A WILD COAST WILDLIFE FEAST
The
Sardine-Run Expedition is a unique expedition exploring
the annual sardine migration on South Africa's
rugged Wild
Coast. Sardine fever hits the Wild Coast
sometime in June/July each year. The "run" or
migration of sardines begins off the cool waters
south of the African continent where they form into hundreds
of large swirling shoals. The sardines then run north
east into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and mass into
what wild-life film producer Peter Lamberti has dubbed "The
Greatest Shoal on Earth". What makes this such a spectacular show is not simply the
gigantic waves of silvery sardines but the legions
of predators that congregate en masse just off the east
coast of South Africa in anticipation of the year's
greatest feast. As a result the waters of the Wild Coast
boil with sharks, dolphins, Cape Gannets, cormorants,
seals, and even, on occasion, Orcas, albatross and
penguins that have followed the Sardines thousands of
kilometres from the southern ocean. The Sardine Run also
coincides with the annual migration of Humpback Whales
that move north for the season into warmer water to mate
and calve. The spectacular breaches of these leviathan's
are a daily phenomenon and it just adds to an already dazzling
wildlife extravaganza.
SCUBA
DIVE
For the advanced
scuba diver, this is indeed the greatest dive show on earth. The ultimate
highlight is the "bait ball". This is when the sharks or dolphins
or both corral a shoal of sardines into a tight ball, then dive into it in a frenzied
attack to come away with mouthfuls of unfortunate sardines. However, this
is often logistically difficult for the divers and boats to approach as the sardines
are very elusive. Luckily the predators are not as bashful. Bronze Whaler Sharks,
Common & Bottlenose Dolphins and dive-bombing Cape Gannets are literally
everywhere all the time, so any dive is pure adrenaline. SNORKEL
For the non-diver the show is just
as rewarding. Most of the action is seen from the boat and there are plenty opportunities
to snorkel with dolphins, whales and, for the brave, sharks
while being bombarded on all sides by Cape Gannets. PHOTO
& VIDEO
For
the underwater photographer/videographer the "action" opportunities
are amazing. To be in the middle of this incredible scene where predator and prey
fight for their existence, is the ultimate dive. The fact that IMAX,
National Geographic, Discovery Channel and dozens of other world renown TV stations,
magazines and photographers flock to these waters is testament to the giant status
of the sardine run.
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