When you go on a safari, you expect to have your breath taken by the majesty of nature. That said, you probably don't anticipate seeing a lion passing through the treetops, clinging on to a giraffe's back. I'd love to report that this was one of those wonderful cutesy incidents, where two seemingly distant animals become unlikely pals, but this was not the case. The lion in question had not been invited aboard for a piggyback - it was, of course, trying to kill the giraffe. Six lions in total stalked the gangly beast in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, South Africa, on January 18. Noticing it was injured, they pounced as it grazed. Two lions went for the giraffe's back, while the others attacked its legs. The back-straddling lion filmed is said to have clung on to the exhausted giraffe for two minutes. It then dismounted and went in for the kill with the rest of the pride. Despite having bloodied and wounded legs, the giraffe was able to kick and fend off the Lions for four hours, before they eventually gave up on their massive meal.
Seems their eyes were too big for their belly. Safari guide, Emily Whiting, said: "I have certainly never seen anything like it."It is a one in a lifetime sighting even amongst seasoned guides."My guests and I were amazed - we stayed at the sighting for over three hours as the temperature increased and breakfast time passed - we couldn't tear ourselves away."I knew we would likely never see anything like it again so certainly did not want to miss a single second."She added that they were 'impressed' by the giraffe, even though they were secretly rooting for the lions. She said: "In the end, we were disappointed that the lions had missed their meal but all of us were impressed by the giraffe's fight for life. He deserved to live another day."Too right. Seriously, who sides with the overcoats over the underdog? But while this brave giraffe heroically prevailed in this instance, a baby giraffe wasn't so lucky in Shamwari Private Game Reserve, South Africa, in October. Just hours after being brought into this beautiful world, its momma inexplicably off, and just as it was taking its first steps, the baba was pounced on by a massive lion. So why not give your mum a ring later? She's not really that bad in the grand scheme of things.