Nature’s Twist: Lions’ Failed Buffalo Hunt Turns Into a Chaotic Retreat, Leaving Mighty Predators with Tails Between Their Legs

As the cape buffalo is one of the deadliest Animals in South Africa, it takes an entire pride of lions to dare to attack it.

Quick escape: A young lion is forced to run for his life as the hunters become the hunted when a herd of buffalo turn on a lion pride

Dash for freedom: Although a pride of lions would single out the weakest buffalo and pounce on it en-masse, this time, the buffalo were too many for them, and attacked the predators

Nowhere to run: The buffalo notice the older male hiding between the two fallen logs, right, and abandon their pursuit of the young lion

‘In my experience, lions tend to be very wary of tackling buffalo unless they have a team in numbers and often still require a large male lion to administer the final coup de grace,’ he said.

‘Very often a large herd of buffalo will attract a pride of lions because they’re a good catch and the lions learn and specialise in killing buffalo. They’re never far away!’

Surrounded: Within seconds, the buffalo has rounded on the lion, biting and attacking it with their horns and hooves, the fear and fury clearly visible on the lion’s face

Run boy, run! The younger male members of the pride are sent packing by a very aggressive buffalo bull

Nature at work: The amazing scenes were captured in Kruger National Park, northeast South Africa

Satisfied with having chased the lions away, the herd of buffalo disappear into the bushes

‘While I levelled my big lens to capture what I hoped would be some dramatic shots of stampeding buffalo, I momentarily caught a glimpse of two lions amongst them.