30-year-old professional field guide, Christof Schoeman, caught the action on film in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park at Tintswalo Safari Lodge.

We already knew that this pride of lions, known as the Nharhu pride, consisting of 3 lionesses with their ten 6-month old cubs, were in the area. We decided to head towards that area and relocate them.

By the time we approached the area, it was late afternoon. A cloud of dust hung overhead. The first thing that comes to mind is that lionesses can go head-to-head with a herd of buffalo, so the dust flies through the air. We stabilized our sight waiting for the action to begin from an elevated position in the distance. Not long after, the herd of buffalo rushed into the nearest bush. We waited for the dust to settle to see if the lionesses could kill one.

When the air was fresh, we noticed that the lionesses did indeed catch a buffalo, but a very young one, about 8-10 months old. We also noticed that the big cats simply held onto the buffalo and didn’t kill it. One of the lionesses then moved towards the dam wall where the cubs were being kept.

I feel sorry for the prey, but I know how important it is for predators to get protein and energy to survive in the harsh elements of an open ecosystem. I also teach my guests this so they can better understand what they’re witnessing and why it’s so important.

I also give them a chance to decide if they want to see the challenge or move out. It’s a special thing and very rarely seen. Lucky for us in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, we see these encounters quite frequently for the simple reason that the high numbers of lions and buffaloes we found in the prestigious 24,000-hectare plot of land this!

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