In the wild wilderness, a hunt unfolds between two of the greatest predators – the wild buffalo and the lion.
The lion, with its sparkling eyes and agile body, approaches with graceful, stealthy steps. The king of this grassland exudes confidence and determination in the hunt, pursuing the formidable figure of the wild buffalo.
The battle between the lion and the wild buffalo is not just an ordinary hunt. It is a test of strength, patience, and courage in the wilderness, where only the strongest can survive and dominate.
Other spectacular pictures from this clash of the titans, show the herd of African buffalos attempting to shield a fellow buffalo, the male lion jumping onto the rear of its hapless prey, eventually devouring the weakest buffalo that failed to escape.
Here a male lion narrowly avoids being gored in the heart as he attempts to take down a buffalo in a Zambian wildlife park.
The images were captured by British wildlife photographer Luke Massey who said the male lion was lucky to escape uninjured from the attack
A group of lions ambushed the buffaloes at a watering hole at the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, pictured
The lions tried to target what they thought was the weakest buffalo in the herd before killing and eating it.
He was working on an assignment with safari operators Shenton Safaris and came across a buffalo herd being attacked by a group of lionesses and a young lion.
He said: ‘At first the young male lion was very lucky to come away uninjured, it jumped onto the rear of the buffalo but was quickly surrounded by other buffalo.
‘The young lion jumped onto the rear of the buffalo but was quickly surrounded by other buffalo and one charged and tossed the lion, its horns narrowly missing piercing the lion’s chest.’
The massive buffalo attempted to fight off the rampaging lion by attempting to skewer the predator using its sharp horns
Massey said he spent four months in the bush but claimed this was the only encounter between a lion and a buffalo he saw.
Amidst the agony and loss, the lion faces a crucial question: whether they still possess enough strength to continue this hunt and enjoy the spoils. Despite remaining sharp-witted and determined, the lion’s strength and vigor have been diminished by the grievous injury.
Despite the early uncertainty of the encounter, once the lionesses joined the hunt, the massive buffalo was doomed
African buffalos, otherwise known as Cape buffalos, are the largest buffalo species found in South and East Africa.