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After a fairly long three hour road journey from St Lucia down to Durban, we went directly to the wharf to join our seafaring vessel. We had heard that the very famous Sardine Run was heading directly for us, so this impromptu trip was quickly arranged for us. This migration of billions of sardines happens when they spawn further south and migrate northwards along the east coast of South Africa up to Mozambique before turning east from the coastline further into the Indian Ocean. However it only happens when the sea temperature drops below 21° therefore has not always been an annual event if that has not happened.

The huge numbers of fish involved cause a feeding frenzy amongst the predators such as whale, shark and dolphins, which follow them up the coast. The shoals are often more than 7km long, 1.5km wide and 30m deep and are clearly visible from spotter planes or from the surface, so we were hopeful and excited at the prospect of finding it.

I was suitably drugged with my anti-motion tablets and even though I suffer terribly with sea sickness could not allow this opportunity to pass me by. So we set sail in our twelve seater boat for the open waters. The docks at Durban are huge and it takes quite a while to get past the many huge container ships.

Within twenty minutes of leaving the wharf we were greeted by a lovely pod of about twenty dolphins, as we all tried the impossible task of getting a photograph of them they danced and leapt before us - I failed miserably and gave up to just enjoy watching them.

With the help of the radio, our Captain found that the shoal had moved a bit further south, although there were smaller shoals of fish being chased to the shore just south of Durban, where the frenzy continued on land to grab what you could from the beaches, only this time by human predators!

So we continued sailing searching for some whale sightings, but to no avail, we just didn’t have the time to venture south further. We did however come across another, bigger pod of dolphins, which were happy to show off their babies as well, so we were very happy to see how they all swam under our boat and played so happily next to us. They truly are magical creatures.

I am glad to say that I got back to shore with my dignity intact-thank heavens for Cyclizine and travel wrist bands!

From the wharf we headed into Durban’s Florida Road area, which is very cosmopolitan with a variety of restaurants, bars, shops and clubs. Our destination was a curry house where we all had the famous Bunny Chou. This Durbanite favourite consists of a hollowed out half loaf of bread which is filled with a choice of spicy curries. As we were mere English lasses, our host asked for us to have mild ones, which were very nice indeed. Apparently you are supposed to eat with your hands, but English upbringing prevailed, and we succumbed to spoons eventually! We enjoyed the warm Durban sun, and ate outside. After lunch we headed to our last hotel for the trip and what a treat this was!