It is one of the largest migrations in the world and is aptly described as the largest shoal on Earth. The South African KwaZulu-Natal sardine run is a wonderful phenomenon that takes place in the Southern Hemisphere winter. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of sardines (along with healthy numbers of seals, sharks, whales and birds) migrate 1,000 miles north along the Indian Ocean, from the tip of Africa to KwaZulu-Natal, the coastal province of South Africa.
Coincidentally, large, calm and off-the-grid waves also exist along that same stretch. A production team from Now Now Media and some hearty South Africans and Australianas have just released a video of their own winter migration along this coast. They braved the road, nature and a vague forecast to create an excellent example of travel, education and point-break surfing.
Related: Navigating South Africa’s Scariest Big Wave, with Grant “Twiggy” Baker
Just as fish follow a narrow strip of cool water, surfers follow the winter waves pumped in from Antarctica. A trip to J-Bay is one thing, but this video takes it several steps further. These waters are raw, powerful and full of life. It is an adventure to reach the campsite on the Transkei, also called the Wild Coast. One moment rugged beauty, the next moment objectively spectacular.
Ian Thurtell
Adin Massencamp, Frankie Oberholzer, Sophie Bell and Micah Margieson, as well as the stoic filmmakers and photographers, are the protagonists of this epic journey. Fortunately, none of them ended up as fish food. If you’ve ever wanted a mix of Planet Earthnatural history, road trip adventure and high quality surf cinematography, “Riding the Sardine Run” is for you.
Steve Benjamin
Related: Watch: Everything You Wanted to Know About Puerto Escondido (and Why It’s in Trouble)
