Snorkelling Chintsa, Amatola Coastal

Join us for the amazing sardine run. For 2024, we offer a 7-night, 6 Day package. The sardine run of Southern Africa occurs from May through to July. Billions of sardines (Sardinops sagax) spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of South Africa. The number of sardines creates a feeding frenzy along the coastline. The run, containing millions of individual sardines, occurs annually between May and August when a coastal current of cold water heads north from the Agulhas Bank up to Mozambique.

In terms of biomass, researchers estimate the sardine run could rival East Africa’s great wildebeest migration. However, little is known of the phenomenon. It is believed that the water temperature must drop below 21 °C for the migration to occur. The sardine shoals are often more than 7 km long, 1.5 km wide and 30 meters deep. These shoals are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface.

Drawn to this mass migration is a diverse array of marine predators. These include the Common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), Cape gannet (Morus capensis), Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus), Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus), Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), and Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera brydei), amongst others. In addition, Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are continuously encountered on the sardine run. Whilst not attracted to the sardines per se, these leviathans pass through the sardine run on their northern migration from Antarctica to Mozambique’s summer breeding grounds.




Service T&C's Apply
Please use the following information to contact us:
Email: adventure.offshore@gmail.com
Phone:
Web: www.offshoreadventures.co.za

Location - Cintsa ( East london ) Wildcoast

When - The sardine run occurs between May and July, so dates will vary by year.

Weather - This activity is very weather dependent but we will let you know ahead of time if the boat will not go out.

Wear - On the boat trips, you will wear your diving gear. Warm/waterproof jacket is recommended.

Bring - Bring your snorkeling gear if you have some. If you don't, kindly contact us and we will supply these at an extra cost.

No spectators allowed on the boat and in the accommodation.