South Africa: Sardine Run

Nicknamed the greatest shoal on earth, this expedition of a lifetime is the opportunity to witness marine megafauna like dolphins, sharks, whales, and birds hunt bait balls of sardines in frenzied feeding.

2025 EXPEDITION DATES

July 10 - 16, 2025 (6 spots total)

We have secured use of a spotter plane. This aerial support is full and exclusive to us and not shared with any other operator, drastically increasing our chances of spotting any baitball activity.

Our trips are open to snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

The Sardine Run

Known as the "Blue Serengeti,” the sardine run is a natural phenomenon that occurs every June and July along the Wild Coast of South Africa. Huge schools of sardines migrate from their spawning grounds to cooler waters in search of food, attracting a variety of marine megafauna — whales, sharks, dolphins, birds, penguins, and more.

Although our primary focus will be to find the bait balls, there is also the opportunity to encounter a vast array of marine species. Think of this as an ocean safari at its best.

This world-famous ocean expedition allows you to swim with the animals as they hunt bait balls in frenetic action. There is a high chance of in-water encounters, determined by the guide depending on the day as the action unfolds.

Get a taste of this expedition from our video

BASICS

Duration: 6 nights, 5 water days.

Location: Port St. John’s, Wild Coast, South Africa.

Activities: 5 sea days for the sardine run safari; land activities e.g. sunset at the airstrip, town visit, and nearby hikes.

Experience Level: Contrary to popular belief, most of the sardine run is actually experienced on snorkel, as bait balls form and dissipate rapidly. Some of the best action is close to the surface, meaning it is best to have the flexibility to jump in and out of the water quickly.

For scuba divers, we require having an Advanced Diver certification. However, what’s more important is your fitness level— on an active day, you’ll be hopping in and out of the boat and swimming to keep up with fast-paced marine activity.

  • Every participant must be fit for swimming and snorkeling

  • Expect to spend long hours on boats

  • Snorkeling is done in the open ocean. We recommend to bring good fins, a snorkel and a mask, though rental equipment can be arranged.

Flights + Transfers: Transfers can be arranged at additional cost from either:

  • Durban International Airport (6-hours drive)

  • Mthatha Airport (flights via Johannesburg, plus a 2-hour road transfer)

➢ We recommend flying in to Mthatha Airport via Johannesburg due to the shorter drive time (~2 hours) to Port St Johns. as there are more flight options. Domestic airline is SA Airlink (airline code UTT).

➢You must send us your flight information at least one week before the program start date so we can book your transfer. If your flight is delayed, please contact us ASAP so we can re-arrange your transfer.

➢ Please leave ample travel time for departure day — the roads on the Wild Coast are meandering and pot-holed, and can take longer to drive than according to Google Maps! Domestic flights need to depart after 3 pm and international flights need to depart after 4 pm minimum. If you cannot get suitable flights, we can help arrange overnight accommodation and airport transfers the following day.

Admission: By invitation or application only. Apply to join here.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive at airport; transfer to Port St. John’s. Check into our beautiful accommodation on the bank of the Umzimvubu River and meet the team for a dive briefing. Enjoy dinner at the on-site restaurant.

Day 2-6: 5 days of ocean safari. Each morning we receive updates from our exclusive aerial support about the sardine run, and launch boats to spend the day out at sea. Get up close and personal with many species of marine animal including gannets, sharks, common and bottlenose dolphins, game fish, humpback and Bryde’s whales, and millions of sardines.

The sardine run offers activity from the boat as well as in the water. We will enter the water as many times as possible during the day, sometimes on snorkel and other times on scuba, depending on the action.

In the late afternoon, return to shore to relax, or enjoy a local excursion (visit the Wild Coast Museum in town, hike a nearby peak, or drive up to a picturesque airstrip for sunset). Dinner and overnight in Port St. John’s.

In the case of any bad weather days where we are forced to remain on land, we will organize an alternative land excursion, such as a visit to a stunning waterfall along the Wild Coast, a village/community visit, or a coastal hike.

Day 7: Transfer to airport — or extend your stay with an optional Big 5 Safari or Cape Town add-on!

Terms & Conditions: Please note that, much like a safari, the sardine run is a natural phenomenon. We take advantage of all opportunities presented by the weather and wildlife each day. Baitballs are feeding aggregations of wildlife; they are unpredictable and cannot guaranteed. We cannot offer refunds in the case of any bad weather days where we are forced to remain on land, though we will organize an alternative land excursion such as a visit to a stunning waterfall along the Wild Coast, a village/community visit, or a coastal hike.

  • Naudé Heunis

    Naudé Heunis is a filmmaker and photographer from Cape Town, South Africa. Specializing in wildlife, adventure, aerial and underwater, Naudé trained at film school as a director of photography before finding his calling on a shoot with National Geographic. Since then, he has built a name as one of the continent’s top wildlife filmmakers, working with names such as the BBC, WWF, DJI, IFAW, PolarPro, PADI and more.

  • Pier Nirandara

    Pier Nirandara is an award-winning author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer. A PADI AmbassaDiver™ and TEDx speaker, she founded Hollywood Sharks, the first diving club in the industry. An advocate for solo female travel, Pier has visited over 100 countries across 7 continents. Her work is featured in BBC, AFAR, Lonely Planet, Oceanographic Magazine, Adventure.com, and more.

Tuition: $4,500 (USD)

Half is due as a deposit at the time of booking.
Remainder is due 4 months before departure.
Single supplement and accommodation upgrades are available for an additional fee. See Terms and Conditions for more info.

INCLUDED

  • 6 nights accommodation (shared)

  • 5 sea days for sardine run safari

  • All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. We also usually do a braai (South African BBQ during the week)

  • Professional guide and trip leader

  • Full boat crew

  • Diver permit to dive within Pondoland marine protected area

  • Weights / belt

  • Cylinders & airfills

  • A sunset trip to the Port St. John’s airstrip with amazing scenic views

  • Full and exclusive aerial support (spotting) with our aircraft & pilot. Our aerial information is not shared with other operators.

EXCLUDED

  • Flights

  • Airport transfers

  • Extra meals and alcoholic beverages

  • Gratuities

  • Diver / travel medical insurance

  • Accommodation upgrades / single supplement or extra nights

  • Extracurricular activities e.g. guided hikes, cultural tours, afternoon flights in the aircraft (time permitting)

  • Dive gear rental – MUST be pre booked. ZAR 100.00 per item, per day OR ZAR 500.00 full gear rental per day