This is the moment a lion took on thirty hyenas in a six hour long battle over a buffalo carcass in South Africa.
In one image, a 140-pound spotted hyena bit down into the lion’s side as the lion continued to snarl at the pack surrounding it, despite the gruesome attack. In another, the 400-pound lion closed in on the buffalo carcass after fending off the hungry hyenas for six hours.
Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash in the country’s Kruger National Park.
Kyle stood around 800-feet away as the spectacle played out over six hours. Kyle used a Sony AR7 IV camera and a Sony 200-600mm lens to take the incredible photos.
Hyenas gather food both by scavenging and by hunting. They will hunt in packs and use their 37 miles-per-hour speed to chase prey until exhaustion. The pack will then drag the tired prey down to the ground.
![The hyenas took turns launching themselves at the lion. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash in the country's Kruger National Park](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647174-9549507-image-a-52_1620295528896.jpg)
The hyenas took turns launching themselves at the lion. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash in the country’s Kruger National Park
![One hyena tried to sink a bite into the lion's rump. Hyenas gather food both by scavenging and by hunting. They will hunt in packs and use their 37 miles-per-hour speed to chase prey until exhaustion](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647170-9549507-image-a-50_1620295525432.jpg)
One hyena tried to sink a bite into the lion’s rump. Hyenas gather food both by scavenging and by hunting. They will hunt in packs and use their 37 miles-per-hour speed to chase prey until exhaustion
![The scrap lasted an incredible six hours. his is the moment a lion took on thirty hyenas in a six hour long battle over a buffalo carcass in South Africa](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647178-9549507-image-a-55_1620295533444.jpg)
The scrap lasted an incredible six hours. his is the moment a lion took on thirty hyenas in a six hour long battle over a buffalo carcass in South Africa
![The hyenas closed in on the lion as they attempted to scare it away. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647172-9549507-image-a-56_1620295539016.jpg)
The hyenas closed in on the lion as they attempted to scare it away. Photographer and co-founder of SafariSmiths Kyle Smith, 26, from Hilton, South Africa, captured the incredible clash
![The angry lion stood its ground and launched itself at the pestering hyenas](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647188-9549507-image-a-58_1620295544442.jpg)
The angry lion stood its ground and launched itself at the pestering hyenas
![Over thirty hyenas taunted the lion at various stages throughout the six hour long ordeal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647184-9549507-image-a-61_1620295551164.jpg)
Over thirty hyenas taunted the lion at various stages throughout the six hour long ordeal
![The lion was determined to keep the buffalo to itself. The 400-pound lion closed in on the buffalo carcass after fending off the hungry hyenas](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/05/06/11/42647168-9549507-image-a-63_1620295555486.jpg)
The lion was determined to keep the buffalo to itself. The 400-pound lion closed in on the buffalo carcass after fending off the hungry hyenas