Carnival in Encarnacion, Paraguay

In honor of the Carnival and Mardi Gras festivals coming soon, here is a video clip from the February 2008 Carnival celebration in Encarnación, Paraguay. If you’re in Paraguay and can’t attend the world-famous Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, don’t miss its smaller sibling in Encarnación. I think it holds its own as one of the world’s great Carnivals and adds a uniquely Paraguayan flavor to this annual event.

A colorful festival of music and dancing, Carnival is known for its wild, crazy, and sometimes risqué atmosphere. This parade in the Carnival capital of Paraguay was festive and revealing but decidedly tame compared to its reputation. Female and male performers in colorful outfits festooned with feathers and glitter like shimmering peacocks dance to lively chamame polka-style music along a long runway. It’s quite the sight to behold. This video is just a glimpse of what to expect in person. You have to see it for yourself. 

2008 Carnival in Encarnacion, Paraguay

Encarnación is located in southeastern Paraguay on the banks of the Paraná River, across from Posadas, Argentina. Paraguay’s third-largest city has a population of about 100,000, and is located just half an hour from one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, the Jesuit ruins at Trinidad.

Warning:  If you attend Carnival in Encarnación, be prepared to get soaking wet. It’s a participatory event where the spectators douse one another with shaving cream. Leave your aquaphobia and valuables at home and arm yourself with cans of shaving cream to defend yourself from the onslaught. Bring a Carnival mask and join in the fun!

Buffalo soldiers! Bull is saved by its friends while being EATEN by lions... which are sent flying through the air

Flyin' lion! A lion blindsides a smaller buffalo as it emerges from bushes at the Mjejane Reserve in South Africa.

- The young buffalo was attacked by a lion at Mjejane Reserve, South Africa

- Amazingly all of the animals walked away without any injuries, except perhaps, some bruised egos.

All looked lost when this young and lone buffalo was attacked by two lions in a South African national park. 

But the pair had not bargained on the buffalo's friends coming to his rescue, and moments later they were tossed several feet in the air before being chased away. 

The dramatic scene was captured on camera in the Mjejane Reserve on the border of the Kruger Park.

Scroll down for video:

Two on one: The hungry cat doesn't factor in the first buffalo's larger friend following behind and gets more than it bargained for.

Under attack: All looked lost when this young and lone buffalo was attacked by two lions in a South African national park.

Lone: The buffalo had become separated from the herd and become the prey for the two hungry lions.

Vicious: The lion sinks his teeth and claws into the buffalo as it stands still after becoming lost.

Caught: The dramatic scene was captured on camera in the Mjejane Reserve on the border of the Kruger Park.

It was witnessed by Oliver Matheson, 16, and his two friends Yaseen Majal, 17 and Alex Raubenheimer, 17.

They had joined Oliver's father Ian, 52, on an early morning game drive and didn't expect to witness a 'kill', let alone a battle between a hungry lion and a buffalo that had other ideas.

'We had seen the two young lions on the prowl and were already quite excited to witness nature in action, but nothing could have prepared us for what we saw next', said Oliver.   

The two young lions had been silently stalking the buffalo for about 45 minutes before the incident occurred. 

The two young lions had been silently stalking the buffalo for about 45 minutes before the incident occurred. 

Unfold: The attack was witnessed by Oliver Matheson, 16, and his two friends Yaseen Majal, 17 and Alex Raubenheimer, 17.

Early morning: The teens had joined Oliver's father Ian, 52, on an early morning game drive and didn't expect to witness a 'kill', let alone a battle between a hungry lion and a buffalo that had other ideas.

Suspense: 'We had seen the two young lions on the prowl and were already quite excited to witness nature in action, but nothing could have prepared us for what we saw next', said Oliver.

Determined: The two young lions had been silently stalking the buffalo for about 45 minutes before the incident occurred.

In a flash they pounced and began to take down their prey. 

The buffalo put up a brave fight, but ultimately looked destined to succumb to the ruthless attack.   

'It looked like it was game over, he really looked finished', said Oliver.

'Then we saw two of the original herd coming back to investigate and we didn't really know what to expect'.

Plan: In a flash they pounced and began to take down their prey. The buffalo put up a brave fight, but ultimately looked destined to succumb to the ruthless attack.

As the young buffalo fell to the ground, a large bull from the herd sized up the situation, seized his opportunity and attacked the young lion. 

'It was insane, he flipped the lion about 5 metres into the air. I had never seen anything like it,' said Oliver.

'We visit the park two to three times a year,' said Oliver's father, Ian.

'In all the years we have been coming to the reserve, we have never seen anything close to what we saw that morning'. 

'We really felt privileged to have witnessed such a rare occurrence'.

Amazingly all of the animals walked away without any injuries, except perhaps, some bruised egos. 

Shocked: 'We visit the park two to three times a year,' said Oliver's father, Ian. 'In all the years we have been coming to the reserve, we have never seen anything close to what we saw that morning'.

Desperate: The lion sinks his teeth deeper into the buffalo as it frantically tries to escape with its life.

Defend: As the young buffalo fell to the ground, a large bull from the herd sized up the situation, seized his opportunity and attacked the young lion.

Flying high: 'It was insane, he flipped the lion about 5 metres into the air. I had never seen anything like it,' said Oliver.

Animal kingdom rules: Amazingly all of the animals walked away without any injuries, except perhaps, some bruised egos

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