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SARDINE RUN

Between May and July each year huge shoals of sardines move into the coastal waters of southern KwaZulu- Natal (KZN) in what is known to locals as THE SARDINE RUN - the marine equivalent of the annual migration of the Wildebeest in the Masai Mara. In recent years this natural phenomenon has been documented and filmed and is known to the rest of the world as the........."The Greatest Shoal on Earth".

Join us on a Sardine Run Adventure where you can experience the awesome sight of dolphins, whales, seals, sharks, game fish and a myriad of sea feeding on these fish.

The annual migration of sardines starts at the Agulhas Banks off the southern most tip of Africa when colder water conditions moving up the normally warm (+20°C) east coast allow the sardines to extend their range. These shoals can contain over 1000 tons of fish and be 5 km long and many predators that prey on the sardines heavily accompany them. This moving fish restaurant and ensuing feeding frenzy is a sight to behold and certainly one of the wildest spectacles to occur anywhere on the planet. The predators feeding on this feast include over 20 000 common dolphins and approximately 2500 bottlenose dolphins, copper dusky, blacktip and spinner sharks, various species of game fish such as shad and garrick, and even the occasional South African fur seal.

There are also multitudes of sea birds: several species of albatross: yellownose, blackbrowed and shy storm petrels, white-chinned petrels, Cape gannets, several tern species and even African penguins. Sightings of various whales are also common. We have 14 different species of Whales off the Natal coastline.

Many locals suffer from "sardine fever" at this time when the predators drive the shoals onto the shore and people wade into the sea with every conceivable container to try and grab some of the slippery fish regardless of the consequences. Visitors and locals can enjoy the spectacle of shimmering shoals of sardines within and beyond the surf zone, accompanied by flocks of plunging gannets, schools of dolphins and packs of sharks. Teams of fishermen can be watched as they encircle pockets of sardines with seine nets and then haul the catch back to the beach through the surf. Lively bargaining then takes place on the beach as the fish are sold by the basket.

As exciting as the action is on the beaches, the frenzy of the sardine run is best experienced by boat as beaching of the shoals is unpredictable and shore based viewing is often limited to seeing the action through binoculars. Assisted by up to date reports of sightings from micro lights, helicopters and the Natal Sharks Board monitoring the movements of the shoals, boat operators are able to put their boats right in the middle of the action offshore. The braver souls on board can venture into the shoals with scuba diving equipment, but often those on the surface and snorklers have the best sightings.

Price: GUIDED PRICE: REQUEST

WHERE ARE WE LAUNCHING FROM:
Protea Banks: One hours drive south of Aliwal Shoal
Port St Johnson: Transkei, half a day travel by vehicle.

Meet at the dive site to kit up, then depart about 8am, for a day on the sea, including light refreshments on board.

Please note this is not just one dive, it is a days excursion out to sea, with snorkelling, diving and interacting with the animals. Full details on request.

Accommodation is available depending on the time of month required, as the shoals move up the coast, thus dictating where they will be at different times in the seasons.

Accommodation and FULL Board prices will vary depending on these factors.

Guided Tours by Barry coleman, who is an experienced SATSA Guide and Dive Instructor with 15 years diving along the southern African coastline, together with his videography experience, will guarantee an enjoyable and eventful tour. Edited DVD footage of your tour can be arranged.

Sardine Run SOUTH AFRICA ~ June 21-30 2007,
Cycle Safari BOTSWANA ~ July 1-4 2007

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Africa Dive Tours | Africa Dive Resorts | Africa Safaris