Great Migrations
The sardine run can turn South Africa's coast into a feeding frenzy
Tens to hundreds of millions of sardines can move along the coast, drawing dolphins, sharks, seabirds, and other predators into one moving spectacle.
Video: BBC. Embedded from the original YouTube source.
The mechanism
Why this happens
Seasonal ocean conditions and cooler-water corridors can allow sardines to move northward along the coast in dense shoals.
Season & place
Where this event happens
South and east coasts of South Africa · Marine migration. Timing and local conditions can vary from one occurrence to the next, so current local guidance matters when planning around a recurring event.
Few marine events look more chaotic than the South African sardine run. Huge shoals of fish compress along the coast while predators attack from above, below, and every direction in between.
The run is not simply a random mass of fish. Oceanographic conditions can create temporary corridors of cooler water that help sardines move farther north than they otherwise would.
What to know
- The sardine run is seasonal and varies from year to year.
- Predators including dolphins, sharks, and seabirds gather around the migrating shoals.
- The event also supports tourism and local fishing activity.
If you go
Watch without becoming part of the problem.
Follow local closures and wildlife guidance, keep a responsible distance, avoid blocking migration or access routes, and do not disturb roosts, nesting areas, dens, or concentrated animals for a photo. Conditions and access rules can change quickly.
Good questions
What people usually want to know
What causes the South African sardine run?
Seasonal ocean conditions, including cooler nearshore water, can create a migration corridor that allows dense sardine shoals to move northward.
How many sardines are in the sardine run?
South African research has described the run as involving tens to hundreds of millions of sardines.