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This is Jean Tresfon’s personal report from Sardine Run 2025 with Animal Ocean. For 16 years Jean has joined Steve Benjamin on the Wild Coast, documenting the chaos and beauty of the ocean. In this year’s account he shares storms, floods, dolphins, whales, gannets, and his once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a rare golden strepie baitball. Read Jean’s words and experience the Sardine Run through his lens and storytelling.

Experience the magic of the Sardine Run with Animal Ocean on South Africa’s Wild Coast. Join Steve Benjamin as he recalls an unforgettable encounter with Bryde’s whales, dolphins, and a golden bait ball of Strepies — a rare spectacle captured by guest Linda Ness and featured in Diver Alert Network South Africa.

Each winter, South Africa’s Wild Coast becomes the stage for one of the ocean’s great spectacles — the Sardine Run.

Every year, the Sardine Run teaches me something new. This morning, while sipping coffee and thinking back on the season

Sardine Run 2025 tested us — physically, mentally, and mechanically — but it also gave us wildness, connection, and unforgettable moments

The Sardine Run is more than just a wildlife spectacle — it’s a vital source of income and opportunity for the people of Tshani and...

Today we travelled out into a rough, bumpy ocean under a strong north-easterly — a howling onshore wind that churned up a short-period...

Right now, I’m sitting on a sand dune, the last embers of our end-of-trip bonfire glowing behind me. We built it together — all of us out...

We’ve now spent over 30 days on the Wild Coast for the 2025 Sardine Run — on the water daily from 7am to 3pm, scanning the ocean...

We headed up the coast on the long journey north—the never-ending pursuit to be in the right place at the right time. When we finally...

Right now, I’m rolling back up the hill, boat in tow, after a long day at sea — and honestly, I feel high from the sheer excitement of...

The Sardine Run is incredible for many reasons—but for me, it’s the people and the constant stream of communication that make it so...

18 June 2025 Right now, I’m walking down the hill at Mdumbi. Cape Longclaws are calling from the grass, spectacled weavers flit between...

Major flooding has hit the Wild Coast. Johann—the owner of Mdumbi Backpackers—has been sending us photos of submerged bridges along the...

I’m standing at the top of Wapadsberg Pass near Cradock, completely surrounded by whiteout. Snow blankets everything—thick, wet, and...

Chasing the Greatest Shoal on Earth: The Sardine Run, Through My Eyes and the Science

How to Prepare for the Sardine Run: Insider Advice from the Frontlines

I’ve spent years chasing the Sardine Run, and if there’s one thing I know — not all trips are created equal. What we run at Animal Ocean...

The Sardine Run is a highlight of my year. One never knows what you will find out on the ocean during this period but the rewards are...

I’m often asked “How was this years Sardine Run?” and the easy answer is … absolutely incredible. Being apart of this event and...