It’s a scene we’ve all witnessed before – doting parents pretending their young child is an aeroplane to the delight of the baby.

But astonished tourists watched as a loving baboon mother played the popular human game with its young.

The touching moment was spotted in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, by Mariana de Klerk.

Tourists watched as a loving baboon mother played the popular human game of aeroplane with its young baby

The touching ouching moment between mother and baby was captured by Mariana de Klerk, 54, in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

The 54-year-old teacher, who lives on the outskirts of the reserve, came across them living among a troop of 20 in March 2013.

She said there were many other young baboons with their mothers and all appeared to be in a playful mood.

She said: ‘The mother and baby started playing. First she went down onto the ground to his level and the next moment and she lifted the baby up into the air just like we humans do.

‘She did this two or three times. I was amazed by their interaction because it was so human-like.

‘I have spent many hours watching baboons interact and never seen this before.

‘While taking the pictures I just knew I was capturing something very special and unique.’

Mariana, a 54-year-old teacher who lives on the outskirts of the reserve, came across the baboons living among a troop of 20

Mariana said that there were many other young baboons with their mothers and all appeared to be in a playful mood

Mariana said she has spent many hours watching baboons interact but she has never seen this behaviour before

Mariana said first the mother went down onto the ground to her baby’s level and the next moment and she lifted it up into the air