It may be the most amazing wildlife video ever caught on tape!  A pride of lions does battle with a herd of water buffalo.

More than 30 million people have downloaded the eight-minute video on YouTube, making it the most popular viral animal video of all time!

For the first time the man who shot the incredible video is speaking out.

60-year-old David Budzinski, a Houston, Texas native tells INSIDE EDITION, "I couldn't believe it! No one could!"

David captured the breathtaking video using an ordinary $300 digital camcorder he bought for his dream vacation, a safari in South Africa.

"The first thing I checked was 'Is it on record?'"

He continued, "Well, we are going to see the wild animals up close and that was our only expectations."

David knew he had captured some amazing video, so he posted it on YouTube, where it caught the attention of National Geographic. They were so impressed, they digitally enhanced the material for the documentary Caught on Safari: Battle at Kruger.

"That is a huge buffalo," says David on the video.

You can hear David's voice on the tape describing the scene. At first, all is calm as a water buffalo strolls peacefully along the African savannah; oblivious of the danger lurking just steps away...until it's too late!

"They're crouching...Oh my God!"
"She's going for it...She's going for it."

In an instant the pride descends on a defenseless calf, taking it down and scaring away the herd.

The tiny calf is powerless as two male and four female lions try to pin him down. But as the calf struggles to break free from the bloodthirsty lions, an unexpected visitor joins the fight.  From beneath the murky pond, a 600-pound crocodile gets into a vicious tug-of-war with the lions!

The lions drag the listless calf away from the crocodile, and he disappears from whence he came.

Just when it seems that all hope is lost for the lonesome calf, the herd returns with scores of reinforcements! The battle to save the calf begins.

One lion is tossed into the air!  As the water buffalo go on the offensive, the biggest surprise is yet to come.

"The calf's still alive!" exclaims David.

Incredibly, the calf stands up and rejoins the herd!

"They have him back..."

David says, "It couldn't have been any better...it was magic."