Field guide Marten Lange was recently lucky enough to capture a truly spectacular moment from nature in the Kruger National Park in South Africa where he works, involving a pride of four lions tracking and then taking down a buffalo insanely close to the car that he was giving a guided tour in.

I’ll let him explain what went down:

I had two American guests for a morning drive and at the top of the lady’s wish list was to see lions.

I found the four male lions lying under a Magic Guarri bush and the lady was ecstatic when one lifted his head to see what was going on.

After about 20 minutes something caught my eye and I saw two stragglers from the southern side of the road following the rest of the herd of buffalo that had already crossed the road and headed north to drink. I later learned that the lions tried their luck with the herd but got chased off.

I saw that the two buffalo were heading straight towards us and were going to cross the road right in front of us. There was a footpath leading down towards the water and the lions in the front of my vehicle. I suggested that my guests get their cameras ready because I could sense something might just happen.

Suddenly one lion lifted its head and saw the buffalo. Then all hell broke loose and the lions started the chase.

Slipping on the tar road, the lions brought the buffalo down only meters in front of the ecstatic spectators.

It was like watching an exciting wildlife documentary, but now we were part of the action. I have seen a couple of kills by leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dog, and hyena. But nothing previously seen could compare with this experience, because it was so in your face. My guests were absolutely blown away.

The fourth and larger of the lions went to have a look what was on the menu lied down for a while got up and came straight to my vehicle. I asked my guests not to move and everything will be ok. It was absolutely awesome to be so close to the King of the bush

Featured Image VIA

Absolutely brutal, but I guess that’s the law of the jungle and if you’re going to cross into enemy territory then you had better make sure that you stay with your herd and get out of there as quickly as possible, otherwise you’re going to get taken down.

For more of the same kinda thing, check out these two giraffes having a massive scrap. You literally won’t believe how they fight each other.