May 20, 2010
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With more than a billion people in 61 territories and countries covering 11.7 million square miles, there is always something happening somewhere in Africa! Although the Great Migration of Wildebeest may be the most well known occurrence, there are thousands of events and festivals throughout the continent to keep you entertained on a trip any time of year. WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?…
SARDINE RUN / SOUTH AFRICA
If the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain doesn’t sound like a good time to you, how about the annual running of the sardines? This mass migration occurs from the beginning of May through the end of July.
Each year millions of sardines travel north from the cold southern oceans off South Africa’s Cape Point hugging the shore as they make their way up along the coastlines to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The shoals of fish can reach up to 9.5 miles in length, two miles wide and nearly 130 feet deep!
As this migration occurs, predators, including birds, dolphins, sharks and whales come in droves to gorge themselves on this moving buffet. On occasion millions of these small fish are beached by the incoming tides and “sardine fever” grips the local fisherman and visitors alike as they scramble to catch a bucketful, providing an unexpected harvest of food for the local communities, or bait for the hook with a bigger catch in mind.
Witness the marine activity from shore, boat or for those more adventurous, dive right in the water and scuba with the fish.
After witnessing this fantastic event continue exploring beautiful South Africa. Explore Cape Town and its nearby wine-country, get up-close and personal with game in the national parks and reserves, learn first-hand about the country’s apartheid past or simply bask in the sands along the coast.
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