How to Be a Good Sardine Runner: A Guide for Guests Who Want to Get the Most Out of It.

Every year, the Sardine Run teaches me something new. This morning, while sipping coffee and thinking back on the season, one thought stuck: it’s not just about the operator you choose — it’s about how you show up as a guest.

Yes, good boats, skilled skippers, and comfortable accommodation matter. But here’s the truth: you can be on the same boat as someone else and walk away with a completely different experience. So much of the magic — or frustration — comes down to how you approach it.

Here’s what I’ve learned about how to be a good Sardine Runner:

1. Be Ready. Be Organised. Be Fast.

This is a high-paced, reactive expedition. You need to be ready to move quickly when something happens. That means:

 • Gear up fast.

 • Be correctly weighted.

 • Wear long-blade fins and gloves.

 • Make sure your mask isn’t fogging up.

 • Stay close to your guide in the water — not ten metres behind.

Speed and readiness can make or break a sighting. If you’re fiddling with your weights or batteries while everyone else is jumping in, you’ll miss it.

2. Be Fit Enough to Keep Up

You don’t have to be a triathlete, but basic fitness helps. The more comfortable you are swimming, climbing back on the boat, and holding your breath, the more you’ll see. Keep calm in the water, control your breathing, and don’t let excitement burn through your energy too early in the day.

3. Get In the Water — Every Time

This one is critical. You have to jump in — every single time. You’d be shocked how many people sit it out because they’re tired or think it doesn’t look exciting enough. Then the water erupts and they miss it.

The big moments often come from the dives you least expect. So the rule is simple: when the guide says “go,” you go.

4. Keep Your Camera Setup Simple

If you’re a shooter — great. But don’t let gear slow you down. Drones malfunctioning, fiddling with settings, waiting on battery swaps — all of that eats time and focus. A stripped-back setup that lets you be fast and mobile will get you better shots than anything sitting in a pelican case.

5. Talk to the Crew

The skipper, the guide, the deckhand — they’re your best source of insight. Ask questions. Learn what signs they’re watching for. Get a feel for what they’re expecting. The more you engage, the more you’ll understand, and the better your chances of being in the right place at the right time.

6. Bring the Right Attitude

Excitement is contagious. Passion is magnetic. When guests are stoked, the crew lifts — and the whole boat becomes a better place to be. Appreciate every encounter, big or small. Be patient. Be positive. And never act like something wasn’t “good enough.”

7. Expect Nothing — Appreciate Everything

This is nature. Nothing is guaranteed. If you come in expecting baitballs on day one, you’re going to be disappointed, but you also might get lucky. But if you find joy in the little things — Breaching Humpback whales, Surfing Bottlenose dolphins, swooping Albatrosses — then everything on top of that becomes extraordinary.

8. Stay for As Long As You Can

One or two days on the Run? Honestly, not worth it. This is a waiting game, a weather game, a patience game. Five or six days is a decent start. More is better. You need time to ride out the rough days and stack the odds in your favour for the big ones. Most of our guests come year after year and stay as long as they can.

The Sardine Run is unpredictable, raw, and wild — and that’s exactly what makes it special. Be adaptable. Be humble. Be ready. And if you show up with the right mindset, you’ll walk away with the kind of moments that live in your memory forever.

Mdumbi Backpackers Animal Ocean Safari's #sardinerun #