An unsuspecting brown hyena was just patrolling his territory when he took a wrong turn and entered the lions’ turf.
Louis Le Roux (61) was on vacation at Gharagab in the Kgalagadi National Park when this incredible sighting unfolded. Latestightings.com recalls his story: “160km North of Nossob, the camp was hot and very dry. The last 34km 4×4 track from Unions End to Gharagab took us 2.5 hrs due to condition of the road and we enjoyed the different scenery of the Red Kalahari.
Kraai (my wife and best friend of 41 years) and I, were booked into a cabin at Gharagab. On our arrival at 2pm, the camp was quiet and it was cooking hot. During the evening we saw that there was a brown and also a spotted hyena at a water hole with a few springboks and an eland in the background. The eland was very nervous and disappeared into the night without a sip of water. It was obvious that there were predators roaming this area as all animals were extremely cautious.
At 03h30 the next morning, we were woken by lion roars somewhere in the vicinity.
We both smiled and knew that was why we came all the way to Gharagab on the bad Kgalagadi roads. I decided to sit outside on the wood deck merely a meter above ground level and listen to the night sounds but my wife reprimanded me and said it was too dangerous.
It was awfully quiet so I went back to bed. At 05h00, I was woken by “something” and I felt uneasy, what had woken me? I walked out onto the wooden deck from where I could clearly see the water hole. My neck hair raised as I became aware of “something” and a strange smell was in the air but it was dark and I could not see anything.
I was peering into the night when I noticed movement happening in front of the deck. There they were, lions… Once I regained control of my heartbeat and breathing rhythm, I smelt the familiar scent of them. By now all my senses were awakened and I was immediately aware of the potential risk and danger so close by.
—Watch—
