Sadly despite the heroics of the buffalo, its friend was too badly injured to escape and was set upon by several other lions, who raced to the scene after hearing the commotion.
Brazilian photographer Mariangela Matarazzo Lee, 54, captured the dramatic scenes while on safari with his family and friends at Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa.
'When we arrived there were 12 young lions of the same pride that had knocked down a bull and were trying to kill it.
'Just next to them were a dozen other buffalos observing. Suddenly one of them decided to rescue his injured friend that was lying in the middle of the lions,' she recalled.
'The buffalo came rushing towards the lions and one of the males tried to tackle the buffalo.
'That was when it got hooked on the horn and was swung by the buffalo several times until he was tossed away and landed terribly on the floor.
'When we thought it was all over two huge male adult lions arrived with two females from another pride roaring a lot,' she said.
'All the young ones fled and the injured buffalo stood up trying to escape but he was hurt really bad and very tired.
'One of the lions stood in front of it while the other one walked around the buffalo and jumped on top of it and knocked him down again.
'The two males took care of the rest and made a quick kill.'
12