Graphic content warning!

The guests had all gone to bed and it was time for a last drink with the rangers before retreating to the covers for a good night sleep before the next morning’s drive. While discussing the days events, Kevin’s phone started to ring and upon answering his facial expressions changed and he jumped to his feet and in jubilation started screaming that Solo and the Eyrefield male were on the back of a buffalo trying to bring it down. Franscois had heard the ruckus on his way back to Selati Camp and had called us to see if we were still awake. We jumped into the car and headed out to where the action was happening.

As we pulled in the sounds of the buffalo calling for help echoed across the cold night and we watched as Solo clung onto the flailing buffalo for all his worth. He was chewing on the rump of the buffalo as he tried to weaken the giant so they could finish him off. The Eyrefield male was a little more subdued and tried to find a way to assist Solo but the buffalo closely followed every move he made as he flung the clinging Solo around with him.

The craziness continued as Eyrefield eventually found a way onto the back of the buffalo as he and Solo chewed down onto the back trying to sever the spinal column. They tore off massive chunks of meat as the buffalo kicked and bucked trying to remove the lions and stay on his feet at the same time.

With bloodied faces the lions started to tire and now it was a matter of who would tire first, the 900kg buffalo or the two 200kg plus lions. Finally the buffalo broke free of the grip of the two lions and went bolting off and the lions followed panting hard as the exhaustion caught up with them. The buffalo suddenly turned and chased after the lions before turning again and running for his life.

The two males followed half-heartedly as the gap between them and the buffalo increased and eventually they gave up. They lay down in the soft sand of the riverbed and licked off the blood of their escaped prey and quickly fell asleep. What an amazing encounter as we watched this saga unfold!

Graphic content warning!