The famous Kambula pride of MalaMala has been filmed once again, this time losing out on their lunch to a herd of brave buffalo.
Greater Kruger, South Africa (22 September 2021) – Buffalo are powerful beasts and a favourite meal for lions. When a lion pride is as strong in numbers as the Kambula pride, Buffalo is a very good meal to fill all the bellies.
The pride recently tried their luck with a very large buffalo pride but came up against a few rather brave buffalo. One older bull found himself losing his footing up a ridge, with a lioness on his back, his odds were decreasing that is until his fellow bulls charged down the pride.
After several charges, the lionesses backed off and the bull was able to pull himself up and away from danger. Buffalo are known to come to the rescue of other animals when they are in danger, sometimes they get it wrong but most of the time, these big guys are the heroes!
The buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in South Africa with the bovine beast with its huge horns known as a “boss” killing over 200 people a year.
The sighting was captured by game ranger Pieter van Wyk at MalaMala Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park whilst on a drive with guests.
Pieter, 35, said: “The lionesses had come down to a riverbed when they met a large pride of lionesses who were hungry and on the hunt for a kill to feed on.
“The lionesses surprised and grabbed a young calf but although it was pinned down, before they could kill it, the mother and male members of the herd chased it off.
“The baby had a lucky escape and survived but as the herd retreated into the safety of the bush. One of the older members of the herd got stock on the steep bank.
“It was a sitting duck, unable to defend itself and the lionesses knew that and they moved in for the kill, being watched by younger cubs of the pride.
“But the male buffalo were not going to give up on their herd member and charged the lionesses, again and again, until they gave up on having it for lunch.
“It was an extremely captivating and adrenaline-pumping sighting and one of my best,” said the father-of-two who works on the 33000 acre Big 5 game reserve.
Take a look at the buffalo rescue below.
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