PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
3 June 2025

Don’t Miss These Epic Sardine Run Events Taking Place on the KZN South Coast!

The aloes are in bloom and the winter chill is in the air, which means the scene is set for the annual Sardine Run, an ocean spectacle taking place along the KZN South Coast. In honour of this epic annual migration and to ensure visitors are kept busy this winter, there are a number of ocean-focused events taking place in the next few weeks that simply cannot be missed.

“With our mild, sunny days, Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, friendly locals, and the Sardine Run action – now’s the time to visit the KZN South Coast,” notes Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE). “This natural phenomenon is one of our biggest tourism attractions, and to ensure our visitors will get even more this year, with a variety of seaside events planned. We encourage visitors to book early so as not to miss out!”

Sardine Run Events on KZN South Coast

Ocean Festival

Dates: 5 to 8 June 2025

Venue: Scottburgh Main Beach

Website: www.oceanfestival.co.za | @theoceanfestival on Instagram | @theoceanfestival on Facebook

To celebrate World Ocean Day, the highly anticipated Ocean Festival will be returning to Scottburgh with a great programme of clean-ups, talks, live music, sports and entertainment. This year’s event is fully embracing the World Ocean Day theme of Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate with an action-packed line-up of events for this year’s Ocean Festival. Visitors can look forward to:

·                     Leatherback Rum Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge

·                     The Ocean Warriors National Series

·                     Beach clean-up at Scottburgh Main Beach | Aliwal Shoal scuba diving reef clean-up | Mahlongwa River paddle and clean-up

·                     School education workshop presented by SAAMBR

·                     Ocean conservation science and research presentations

·                     Exclusive film screening at Premier Hotel Cutty Sark

·                     Live music and entertainment evening

·                     Made for More adaptive surf therapy session

·                     Sunrise Beach yoga & movement

Run4Ramsgate

Date: 14 June 2025

Venue: Ramsgate Tidal Pool

Support: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/run4ramsgate-sa~2

This is a great citizen fundraiser calling on people to compete in the 5km run or walk to raise funds for the upgrade of Ramsgate Main Village Street. Organisers hope to raise R100 000 for the upgrade, with visitors and even global supporters taking part.

Coastal Seafood Flavours Festival

Dates: 26 July 2025

Venue: St Michael’s Beach, KZN South Coast

Contact: Phindile Zulu on 083 722 7317 | hello@coastalseafoodfest.co.za| Instagram: hello@coastalflavoursseafoodfest.co.za or visit www.coastalseafoodfest.co.za

The festival celebrates the deep-rooted fishing heritage of this region in support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s ‘Fishing for Freedom’ campaign. Designed to immerse visitors in South Africa’s vibrant marine culinary culture while promoting regional seafood excellence at St Michael’s Beach, this inaugural edition in the KZN South Coast is one of two such festivals taking place – the other being Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. The festival celebrates the deep-rooted fishing heritage of this region in support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s ‘Fishing for Freedom’ campaign. Visitors can look forward to a number of festival activities, including:

·         Seafood Cookout with Celebrity Chefs

·         Seafood Market & Artisanal Stalls

·         Restaurant Showcase & Tasting Experiences

·         Junior Cookout Competition

·         Live Music & Entertainment

·         Beach Sports & Outdoor Activities

The Sardine Festival

Dates: 27 June to 20 July 2025

Time: 10am to 2pm

Venue: Ray Nkonyeni Beaches – Ramsgate, St Michaels, Hibberdene, Marina, Uvongo, and Margate main beaches

Contact: michael@one-way.co.za

This family-friendly festival is free to the public, with everyone invited to attend the daily programme of activities. These will include beach volleyball, soccer and touch rugby. There will also be several competitions from musical freeze and musical chairs to cone diving, balloon blow up and treasure hunts – all with sponsored prizes.

Offramp Experience in Partnership with Ugu Jazz Festival

This year’s Ugu Jazz Festival will include a number of offshoot events in partnership with Offramp Experience – including the Offramp Fishing Competition as part of the Sardine Run events. From fishing and football to jazz and worship, this is not to be missed!

