A hungry snake has devoured a reptile in one mouthful as they encountered one another on a tree branch.

Diana Knight, 63, was on holiday in Kenya when she captured the moment the snake snacked on the chameleon at Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The snake can be seen biting down on the reptile as it freezes with fear and confusion as to what’s happening behind him, reports the Story Trender.

Diana, who visits the reserve every year, was shocked to see the snake eat the reptile whole in just 10 minutes after repositioning it several times in his mouth.

She added: ‘I had been watching a chameleon in the grounds of the lodge I was staying at when suddenly a snake very slowly appeared and made a sudden strike at the poor creature – catching him completely unawares.

‘In my photos you can see the poor chameleon disappearing down the throat of a snake with a look of dismay and worry on its face.

‘The snake repositioned him several times before swallowing him whole. In under 10 mins there was nothing left to show and he was gone.

‘Although this is possibly a once in a life time shot, it is always sad to see nature in the raw as always some creature suffers.

‘At first I was so shocked and surprised as I didn’t see the snake at all until it made a sudden strike and grabbed the chameleon.’