Your Guide to People, Places & Happenings in NMB

LEAH RAMDEEN | 031Focus

South Africa’s Sardine Run is one of the greatest natural events on Earth – and right now, the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is the best place to see it.

I was just a child the first time I experienced the Sardine Run, and it left an imprint that has lasted a lifetime. I remember wearing a dark blue and grey raincoat, the kind that stuck to your skin with the ocean mist. A string of my hair clung to my cheek, and all around me, the air was thick with the unmistakable smell of fish. My smaller cousins ran up and down the sand, squealing with excitement as they tried to grab slippery, silver sardines with their little hands, often losing the battle to the wriggling fish.

What stood out most to me, even then, was the joy on everyone’s faces. Fishermen lined the shore, pulling in red rope lines with intense focus, not for sport or profit alone, but for sustenance. The unspoken knowledge that their families would eat well for the next few months was written in their satisfied smiles.

The Sardine Run isn’t just about the spectacle or the sea life; it’s about community. It’s about togetherness. I still remember eating fried sardine sticks on the way home from a local mealie vendor, our fingers greasy and our bellies full, everyone talking over one another, laughing and recounting the morning’s chaos. That, for me, is the true magic of the Sardine Run — not just the migration itself, but the shared experience it creates along South Africa’s coast.

5 Reasons to Witness the Sardine Run

Each winter (typically from late May to July), billions of sardines travel up the coast, triggering a wild feeding frenzy from dolphins, sharks, seabirds, and game fish. It’s unpredictable, fast-moving, and utterly unforgettable.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss it:

1. It’s Bigger Than You Think
   This migration rivals any land-based wildlife event in scale — more fish, more action, more drama.
2. It’s Pure, Wild Nature
   No schedules or guarantees — just the ocean doing what it’s done for centuries, without human interference.
3. It Supports Coastal Livelihoods
   From fishing communities to local vendors and holiday rentals, the run brings a seasonal boost to the South Coast economy.
4. It’s a Visual Feast
   Whether you’re on land, in the water, or capturing it all from above, it’s a dream for photographers and wildlife lovers.
5. It May Not Last Forever
   Warmer oceans are shifting the timing and reach of the sardine shoals, so best see it while you still can.