Offramp Fishing Competition

Date: 22 June 2025 (entries close 20 June 2025)

Venue: Margate Fishing Pier

Contact: admin@offrampexperience.com | WhatsApp 064 551 9049 or 073 795 4494 | Follow @offrampexperience on social media

Land the biggest fish at this epic competition which includes categories for Edibles and Non-edibles in Senior Male, Senior Female, and Junior groups. Other epic festival events to look out for include:

·         Offramp LFA’s Playoff Football Tournament (22 June 2025)

·         Offramp Hiking Experience (27 June 2025)

·         Worship Experience (27 June 2025)

·         Boot Camp (28 June 2025)

·         Ugu Jazz Festival Launch (28 June 2025)

Email admin@offrampexperience.com or follow @offrampexperience on social media for more information.

MPA Day

Date: 1 August 2025

Website: www.mpaday.org |Instagram @marineprotectedareassa | Facebook @MPASouthAfrica

This now global celebration honours South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), also known as the ‘nature reserves of the sea’. Themed Making Connections, this year’s activities will include shared stories, talks, competitions, and ocean-based activities. MPA Day aims to connect people to the ocean and bring conservation awareness to even more people around the world, with Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks, and Trafalgar three MPAs that will be celebrated on the KZN South Coast.

Now’s the Time: Visit, Invest, Thrive in KZN South Coast! Find out more about these and other upcoming events by visiting the KZN South Coast website www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za; following South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; and South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn. And click here to check out previous SCTIE press releases. Watch why KZN South Coast is a top tourism destination here.

Follow the hashtags #nowisthetime #nowisthetimetovisit

/ENDS

Please note the image credit is included beneath the corresponding image.
All images are complimentary for media use, provided the correct photographer credit is
included and the images are published in conjunction with the content supplied.

High resolution images are available upon request.
(Images: Supplied by SCTIE)

Seine netters haul in masses of sardines during the annual Sardine Run, which can be experienced on the KZN South Coast this winter!
Image credit Justin Klusener

Seine netters haul in masses of sardines during the annual Sardine Run, which can be experienced on the KZN South Coast this winter!
Image credit Justin Klusener

Seine netters haul in masses of sardines during the annual Sardine Run, which can be experienced on the KZN South Coast this winter!
Image from previous years sardine run.

The annual Sardine Run attracts many hungry marine predators, among them dolphins, sharks, and whales.
Surfers, divers, and snorkellers can enjoy the experience from the water along the KZN South Coast this winter.

Crates of silver sardines are packed during the annual Sardine Run after a busy day of catching.
These are sold to individual buyers and restaurants, with visitors to the KZN South Coast able to sample delicious home-made delicacies at local eateries while watching this ocean spectacle.
Image from previous years sardine run.

The annual Sardine Run attracts many hungry marine predators, among them dolphins, sharks, and whales.
Surfers, divers, and snorkellers can enjoy the experience from the water along the KZN South Coast this winter.

About KZN South Coast
Known as the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom, the KZN South Coast stretches 120 kilometres from Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding. Here, the spirit of adventure can be discovered among the many cultural experiences, as well as the 35 nature trails and 58 beaches, ideal for activities like river rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball, surfing, SUP, canoeing, beach horse rides, shark cage diving and free diving. Nicknamed ‘The Golf Coast’, there are 11 golf courses on the KZN South Coast ranging in difficulty, with endless hiking, mountain biking and 4×4 trails for more rugged excursions. Promoting sustainability, the KZN South Coast has a growing agri-tourism sector that offers world-class produce and hosts tours and excursions. The region boasts several permanently managed Blue Flag beaches and is home to some of the world’s top diving sites, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The originality continues with the annual Sardine Run, coined the #GreatestShoalonEarth, which is the largest biomass migration on earth and a marvel to witness. The region’s many nature reserves are inhabited by indigenous birds and wildlife, and it holds the title of ‘smallest desert on earth’, The Red Desert in Port Edward. The KZN South Coast is a fast-emerging MICE destination which has played host to several high-profile events including The Bike Fest, The Conservation Symposium, The Ocean Festival, Uvukile Gospel Festival, Ugu Jazz, Ugu International Film Festival, and the South Coast Fever MTB & Trail Run Series.

Issued on behalf of:
South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE)

Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications

For more information please contact:
Olivia Jones Communications
Cell: 083 653 1720
Email: media@oliviajones.co.za