To see dolphins in massive numbers (often referred to as "superpods"), the best locations are typically along the Wild Coast of South Africa and the coast of Southern California. In South Africa, during the annual "Sardine Run" (usually June and July), thousands of Common and Bottlenose dolphins congregate to hunt massive schools of fish, creating one of the greatest marine spectacles on earth. Similarly, the waters off Dana Point and Newport Beach, California, are world-renowned for "dolphin stampedes," where pods of up to 1,000 to 5,000 dolphins can be seen swimming at high speeds. Other hotspots include the Azores in the Atlantic, where several species are resident year-round, and Bocas del Toro, Panama, which is famous for its semi-resident population in "Dolphin Bay." For those seeking a unique freshwater experience, the Ganges River in India and the Amazon River are home to rare river dolphins, though they are much harder to spot in large groups than their saltwater cousins. Generally, areas with deep underwater canyons close to the shore provide the nutrient-rich waters that support these massive populations.