Off South Africa’s wild coastline, a Bryde’s whale turned the ocean into a stage and delivered a performance no one will forget.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (14 August 2025) – Every so often, nature gives us a reminder of just how extraordinary it can be… and this one might just be the best thing you see today.
Wildlife enthusiast and photographer, Rolf Kolenbrander, has captured footage so spectacular it’s hard to believe it only has 267 likes on Instagram. Filmed during South Africa’s legendary Sardine Run, the clip shows a Bryde’s whale bursting through a shimmering sardine baitball with precision and power that will leave you breathless.
The Sardine Run is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles. Often called the greatest shoal on Earth, billions of sardines migrate north from the cooler Cape waters to the warmer currents of KwaZulu-Natal each year, creating a feeding frenzy that attracts dolphins, sharks, Cape gannets, and (if you’re lucky) whales. The entire scene is like the ocean’s own festival, and it happens right here in South Africa.
The BBC Wildlife team recently highlighted Kolenbrander’s work, quoting him as saying, “Billions of sardines migrate northward from the cold waters of the Cape to the warmer currents of KwaZulu-Natal, triggering a spectacular feeding frenzy involving dolphins, sharks, Cape gannets and more.”
Rolf spent five seasons chasing this elusive moment, but in 2025, the ocean finally delivered. On a day when the water was crystal-clear and the action intense, his camera was perfectly placed as a Bryde’s whale lunged through the baitball.
“One massive lunge and dozens of fish disappear in an instant,” he wrote on Instagram. “Nature’s precision and power on full display!”
The reaction online has been pure awe.
“What a sight and what a viz, never had it so clear splashing around in SA’s waters!!”
“Helllllyeahhhhh!!!! 🔥”
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And yet… only 267 likes? We can’t quite wrap our heads around that. This might be one of the most incredible wildlife shots ever captured in South African waters.
Watch the spectacular video below. And please click through to Rolf’s Instagram to give the video a “like”.
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Thank you for sharing this incredible moment Rolf. It’s a reminder that magic still exists… you just have to be in the right place, at the right time, with your eyes (and lens) wide open.
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