Imagine enjoying a meal at a riverside restaurant, only to see predators secure a meal of their own nearby. That is exactly what this lucky contributor witnessed.
Nicolas Heymans submitted this dramatic video to Latest Sightings. He filmed it from the restaurant at Lower Sabie Rest Camp, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
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Lunch with lions
While Nicolas was enjoying his meal, a sudden commotion from fellow patrons drew his attention to movement across the river. There, he spotted one of two lions making their way along the far bank.
Subsequently, he noticed that the lions were using the reeds along the river as cover. Furthermore, they were moving steadily closer to a herd of blue wildebeest.
Sensing that he might witness them hunting, he started filming the predators: a young male and a lioness. Lions are the only social big cats, renowned for their cooperative hunting techniques.
Two-pronged advance
As the lions advanced, they separated slightly. While the male moved up the embankment, the female stayed close to the river’s edge.
By doing so, they created a two-pronged approach, hoping that one or the other would block their prey’s escape when the hunt began.
The hunt is on
A short while later, the lions started to run towards some of the wildebeest that had been drinking at the river. While the male ran uphill, the lioness maintained her course parallel to the river.
Sensing the approaching predators, the wildebeest panicked and fled. While some ran up the embankment, others ran towards the lioness.
Seeing this, the male veered back towards the river, having decided their chances were better by targeting those animals closest to the river.
Making a break for it
However, as the lions got closer, some of the wildebeest realised they were running into danger and made a break through the tall reeds. Consequently, the less experienced male again changed direction.
Subsequently, both cats disappeared into the long grass, and Nicolas thought the hunt had failed.
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Not over yet
However, to his surprise, a lone wildebeest burst from the reeds, closely followed by the lioness. Desperate to escape, the gnu ran into the water before arcing back in the opposite direction.
Once again, it looked like the lions would miss out. However, the wildebeest was desperate to get back to its herd and made a fatal mistake.
I’ve got you now
Consequently, when the wildebeest emerged from the water, the lioness was waiting for it. Once again, predator and prey disappeared in the tall vegetation.
A few seconds later, the wildebeest reappeared, once again making for the safety of the river.
However, this time, the lioness was right behind it, ready to pounce. With a last-gasp lunge, the lioness launched herself onto her target.
Suddenly weighed down by over a hundred kilograms of feline fury, the wildebeest was stopped dead in its tracks.
In a flash, the lioness overpowered the exhausted wildebeest. Showing her experience, she then clamped her jaws over its throat, blocking its air supply.
With that, the hunt was over. Within minutes, the wildebeest would die, and the lions got to enjoy their lunch opposite a breathless Nicolas.