4th to 14th December 2026 "Whales & Wine" South Africa

The West Coast Sardine Run expedition with Expert Tours is a rare journey into one of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring natural events — the Atlantic version of the famous Sardine Run. Taking place along South Africa’s untamed West Coast, from Langebaan to St Helena Bay, it reveals a marine world where the ocean still writes its own rules.

Each year, massive swarms of krill gather off St Helena Bay, drawing in superpods of humpback whales — sometimes over a thousand at once — feeding, diving, and singing in synchronized arcs across the water. Alongside them dance Cape fur seals, dusky and Heaviside’s dolphins, and even the majestic Mola mola (sunfish), drifting like ancient sea wanderers just beneath the surface.

Guided by ocean explorers Silke and Rainer Schimpf, this expedition blends adventure with scientific insight and deep respect for marine life. You can watch from the boat, snorkel amid swirling krill clouds, or photograph whales at arm’s length — every moment feels like entering a living ocean heartbeat.

What sets this experience apart is its raw authenticity: a chance to witness nature’s spectacle not from souvenir postcards but from the deck of a small boat surrounded by life in motion — the West Coast in its purest, wildest form.

Bookings: tobias (at) below-surface.com

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