The scene was captured by photographer Marna Van der Merwe at the African National Park.
Photographer Marna Van der Merwe reported that a male lion, following a lioness into the river for a bath, spotted a gigantic crocodile swimming nearby.
Startled, the male lion jumped up in fear. Opting for safety, he quickly swam to the shore to avoid the lurking danger from the crocodile, even though it meant losing face in front of the lioness he was trying to impress.
The lion knew that it was at a disadvantage in underwater encounters, despite being almost unrivaled on land.
Crocodiles primarily feed on smaller fish, but they also hunt other animals, including lions, if the opportunity arises. While crocodiles may not usually bring down a lion, they can inflict serious injuries, especially in aquatic environments.