An incredible natural phenomenon that takes place annually on the KwaZulu-Natal coast during late autumn or early winter is the "sardine run". Also referred to as "the greatest shoal on earth", the sardine run occurs when millions of sardines migrate from their spawning grounds south of the southern tip of Africa northwards along the Eastern Cape coastline towards KwaZulu-Natal following a path close inshore, often resulting in many fish washing up on beaches along the coast. The huge shoal of fish are followed and preyed upon by thousands of predators, including gamefish, sharks, dolphins and sea birds. Many questions surrounding this extraordinary event remain unanswered.