The Southern Explorer
Every winter the cold currents push vast shoals of sardines north along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, and the ocean comes alive. Dolphins herd the shoals into bait balls, sharks and game fish move in, and Cape gannets dive from above. It is often called the greatest shoal on earth, and the South Coast is one of the best places on the planet to witness it.
When and where
The run typically builds from June, overlapping with the humpback whale migration. In a good season the action moves along the coast between roughly Port Edward and Scottburgh, and it can be seen from many of the region's beaches.
Ways to experience it
- Dive the Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks marine protected areas, two of South Africa's premier dive sites.
- Boat and snorkel trips take you out to the shoals and the predators working them.
- From the air, microlight, helicopter and scenic flights give you the whole spectacle at once.
Timing is everything and nature keeps its own schedule, so book flexibly and keep an eye on daily sightings once the season opens.
Image: Sardine run in South Africa, Borut Furlan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.