The Sardine Run, South Africa 2026.

The Sardine Run is an annual migration in South Africa where billions of sardines move northwards along the eastern coast of South Africa during the winter months of June/July. These massive shoals of sardines attract lots for predators, such as dolphins, sharks and cape gannets. Running concurrently during this time is the annual humpback whale migration travelling from their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to the eastern coastline of KwaZulu-Natal. I was based in Mbotyi and spent 7 days going out daily in search of sardines. These were long days, between 7-8 hours. Even though I was unlucky with the sardines, I was being constantly entertained by 100's of dolphins and a never-ending supply of humpback whales, breaching, tail slapping and surfacing right next the to boat.