Sardine Run 2025: A Roadside Debrief - Words from the Wild: Steve Benjamin, Samantha Sivewright & Danny Jegels

It’s 1 a.m., pitch dark on the side of the road near Cradock in the Eastern Cape. The clutch our our tow vehicle is broken, the boat’s on the trailer, and we’ve been driving since 5 a.m., ever since we rolled out past the pond at Mdumbi Backpackers. We await the tow truck company. There’s no signal, it’s 10°C outside and dropping, and a few cows are munching on thorn bushes nearby. But in true Sardine Run fashion — when things break down, we improvise.

So we hit record. With nothing but moonlight and the stillness of the Karoo around us, we sat in the car, passing a phone back and forth and reflecting on one of the wildest, most rewarding seasons Sardine Run seasons we’ve had.

Sam Sivewright: Finding the Magic in the Mayhem

Steve: Sam, you’ve been with Animal Ocean for six and a half years. How did this season measure up?

Sam: This was my fourth Sardine Run. Every year’s different. I go in with zero expectations, and I try to help guests do the same. That’s when the ocean really shows up.

Steve: Favourite moments?

Sam: The streepie (Sarpa salpa) golden baitball — and watching a Bryde’s whale smash through it. Brutal and beautiful. Also, that crazy long boat trip with you and Dani — 190 km at sea to Waterfall Bluff and Port St Johns. Totally unplanned, and unforgettable. And filming the great white… finally! I’ll remember that forever.

Steve: What makes a great guest?

Sam: Enthusiasm. If someone shows up open to the wildness and lets go of the script, then we can give them our all. This isn’t a controlled safari — it’s nature, as it is.

Steve: What did you grow in personally this season?

Sam: Photography, definitely — being quicker with exposure, reading animal behavior, working in wild light. I also got better at reading people — knowing when someone’s overwhelmed or just needs a word of encouragement. And the sea… I’m starting to see those tiny signs: changes in bird posture, little rips in the surface. It’s all starting to click.

Steve: What moments gave you goosebumps?

Sam: Sitting in messy water, soaked, everything chaotic — and thinking, “This is actually my life.” That still gets me. And then every time we hit a proper baitball — your heart just starts pounding. You know something epic is about to happen.

Dani Jegels: The Educator Turned Ocean Guide

With Sam’s stories shared, we turned to Dani to reflect on his second season guiding the Sardine Run.

Steve: Dani, for those who don’t know you, give us a bit of background.

Dani: I studied teaching and spent a few years working with foundation-phase kids. But I’ve always been drawn to the ocean. I trained with the NSRI, skippered rescue vessels, and this was my second Sardine Run season as skipper and assistant guide.

Steve: What do you think guests take away from this kind of experience?

Dani: They get to witness raw cooperation — dolphins, sharks, and seabirds all hunting together. It’s not a staged safari. It’s wild, real, and unscripted. And that blows people away.

Steve: Toughest moment?

Dani: Misjudging the boat weight. The trailer slipped and the boat rolled off — onto the slipway, thankfully not into the ocean. I wanted to disappear. But we got it sorted. You don’t forget those moments — they teach you resilience.

Steve: Any sea superstitions you now believe?

Dani: Bananas. I didn’t take it seriously at first — until we popped a tire with bananas on board. Then the boat came off the trailer… again, bananas. I check for them every time now.

Steve Benjamin: The Long View

With the questions coming thick and fast, Sam and Dani finally turned the tables — time to put Steve under the spotlight.

Dani: Steve, you’ve done 15 Sardine Runs. What stood out for you this year?

Steve: The mackerel. I’ve never seen such volume, day after day, getting smashed. And the predators were feeding differently — slower, more methodical than when sardines are around. That gave us time to really observe, document, and understand the behaviour in a new way.

Sam: What advice would you give to new guides or skippers?

Steve: Don’t just chase the spectacle. Teach your guests what’s behind it — the migrations, the food chains, why these animals are here. Even if you don’t find a baitball, you can give people context and meaning. That’s what makes a day memorable. You have to be adaptable — able to tell a good story with whatever the ocean offers.

Dani: Why do you keep coming back?

Steve: Because it’s never the same. Every year I see something I’ve never seen — dwarf minkes, manta rays, unexpected predator behaviour. And it’s the one time in the year I can focus 100% on observing the ocean. No distractions. Just water, animals, and time.

Sam: How important are the relationships with other operators along the coast?

Steve: Absolutely vital. Sharing information helps everyone — for safety and success. We share sightings, trends, even sea state. It keeps the entire operation stronger. Everyone wins when we work together.

Sam: Why Mdumbi? Why not base from Port St Johns or Coffee Bay?

Steve: Mdumbi is remote and peaceful, with a clean, blue ocean and a simple launch. There’s less pressure — fewer boats, less noise, more space. It’s a better experience for both guests and wildlife. Plus, the food is great, the community’s solid, and the sun’s always out. What’s not to love?

Final Reflections

And so here we are — clutchless, road-weary, and running on fumes, but grateful.

Sardine Run 2025 tested us — physically, mentally, and mechanically — but it also gave us wildness, connection, and unforgettable moments. Every year, this coastline reminds us that nature doesn’t perform on cue. You have to show up, pay attention, and take what the ocean gives.

And when it gives… it gives you everything.

Mdumbi Backpackers #sardinerun #sardinerun2025