A wildlife photographer has captured the dramatic moment a pride of lions bolted up a tree after they were spooked by a herd of elephants.
The lions scrambled up the tree and eventually settled on the same branch after being charged at by a protective female elephant
Photographer Zhayynn James, from India, captured the dramatic scene in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania
James said the lions climbed gingerly up the tree, heading onto different branches, before all deciding to lounge on the same branch
Photographer Zhayynn James, from India, was in the right place at the right time when he captured the incredible scene.
James said the adult lionesses and some younger lions were lounging under Acacia trees when they were confronted by the elephant
James described it as a ‘surreal experience’ and said he considers himself blessed for having witnessed it while on safari
James said the large herd of adult elephants and their calves arrived and the matriarch decided to charge in case they were a threat
James said the rest of the herd arrived a few seconds later.
The lions were almost falling over each other to get away from the elephants and almost falling from the tree in the process, said James