise. Situated in a modern secure complex, Dunmore Views offer guests exclusive style amid breathtaking natural beautiful surroundings.
More Experiences Nearby
- Come Eye to Eye with a Great White as you Cage Dive in Shark Alley
- Submerge yourself into the water world of one of the earths most well preserved predators, the great white shark. Enclosed in a ten-foot long aluminum cage and dangling off the side of a dive boat in the cool 57-degree waters of the Indian Ocean, experience a thrill unparalleled by most people's measures, great white shark cage diving. Nestled between Dyer Island and Gansbaai, a fishing village in the Western Cape of South Africa lays Shark Alley, largely regarded by researchers to be one of the best places in the world to view great white sharks. The allure for the migrating ...114 miles away.
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