Calm on the Riverbank
It was a peaceful day in Botswana’s Great Plains Conservation Selinda Reserve. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the rustling of the tall golden grass.
A small river cut through the grass like a ribbon of calm dividing the wild landscape. At its edge stood two male lions with a calm and regal air about them.
Travel designer Danielle Sheedy had her camera ready, unaware that she was about to witness something few ever do. The two male lions were preparing to take the plunge!
At first, the lions lingered by the edge of the water, taking a few cautious and calculated steps as if quietly assessing their next move. Lions are apex predators, renowned for their power and confidence on land; however, when it comes to water, hesitation is a common theme.
Defying Instinct
Lions typically avoid rivers, not because they can’t swim, but because they prefer to stay dry. Unlike tigers, lions don’t actively hunt in the water, but they can swim several hundred meters if required.
When lions do brave the water, it’s typically for practical reasons: to cross territory, pursue prey, or follow pride members. Interestingly, younger lions tend to adapt faster to water crossings, a sign of how quickly instincts can bend to survival.
Life in the wild often demands flexibility, especially in areas like Selinda, where seasonal floods and shifting river systems can reshape the landscape overnight. With their path forward seemingly cut off, the lions had to make a choice.
When Curiosity Overcomes Instinct
Step by step, they eased into the water, their paws breaking the surface with careful deliberation. As the water reached their shoulders, the lions paused for a few minutes, as humans sometimes do when acclimatizing to cold water.
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Finally, only the tops of their heads and their intense amber eyes were visible above the rippling surface, and they began to swim.
Strength and Grace in Motion
Despite their bulk, the lions moved with surprising agility. Their heads remained steady as their bodies sliced through the calm water in powerful, synchronized strokes.
It was a striking image: two kings of the savanna gliding across a river, their confidence unwavering. The crossing was a testament to the adaptability of lions and to the silent communication between the two males.
Neither hesitated nor looked back; they simply forged forward together, proving that in the wild, determination often overrides discomfort.
On the Other Side
After several steady minutes, the pair reached the opposite bank, and with a final push, emerged from the water. Droplets flew in all directions from their coats as they shook themselves dry.
Then, without pause, the lions continued their journey into the tall grass, leaving behind nothing but ripples in the water.
For Danielle, the experience was unforgettable. It offered a glimpse into the quiet resilience and versatility of Africa’s top predators, and was a reminder that even the fiercest animals face moments of hesitation.