In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a dramatic reversal unfolded when a pride of lions attempted to hunt a herd of Cape buffalo, only to find themselves outmatched and forced to flee.
The Cape buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in South Africa, and it usually takes the pride of lions to attempt an attack. While lions often succeeded in their hunts, they were in danger this time.
Local photographer Tim Driman, 67, captured the astonishing moment when the hunters became the hunted.

He was originally at the park to photograph the buffalo herd by a watering hole but witnessed a rare event.

As the lions targeted the buffalo, they quickly realized they were outnumbered. The buffalo, instead of fleeing, turned on the pride.
A young lion was seen running for life as the once-fearsome predators were forced into a desperate retreat.
Driman noted that lions are typically cautious when hunting buffalo, requiring a strong team and often a large male lion to deliver the final blow.

He mentioned that large herds of buffalo can attract lion prides because they make for a substantial meal, but the tables were turned this time.
“One evening, while we were at a water hole, we heard a dull rumble coming from a hill across the water and saw a large cloud of dust rising above the treetops,” Driman recounted.
He had hoped to capture dramatic shots of the stampeding buffalo, but he saw a group of lions in a frantic attempt to escape instead.

The buffalo, far outnumbering the lions, took the opportunity to attack. Driman described how a very thin female lion and a three-year-old male broke cover, pursued by an aggressive buffalo bull.
In the final moments of the encounter, the buffalo were seen with their tails raised—a clear sign of heightened aggression—as they chased the male lion. Driman remarked, “They intended to kill him. The male had to defend himself and run for his life.”
Reflecting on the event, Driman added, “In all my years in the bush, I’ve never seen anything as vicious as the aggression displayed by those buffalo.”

The buffalo herd, satisfied after chasing the lions away, eventually disappeared back into the bushes, leaving a scene of unexpected survival.


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