
He's certainly not built for a graceful entry into the water. But when you've got predators on your tail, needs must.

And so it proved for this hippo who found himself confronted by two lions while he was lounging around in the savannah sun.

Getting up off its haunches, the hippo dashes towards the river in the hope of giving the big cats the slip.

No turning back: A hippo prepares to dive into a river after being cornered by a pack of lions in South Africa's Karongwe Private Game Reserve

No time to be graceful: The hippo is forced to jump into the water after being confronted by a sheer drop towards the water below

Tom Daley needn't fear: With the lions ready to pounce, the hippo belly flops into the river, causing a huge splash as he breaks the surface

Fortunately diving is not a career it has in mind as a remarkable amount of splash was caused

But once the hippo realised it was cornered, with a sheer drop towards the river below, it had only one option.

With the lions ready to pounce, the hippo belly flops into the river, causing an almighty splash as he breaks the surface.

Living to fight another day, the hippo merrily paddles downstream in front of the dejected lions, at point one appearing to turn and laugh at them.

The chase happened in South Africa's Karongwe Private Game Reserve and was captured by Morn Hamlyn.

Smug: Living to fight another day, the hippo merrily paddles downstream in front of the dejected lions