Sardine Run - Clicking And Buzzing...
When we think of dolphins, we often picture playful leaps, friendly clicks, and high intelligence. But beneath their cheerful surface lies one of nature’s most sophisticated sensory systems: echolocation. This biological sonar helps dolphins “see” using sound, allowing them to thrive in the murky depths of the ocean. One of the most impressive demonstrations of this ability can be seen during the sardine run, a spectacular marine event that showcases the true power of dolphin echolocation in action.
What is Echolocation?
Echolocation is a process where dolphins emit high-frequency clicks from their nasal passages, located just below the blowhole. These clicks travel through water, bounce off objects, and return to the dolphin. By analyzing the time it takes for the echoes to return and the changes in sound, dolphins can determine the size, shape, distance, speed, and even the internal structure of objects.
This natural sonar system is so precise that dolphins can detect a ping-pong ball-sized object from over 100 meters away. It’s their primary way of navigating, hunting, and understanding their environment—especially useful in dark or deep waters where vision is limited. This ability is something which is shared by all toothed whales (orcas, bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales etc).
Echolocation in Action: The Sardine Run
The video below was captured during one of our Sardine Run expeditions and clearly shows how common dolphins use sound to ‘scan’ the camera they are looking at. As an added bonus you also see a bottlenose dolphin doing the same at the end. Pay attention to the high frequency buzzes and clicking.
The sardine run, occurring annually along the southeastern coast of Africa, is one of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on the planet. Billions of sardines migrate up the coast, attracting a frenzy of predators including birds, sharks, whales—and, of course, dolphins.
During this feeding frenzy, echolocation becomes an essential tool for dolphins. Working in pods, they use their sonar to track dense shoals of sardines, coordinating with precision to herd them into tight bait balls. Once the sardines are trapped in these swirling clusters, dolphins take turns lunging through the bait balls, snapping up fish with remarkable accuracy.
The murky conditions created by the sheer number of animals and the fish oil clouding the water from consumed sardines would make hunting difficult without echolocation. Yet dolphins manage to detect individual sardines within the chaos, all thanks to their ability to “see” with sound.
How It Works During the Hunt
Target Detection: Dolphins send out rapid clicks and adjust their frequency to focus on particular sardines or detect movement within the school
Team Coordination: Through clicks and whistles, they communicate with each other and synchronize their movements for maximum efficiency.
Adaptability: As sardines shift and dive to escape, dolphins can instantly recalibrate their sonar to track the new positions—something no mechanical sonar system can replicate with the same speed or agility.
What We Learn from Dolphins
Dolphins’ use of echolocation during events like the sardine run not only highlights their intelligence but also inspires innovation in human technology. Researchers study dolphin sonar to improve underwater navigation systems, medical imaging, and even robotics.
Their remarkable ability reminds us how little we still know about marine life—and how much we can learn from the ocean’s original navigators.
Enjoy The Excitement, Sights And The Sounds Of The Sardine Run Firsthand!
Check our our small group Cape Peninsula and Sardine Run Expedition OR the Sardine Run only options here.
All videos and stills © Jacques de Vos. Echolocation illustration – Wikipedia
