Some sightings leave you breathless. Not because of what you’ve just seen, but because of how long you were holding your breath while watching it unfold.
We join Barry and his guests at Shingi Dam—an iconic waterhole in the southeast and home to one of Londolozi’s most formidable crocodiles. A powerful grip, a desperate struggle, and the slow tension of nature’s harshest reality begin to unfold as this reptilian predator clamps down on a wildebeest’s front right leg.
What follows is more than just a hunt—it’s a test of endurance, will, and instinct. For over two hours, we sit transfixed, hearts thudding, watching the ebb and flow of the battle for survival.
This is nature in its rawest form. It’s not easy to watch, and although we’ve kept the visuals tasteful, viewer discretion is advised. What happens at the end will blow your minds…
Enjoy this Virtual Safari…
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Hi Sean, why should someone dislike a species? Crocodile are reptiles and are cold blooded, but showed their great ability in catching preys also with tricks. They are creatures of the river where they are the greatest predators, and share their kingdom with hippo kings. I am very sorry for the wildebeest though. Nature is raw, but why compassion, that was shown by many animals species, shouldn’t go along with respect and admiration for both? I read comments against wildebeest on you tube , but why.. all creatures are equally important for evolution and developed their way of life and strategic techniques, also wildebeest. The video is superb, also because of the river.and the greenery around. Sad but fantastic!
Crocodiles are indeed phenomenally successful apex predators and have lasted the test of time with their anatomical design for the very reason that it works. It was heartbreaking for this particular wildebeest because of the battle it went through but like you say, each animal has its place in the ecosystem and at the end of the day the wildebeest is an important plains animal, but the crocodile also needs to eat.
Thank you so much.
Thank you dear Sean. I always keep you and your colleague James Souchon for the most professional rangers, I’ll never forget when you helped the honey badger at your own risk! I’d love to read about honey badgers again- little ferocious funny animals! And James Tyrrell of course.
Whew! It was a valiant effort on the part of the wildebeest to stay alive, but that morning in Shingy Dam, he was destined to become the main course of the crocodile. Your video captured the events tastefully(no blood/guts) and left me with mixed feelings of excitement and sadness, seeing how hard the wildebeest fought to stay alive. As Mother Nature gives, she also takes away. Great job Sean.
Thank you so much, Denise. It indeed was a valiant effort, but sadly not enough to escape permanently.
Wow Sean, That WAS unbelievable! That’s real life for sure. It was interesting to see the Crocodile wagging it’s tail like a happy dog…
It was such a phenomenal sighting. Being able to see the cunning and patient nature of the crocodile and the desperation of the wildebeest.
Hi Sean, oh my word that was heartbreaking to watch. I felt so sorry for the wildebeest. On top of it all the poor wildebeest was looking the crocodile eye to eye, must of been so nerve ranking for him. Raw wild is disturbing, but off course necessary for survival.
It was heartbreaking for us, but as you say it is necessary for survival and the crocodile is a master of ambushing its prey and did a brilliant job of catching this wildebeest.
This video, dear Sean, is indeed a rollercoaster of emotions. I am so dreadfully sorry for this poor wildebeest. To fight for one’s life so hard, only to be hunted down again and killed in the end. It was so sad.
Somehow, I don’t know, why I dislike crocodiles so much. All the other predators also kill their prey but crocodiles seem to be so cunning and really cruel.
But anyway, it is a great video. It must have been even much more stressful to have seen this tragedy in reality.
It was a serious rollercoaster of emotions watching it in person. Crocodiles do have that presence about them, cunning and sly, but they are perfectly evolved for their niche and there is a reason that their anatomy hasn’t evolved for thousands of years.
although it is tough to see nature at its best after having seen a cheetah kill one realizes this is the way all animals in africa and around the world survive it was better that crocodile went back to finish what it had started because a wilderbeast on 3 legs would have surely been taken by a lion we see the raw survival of nature when we see these things I also believe its a lesson for humans who want to get right up and close to these creatures we need to understand they are wild they kill to eat and not painlessly I see lions walking past private cars inches away from an open car window and the people are so busy oo arring and snapping photos they dont think the lion could put its claws and head through a window and kill the person/s inside why do they think a bit of metal is going to protect them if their windows are open humans are supposed to more intelligent well maybe some are but for those who just dont think might get caught like that wilderbeast When I see you taking people on safari you at least understand the rules of nature when it comes to these animals the threat is still there but at least you are a bit more clued to the behaviour of wild animals thank you for showing this virtual I hope some people learn from it and the harshness of nature. thanks.
Mother nature is harsh and sometimes it is hard to watch, but this happens out here all the time. I think that the wildebeest would definitely have been taken out by a lion or hyena very soon afterwards should it have got away from the crocodile.
WOW!!! Smart croc for sure! Big meal too won’t need to eat again for a while I imagine. Do we know why wildebeest was alone? Or was there a crossing and he got snagged?
It was a huge meal for the crocodile. So this is a large waterhole in the southeastern parts of the reserve. So it is likely that a whole herd of wildebeest came down for a drink and the crocodile took the opportunity to grab hold of this one. The rest would have run away after this one was caught.
Very agonizing to watch but i’m glad the croc. killed it eventually and quickly on the second attempt. The wildebeest after escaping was dead meat for all the other predators around. It is funny how focusing on a single death is so much more emotional. I’m sure we’ve all seen, if not personally experienced, the croc. slaughter of wildebeest on a much larger scale through BBC programs & other films that takes place in the Serengeti. However, because one is not able to fixate on an individual death it kind of lessens the emotional tug-of-war somewhat. Thanks Sean, as heart rending as it was it was a true reflection of life on earth.