The Sardine Run 2007 did not happen before my return to Germany. Maybe the big sardine swarms will still come before the end of July. Apart from one or two small swarms of sardines, hunted by a couple of common dolphins and Cape gannet, there was little to see of the famous activity. I concentrated instead on topside photography, and managed to photograph a couple of amazing humpback whale jumps. There were very few common dolphin around this year, and they are very important for the Sardine Run.

Perhaps a sign that the large sardine swarms were not coming!?

The dolphins usually circle around the top part of a sardine swarm, and the sharks cut off their escape below. The Cape gannets also need the hunting dolphins to show them where to hunt. The gannets dive into the water from a great height when they think that the dolphins are hunting sardines. The dolphins are often not in fact hunting, but the gannets plunge in anyway. You never know, you might get lucky ;-)

I did dive into the murky green water once, to photograph a small ocean sunfish (Mola Mola) which was warming itself at the surface.

There is not much more to say about my Sardine Run 007. I enjoyed the stay anyway, and I think that I will come to the Sardine Run 2008 too.

www.divetrip.com/southafrica/sardinerun02.htm

Next year I will make the trip to South Africa with a side visit to Botswana. I want to go back to the Mambo Camp again.

Some of my photos from Botswana:

www.naturestockphotos.de/index.php

Written on 19.07.2007 at 11:04, Category: Homepage, Images, Knowledge, Photography, Travel, Various.
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