The photographs were taken by Hal Brindley, an American wildlife photographer, who was supposed to be taking pictures of hippos from his car in the Kruger National Park ..
The giant cat raced out of cover provided by scrub and bushes to surprise the crocodile, which was swimming nearby. A terrible and bloody struggle ensued. Eventually, onlookers were amazed to see the leopard drag the crocodile from the water as the reptile fought back.
With the crocodile snapping its powerful jaws furiously, the two animals somersaulted and grappled. Despite the crocodile's huge weight and strength, the leopard had the upper hand catching its prey by the throat.
Eventually the big cat was able to sit on top of the reptile and suffocate it.
In the past, there have been reports of crocodiles killing leopards, but this is believed to the first time that the reverse scenario has been observed.
Mr Brindley said: 'I asked many rangers in South Africa if they had ever heard of anything like this and they all said no.
"It just doesn't make sense. The meat you get out of a crocodile is just not worth the risk it takes a predator to acquire. The whole scene happened in the course of about 5 minutes. Then the leopard was gone.
"I drove away, elated in disbelief. It may have been the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
Ellie Rose, a reptile keeper at London Zoo, said: "Normally, crocodiles are well able to defend themselves against attack. I can't think of any examples of this happening before."
best buy gift card adverse credit remortgage 100 home equity loan adverse remortgage buy gift card student loan consolidation program refinance with bad credit egg credit best consolidation loan student refinance with poor credit employee leasing student loan consolidation center buyer mortgage note federal student loan consolidation refinancing with poor credit home equity loan e loan mortgage rates refinancing consolidate student loans home equity loans home equity loan rates homeowner loans equity loan rates egg credit card student consolidation loans second mortgages employee Florida leasing federal consolidation loan equity loan refinancing with bad credit home equity line of credit rates federal consolidation non profit debt consolidation refinance poor credit equity loans student loan consolidate consolidate loans secured loans home loans refinancing consolidate college loans student loan refinance refinancing my home line of credit home equity home equity rates equity home home line of credit home equity poor credit health insurance temporary home refinance loans eloan 125 equity loan credit equity home line 125 home equity loan consolidation loan credit home line refinance comparison bad credit mortgage refinance college loan refinance