This is the incredible moment the tables turned for a hungry lion who was forced to run for his life when he was chased by a herd of buffalo.
Clearly used to being top of the food chain, this hungry lion quickly learnt the meaning of ‘safety in numbers’ as he was forced to flee a buffalo stampede.
Architect and amateur photographer Ramona Reichert, 36, captured the moment the big cat looked more like a house cat with his tail between his legs.
A male lion was forced to run for his life after the tables turned and a herd of buffalo came running towards him
Architect and amateur photographer Ramona Reichert, 36, captured the moment in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania
Originally from Germany but now living in Switzerland, Ramona snapped these images whilst on safari with her husband at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
She said: ‘We were in the car when we saw the lions hiding in the grass about 50 metres away and the buffaloes advancing in their direction.
‘We decided to stop and waited to see if something special might happen when they came together.
‘It was a big herd of hundreds of buffaloes and there were two lions as well as a lioness.
The photographer saw the lion’s golden mane in the grass about 50 metres away from her car and the buffaloes advancing in their direction
Three lions tried to were hiding out in the grass when they were spotted by the buffalo. One lion charged but the bull started to fight back
The photographer said there were ‘two attacks in about 10 minutes’. The first attack was on the lion couple ‘but the second buffalo attack was closer to our car and the buffalo charged the single lion’
‘We could see the black mass of a group of hundreds of buffaloes in the pale yellow grass from a long distance.
‘We kept a respectful distance so we were never in any danger.
‘As we came closer, we saw the three lions emerge in the high grass – a couple mating in the company of another male lion.
‘Slowly the buffaloes were approaching to where the trio was laying camouflaged in the grass.
‘Finally they got the scent of the three predators and one of the buffalo bulls approached the single lion in heroic manner.
The lion is seen here charging at the buffalo before deciding to retreat when the animal did not back down
Ms Reichart said the lion had an expression on its face that showed his surprise and shock at the ambush
‘The lion charged, but the buffalo bull started to fight back.
‘The lion had no choice but to run. You can see the shock and surprise in his wide open eyes.
‘There were two attacks in about 10 minutes. The first attack was on the couple who were a bit further away from us but the second buffalo attack was closer to our car and the buffalo charged the single lion.
‘I really like the expression on the lion’s face in these photos – showing his surprise and shock.
‘He’s well aware that the buffaloes are a danger to him and confronting them might mean his death.
‘I was really surprised at how well the expression showed on the lion’s face. His movement is emphasised by the wind that is blowing and shows in his mane.
‘The buffalo looks so heroic and I like it that buffaloes are so social and fight back – they are team players.
‘We’ve never seen this behaviour in real life before.
‘It is known that buffaloes stick together, but to see them defending or even attacking was fascinating.
In the amazing photos the buffalo stand tall together in the grass after frightening of their predator
Ms Reichart said they ‘look so heroic and I like it that buffaloes are so social and fight back – they are team players’