This is the breathtaking moment a pride of lions brought down and savaged a buffalo just metres from cars full of stunned tourists in South Africa, with their guide saying that everything would be ok, as long as they didn’t move.
The kill, which was recorded by field guide Marten Lange, saw two buffalo running away from a lion near the ɱaпᴛι̇ɱahle Waterhole in the Kruger National Park, before being pulled to the floor.
After the attack, the largest predator leaves the rest of the pride to finish their meal as he turns towards the tourists and takes a nap beside their vehicle.
Shocking footage has emerged of a lion chasing a buffalo through a game reserve and onto the road
For a moment it appears that the roles have reversed as the slower, and smaller, of the buffalo turns and faces the predator head on
At the start of the shocking footage, one lion can be seen chasing the buffalo through the game reserve and onto the road.
For a moment it appears that the roles have reversed as the slower, and smaller, of the buffalo turns and faces the predator head on.
Despite appearing to back away, the lion pounces onto the back of the animal – which had turned again in an attempt to flee after seeing the second of the four lions emerge from hiding.
Despite appearing to back away, the lion pounces onto the back of the animal – which had turned again in an attempt to flee
Grabbing onto the throat of the grunting buffalo, the two lions hold down their lunch and wait for the rest of their pride to join them
Field guide Lange said: ‘All hell broke loose and the lions started the chase. It was like watching an exciting wildlife documentary’
Grabbing onto the throat of the grunting buffalo, the two lions hold down their lunch and wait for the rest of their pride to join them before fully killing it.
As three of the group pull at the kill between them, the largest of the lions – who was last to join in – walks towards the camera before slumping beside a group of tourists in the shade.
Lange, who had taken a keen group of tourists to the area after hearing that lions were resting nearby, said that he told his ‘ecstatic’ group not to move when the ‘King of the bush’ came close.
Commenting on the video, which has had 286,000 views since being added to YouTube last week, one user, Chris B, said: ‘That lion just approached that vehicle like, “So what did you think?” And then the lion just sat beside the vehicle.’
A pride of four lions feasted on the fresh kill in front of vans full of stunned tourists who had witnessed the kill moments before
As three of the group pull at the kill between them, the largest of the lions – who was last to join in – walks towards the camera
Lange said: ‘After about 20 minutes something caught my eye and I saw two stragglers from the southern side of the road following the rest of the herd of buffalo that had already crossed the road and headed north to drink. I later learned that the lions tried their luck with the herd but got chased off. I saw that the two buffalo were heading straight towards us and were going to cross the road right in front of us.
‘Suddenly one lion lifted its head and saw the buffalo. Then all hell broke loose and the lions started the chase. It was like watching an exciting wildlife documentary, but now we were part of the action. I have seen a couple of kills by leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dog and hyena. But nothing previously seen could compare with this experience, because it was so in your face. My guests were absolutely blown away.
‘The fourth and larger of the lions got up and came straight to my vehicle. I asked my guests not to move and everything will be OK. It was absolutely awesome to be so close to the King of the bush.’
Field guide, Lange, who had taken a keen group of tourists to the area after hearing that lions were resting nearby, said that he told his ‘ecstatic’ group not to move when the ‘King of the bush’ came close