This is the dramatic moment an elderly buffalo refused to surrender his life despite five lions clambering on its back during an epic battle in South Africa.

An incredible sequence of photographs taken in the Londolizi Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park captures at least five young lionesses surprising an elderly male buffalo, clawing and biting at his neck until the massive beast fell to his knees.

Although the buffalo was elderly and dramatically outnumbered, he refused to give up the fight – eventually managing to shake the big cats off his back and dart into a nearby river to make his escape.

Battle: At least five lionesses surprised an elderly male buffalo, clawing and biting at his neck until the massive beast fell to its knees

Epic: Although the buffalo was elderly and dramatically outnumbered, he refused to give up his fight for life

Bite: The buffalo eventually managed to shake the big cats off his back and dart into a nearby river to make his escape

Attack: The incredible sequence of photographs taken in the Londolizi Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park

The stunning series of images were taken by 30-year-old Byron Serrao – a tour operator and private guide working at the game reserve.

Mr Serrao was conducting a tour at the Londolozi Reserve near the Kruger National Park when he and his guests stumbled on the developing scene.

‘We were there mid-morning at around 9am. It was a pleasant cool winter’s morning’, he said.

‘The lions managed to isolate a large old male buffalo from his enormous herd of approximately 300 individuals’, he added.

Despite the ageing buffalo having the odds stacked against him, he refused to surrender to the lions – even after being forced to his knees with several hungry big cats straddling his back.

Not giving in: With five lions determined to have him for dinner, the elderly buffalo would have been forgiven for simply accepting his fate

Stubborn: The five ravenous lions were still were not enough to kill such a massive buffalo

Low odds: Despite the ageing buffalo having the odds stacked against him, he refused to surrender to the five lionessess

The stunning series of images were taken by 30-year-old Byron Serrao – a tour operator and private guide working at the Londolozi Reserve

Thiking about the loss: The five hungry lionesses eventually left the scene with nothing but empty stomachs

With five lions determined to have him for dinner, the elderly buffalo would have been forgiven for simply accepting his fate – especially after being separated from the rest of his 300-strong herd.

However, the five ravenous lions were still were not enough to kill such a massive buffalo and he managed to shake off four of the five lions and run into a nearby five.

Once in the deep water, the final remaining lion got such a shock that she abandoned the kill, jumping off the buffalo’s back and making her escape.

‘I’d never seen anything like this before. Some people think that lions only hunt at night, but this just shows that it can happen any time, especially if they’re hungry’, Mr Serrao said.

The tour guide said that while the lions left the scene empty stomachs, the buffalo was able to rejoin his herd with only a few minor scratches.