Sardine Run - South Africa

Sardine Run

This annual migration of millions of sardines over thousands of kilometers has been described as one of the greatest marine spectacles on earth.

The sardine run phenomenon takes place every year off the eastern coast of South Africa, in the coastal waters dominated by the mighty Mozambique Current, which sweeps south from the equatorial Indian Ocean to eventually mix with the cold Benguela Current on the Agulhas Banks off the Cape of Good Hope.

Visible even by satellite the sardine run occurs each year between May and July, where huge shoals of millions of fish travel more than 1000km. Shoals of sardines of 15km long, three-and-a-half kilometers wide and 40m deep are spread over 1000km stretch of water, and offer the perfect feeding ground for predators, and thus offering great viewing of sharks, dolphins, seals, whales and spectacular photography and diving opportunities.

The Sardine Run is a spectacle in itself, but add to this, hundreds of predators arriving en mass to partake in a feeding frenzy, and you get a wildlife extravaganza rivalling the Great Migration of the wildebeest across the African savanna. Birds, dolphins, sharks, whales and game fish all gorge themselves on sardine's-a-plenty, putting on a show that will undoubtedly live on in memory for a lifetime!

SARDINE RUN - 2010

Price per person: Enquire Below

Includes

• Guide - Dedicated full-time SEAL guide

• Diving - 7 days on the water or alternate activity as determined by conditions

• Meals - Full or packed breakfast as determined by launch time, light lunch and refreshments on boat, 3 course dinner

• Air Support - Dedicated SEAL Microlight spotter aircraft to call us onto the action

• Guest Flight - Each guest will get to fly in the microlight and see the Wild Coast from the air (weather dependant)

• Equipment - Airfills, cylinders, weightbelts

• All Transfers from Durban International Airport to Eastern Cape dive location and back to Durban International

• One optional extra activity in the afternoons

• 3 Star Accommodation

Excludes

• Dive travel insurance – required (DAN recommended)

• Dive Equipment – BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel

• Alcohol and Soft-drinks – For guest account

• All flights to and from Durban

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Expedition Includes

Guide - Dedicated full-time SEAL guide
Diving - 7 days on the water or alternate activity as determined by conditions
Meals - Full or packed breakfast as determined by launch time, light lunch and refreshments on boat, 3 course dinner
Air Support - Dedicated SEAL Microlight spotter aircraft to call us onto the action
Guest Flight - Each guest will get to fly in the microlight and see the Wild Coast from the air (weather dependant)
Equipment - Airfills, cylinders, weightbelts
*All Transfers – see detail below
*Alternate Activities – see list below

Expedition Excludes

Dive travel insurance – required (DAN recommended)
Dive Equipment – BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel
Alcohol and Soft-drinks – For guest account
Porterage – Excess baggage penalties and transportation
Gratuities – At guest discretion

Typical Itinerary

Day	Time	Activity
1		Arrive at Durban International Airport – met by SEAL Team member and transferred to our dive location in the Eastern Cape

2 - 8	06h45	Full breakfast (packed breakfast supplied for occasional 06h30 launches)
	07h00	Microlight launches and begins recon
	08h00	SEAL Teams launch
	11h00	Light lunch and refreshments available onboard throughout the day
	14h30	Approximate time back in harbour – dependent on action and weather conditions
	16h00	Afternoon optional activity – horse riding, sundown cocktails, trail-hikes
	19h00	3 course dinner, next day activity planning and good times – SEAL style

9	08h00	Transfer back to Durban International Airport for short internal flight to Johannesburg.

Accommodations
Accommodation is 3 star luxury hotel/ lodge – full amenities and excellent service, spread over 2 dive camp locations:

Mbotyi - at our Mbotyi location we utilize the wonderfully situated Mbotyi River Lodge
Port St Johns - 30 km south of Mbotyi at our Port St Johns location, we use the river-side Cremorne Estate hotel, situated at the mouth of the mighty Umzimvubu River.

Spectacular vistas over this wild and undeveloped part of Africa, wonderful cuisine and warm South African hospitality make for an incredible atmosphere for our teams in this beautiful region.

“Please note that due to the nature of the activities certain weather conditions can cause delay or cancellation of the activity for that day. “

In cases of activities involving wildlife we do not guarantee sightings of animals. In the unlikely event of no sightings no refunds are given.”