Pizza and fast food delivery might not exist in the bushveld, but meals still get delivered to the hungry just in time for lunch or dinner.
This is what happened when a buck leapt and bounded across the road, straight into a pride of hungry lions!
Watch The Sighting:
Hannes witnessed the events unfold and said the unsuspecting lions couldn’t believe their luck!
Lions Walk Down Road In Full View Of Motorists
It all began on a hot day in Kruger National Park. Hannes had been taking a slow drive on the H4-1 between Lower Sabie and Skukuza when he and his fellow travelers came across a row of stationary cars on the road. Familiar with the ways of game-viewing, they knew something was up.
A pride of lions was there, coming out of the bushes off the side of the road, and walking out in full view of the motorists.
The lions walked on, regal and unperturbed by the presence of the motorists. They maintained their solemn, composed demeanour for about 5 km.
All the while, the cars followed them, quite happy to make the long journey with the magnificent creatures. There was a cub with them, and together, they presented a picture of peace and tranquility.
The pride was mostly comprised of lionesses; however, while lionesses usually band together to hunt, this particular group seemed uninterested in hunting. They took a gentle walk down the road and seemed unflustered and unconcerned.
This was until something caught the attention of one of them.
Her head turned briskly, and she seemed to snap out of complacency.
What happened next was so sudden that it was hard to process. A buck came bounding out of the blue with great, purposeful strides.
The lioness, who first noticed its approach, closed quickly on it.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Hannes explained that the buck had been fleeing from two lions chasing it from the other side.
The frightened animal had streaked across the road, leaping and bounding in a determined effort to get away.
However, the poor buck hadn’t realised that other members of the pride were on the other side of the road. It ran straight into the unsuspecting lionesses.
A Quick, Easy Meal
Hannes said, “This was a quick and easy meal for them. Straight away they all dived in to get their share. It was amazing to see how quickly they tore the buck apart and just devoured it.”
He said this was when the male lion appeared. “He was almost certainly not going to miss out on his cut, and he then came storming in to chase the females away. It was fascinating to see how tough the cub was. It was also hanging on tight to get some reward out of it.”
Recalling the incredible day, Hannes said, “This was the best sighting ever, and I’ve been going to the park for 14 years, around 2-5 times a year, and never seen anything of this kind. Simply amazing!”