Witness the ‘Greatest Shoal on Earth’ as millions of sardines migrate along South Africa’s eastern coastline followed by a plethora of wildlife.
Each year, around June to July, one of the most amazing spectacles in the animal kingdom takes place off the KwaZulu Natal coastline. Millions of sardines migrate north, following cold winter currents toward the warm Indian Ocean, a gigantic smorgasbord attracting thousands of marine predators – dolphins, sharks, seals and game fish, even occasional orcas and whales. The resultant feeding frenzy drives the shoals to the surface where they fall prey to dive bombing avian predators.
Spend your days at sea following the action with a mix of diving and snorkelling depending on what's in the water. An example of an 11-day itinerary can be found below, however we also offer a 16-day version. Please contact us for departure dates.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart the UK for South Africa
Day2: Arrive and transfer to Umkomaas
After arriving at Durban airport, you're transferred to your resort in Umkomaas, where you will spend your first two nights. Rest of the day at leisure, followed by a briefing about shark diving and what to expect.
Day3: Dive Aliwal Shoal
This morning enjoy two dives at Aliwal Shoal, where you can expect plenty of ragged tooth sharks at this time of year, along with blacktip sharks, dusky sharks, copper sharks and on occasion, tiger sharks and bull sharks. There are also opportunities to see other marine life including whales, dolphins, turtles, and rays. This is also a chance for you to get comfortable with your kit and local conditions.
Day4: Relax in Port St Johns
After breakfast, you head to Port St John's and check into the accommodation on the bank of the Umzimvubu River for the following six nights. The rest of the day is yours to relax and get ready for the next day’s action!
Days5-9: Sardine Run action!
The next five days are spent out at sea, getting as close to the Sardine Run as possible. There will be a mix of diving and snorkelling, determined by the wildlife and best possible experience given the local conditions.
After an early breakfast, launch out to sea and spend the day enjoying the action and getting up close and personal with almost every species of marine animal including birds, dolphins, game fish, whales and sharks.
In the late afternoon return to shore where it may be possible to take part in a local excursion or you can just relax back at the lodge.
Day10: Transfer to airport and depart
Today you will be transferred to Durban airport for your flight back to the UK. Ask the team about extending your stay.
Day11: Arrive UK
Please note: The Sardine Run is an unreliable event and there is no guarantee of catching the run. We recommend to travel in June to July to maximise the likelihood of seeing the action.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 11 daysfrom £3,675 pp
Single supplement:
From £180
Group Departures: Please contact us for departure date details.
A must for divers, Aliwal Shoal is home to over 1,200 species of fish and an abundance of corals, as well as turtles, rays and pelagics. From June through to November ragged tooth sharks congregate to mate, while huge tiger sharks and hammerheads are also seen.
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This colonial style building is a comfortable dive resort set amongst beautiful gardens in the heart of Umkomaas, the gateway to Aliwal Shoal, offering world-class shark diving experiences.
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