Hannetjie van der Westhuizen filmed this encounter while on the S100 road in Kruger National Park and sent it in to Latest Sightings.
They’d gone looking for a “sighting of a pride of five lions” which was “famous for ‘interacting’ with the cars”, and they certainly hit the jackpot, winning the attention of “a young male who was especially curious”.
Watch Now:
At first, the car itself distracted the lion. But it quickly turned its attention to the people inside, who it could see through the window. Although it wasn’t aggressive, it was curious what was inside the vehicle.
Lion and Human Relations
Hannetjie said they “were very excited and scared at first,” but quickly realized “that the lion was more curious and playful and was merely investigating a strange object.”
Despite being fully capable of physically overpowering and killing a human, lions aren’t innately hostile towards people. Most attacks happen when they are threatened or are driven by hunger.
Even if they’re not openly hostile, they’re still wild and unpredictable. Tourists should never expose themselves to any risks during close wildlife encounters like this one.
Curiosity Killed the Cat
This big cat had no doubt seen cars before, as it belonged to a pride known for interacting with them. But Hannetjie’s car, and in particular the mirror, had intrigued it.
Completely unaware of what the mirror was, the lion was likely just chewing it out of idle curiosity rather than seriously testing if it was edible. It didn’t seem to like the feel of plastic in its mouth and quickly moved on.
Maybe the people in the car distracted it from playing with the mirror, or it saw its reflection in the glass. Either way, its response was to move its enormous head in close and raise its paws, peering in.
A Friendly Greeting
Almost comically, it looked as though the lion was waving to the people in the car. The sheer size of its head and claws was stunning to see up close, and it was obvious why lions are such powerful hunters.
Hannetjie was perfectly safe behind the window. The lion would be unlikely to try to break through. If it did, they could just use the car to drive away, but seeing the lion up close was worth waiting a little longer.
Eventually, Hannetjie said the lion “was seriously chewing on the tyres, and I thought those sharp teeth might damage them, so we decided to move”. Clearly, the soft rubber of the tyres was more satisfying to chew than the mirror.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
Windows Down in the Kruger
Kruger National Park does allow tourists to drive through with their windows down, as it is a better option for an immersive experience, letting you hear the African bush. Most safari vehicles are open-topped for the same purpose.
When encountering predators at close range, it’s always worth keeping the windows closed. Observe the predators hunting, but avoid being hunted by them.
This was a truly special experience for Hannetjie, who told Latest Sightings, “In most of my 48 years visiting the park, I have had to use binoculars and a lot of imagination to spot a lion, never ever had an encounter like this!”