Within the campsite, the quiet campsite, the lion creeps tonight.
Campers in Botswana got a better wildlife encounter than intended after an enormous male lion swaggered through their campsite — creeping inside feet of the petrified safari-goers.
“Lions come into the camps unannounced and in total silence because it happened to us,” said an unidentified videographer of the “once in a lifetime” sighting, which was filmed May 8 in a natural reserve in Kgalagadi, Storyful reported.
The center-stopping POV footage starts off with the predator strolling across the perimeter of the campsite like a scene out of the 2022 Idris Ilba horror film “Beast.”
After seemingly wandering off into the comb, the massive cat then turns around and wanders toward the family, who whisper to one another not to maneuver.
The pride patriarch then pads right as much as their dining table and inspects the cutlery.
At one point within the mane-raising encounter, the feline by chance knocks a bottle off the table and causes it to clatter noisily on the bottom, seemingly shattering its perception as a stealthy hunter.
The clip concludes with the lion approaching inside feet of the statue-still safari-goers before flashing them a bone-chilling stare — after which disappearing into the wild.
It might need seemed prudent to attempt to flee the scene before the massive cat — which may grow to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 550 kilos — got here inside mauling distance.
Nonetheless, one in every of the campers told Storyful that they’d agreed before the trip that were they to have such an encounter, they’d “not go running, as it could encourage most wildlife to chase.”
“If anyone panics and runs or makes sudden movements, the chances are high high that they could be attacked,” said the witness.
And while she recognized the privilege of witnessing such a regal animal up close, she acknowledged that there was “no room for error.”
