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The Sardine Run in South Africa is recognized as one of the world’s most spectacular marine events. Annually, during June and July, vast shoals of sardines migrate from their temperate-water home off South Africa’s southern coast and travel north-east into the sub-tropical coastal waters of the Wild Coast. Following the shoals is a unparalleled concentration of marine predators, including seabirds, sharks, game fish and marine mammals. When predators meet prey a feeding event of unmatched proportions begins. Thousands of common dolphins charge after the shoals, separating them into densely packed bait balls and driving them to the surface. Watched by the omnipresent Cape gannets, an aerial assault on the sardines then begins when tens of thousands of gannets begin their spectacular plunge diving displays. Below the bait balls are easy pickings not only for dolphins, but also for shivers of bronze-whaler, dusky and blacktip sharks. The final player, is the behemoth Bryde’s whale whose huge mouth can decimate an entire bait ball in a single lunge.

In the late 90′s, Ryan shark diving company, Blue Wilderness pioneered diving expeditions to follow and film the Sardine Run, producing epic productions such as the Emmy award winning BBC film “The greatest shoal on Earth”. Today our team continues to annually track the Sardine Run, developing new detection technologies, perfecting our observer network and retrofitting our vessels to ensure we can again bear witness to the world’s greatest marine event.

Included in expedition

• 4 x Sardine run day trips (weather dependent)
• 1 x wildlife game drive
• 6 x nights accommodation
• 7 x days full catering
• Evening tutoring and critique of media
• Local transport in East London
• All SCUBA or snorkel equipment