A video of a pride of lions strategically hunting a massive herd of impala has captured the attention of wildlife enthusiasts. An impala is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa.
An onlooker, Simeone Lategan, recorded the moment on camera while celebrating her father’s 70th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day on a houseboat at Lake Kariba in Matusadona National Park in Zimbabwe.
The video was shared with Latest Sightings, who further posted it on their YouTube channel on March 12.
What started as a promising wildlife sighting transformed into a thrilling display of nature’s power and precision.
During a boat safari near Fothergill Island, Simeone and her family witnessed an astounding scene: a pride of 22 lions strategically hunting a massive herd of impalas.
Narrating the incident, Simeone said, “Our first boat safari yielded buffaloes and elephants, and for us, that was already pretty amazing. But as we were heading back to the main boat, we noticed some movement and activity on Fothergill Island, which was about 500 meters away. It appeared to be lions from the distance, and as we got closer, it became clear! 22 lions hunting a massive herd of impala.”
The lions, split into two groups, half-surrounded the herd, while the others waited in ambush along the water’s edge, causing chaos among the impalas. The herd scattered in all directions, with some impalas narrowly escaping capture.
The lions in ambush were so determined that they attempted to snatch impalas in midair.
“Luckily for the impala, lions are not as agile as leopards, so catching their prey midair is not that easy. However, one unlucky impala chose the wrong escape path, and things ended very badly for him,” Simeone said.
WATCH:
In a dramatic pursuit, the impala raced along the water, narrowly avoiding the first two lions but succumbing to the third’s agile leap.
“The lions seemed to, at this point, all lock into one impala, and their attention was focused. The impala thought that it could make a quick escape by running along the water’s edge. It picked up speed and ran straight ahead, missing the first and second lions. But when it tried to dodge the third lion, it jumped, and so did the lion,” Simeone added.
The lions swiftly converged on their prey, ensuring a quick feast.
“Before all four of its legs could leave the ground, it was down! And one by one, the lions came running in to have a piece of the meal. A small antelope for 22 lions doesn’t last very long, so they all knew they had to grab what they could while it was still there.” Simeone added.
The spectators, seated on a boat just meters from the shore, marvelled at the rare and intense display of nature’s circle of life.
Witnessing 22 lions successfully hunt and consume an impala is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Simeone’s family cherished this extraordinary safari surprise on Lake Kariba.
