ADDO Lions. A Totally Terrifying Experience.

Our last safari drive in Addo proved to be the best one. Although we had driven around the park in our little hire car there were trails we were not permitted to take. Only the safari trucks we allowed access. 

We saw lots of animals, Black back Jackal, wart hogs, kudu, mongoose, Zebra, Buffalo and we're lucky enough to see a Cara-cal on a night drive but we, of course, wanted Lions. Maybe ten minutes into the drive our driver obliged and found two huge male lions lying in the road. What an incredible sight they were, everyone in the truck was speechless as they stared in excitement and awe at these totally amazing, handsome creatures.

One of the lions, having seen the jeep pull up, decided to come and investigate. He sat up and roared, he stretched, he scratched and yawned before eyeing the jeep and I couldn't believe our luck as he started stalking towards us, so proud and so precise in his every stride he took. No one spoke, it was as if everyone, at that moment, held their breath, no one moved and the atmosphere in the jeep changed from excitement to fear, pure bone chilling fear! 

As he neared my heart seemed to stop, what an incredible moment, I had never felt fear like this, he was looking straight at me, his eyes hypnotising, his whole being was one of such amazing beauty but also of total power and strength. His muscles flexed in his shoulders as he drew closer, what an awesome beast he is, it is totally understandable why he is the King around here. 

There were so many emotions running through me I feel almost numb as if I was suddenly frozen in that moment but I had to move I knew I had to capture this, it was as if I didn't have a choice. 

I suddenly understood how so many wildlife photographers get killed by predictors such as this. There's an addiction that hits you to get the perfect photo, the ultimate shot. The adrenaline is like no other, it kicks in, surging through every last human sense we possess and every emotion is heightened to the extreme. 

This animal is so wild, so dangerous, so hungry and is now just a few feet away! 

These jeeps are open and with a small pounce any of us could be torn to shreds but I can't stop snapping away, desperately trying to capture these moments. I hardly dare breath, my heart pumps so rapidly I can almost hear it but these seconds are totally thrilling and totally extreme. I feel honoured to be in his company, privileged to be staring into his eyes and completely entranced by the prowess of this magnificent creature.

I hold my breath as he passes the jeep, still captivated, it's a completely terrifying moment, i have never been so totally petrified of any animal in my entire life and there really are no words to describe just how paralysing that fear is but I still dared to take another photo and captured his eyes staring at me searching for any opportunity for a kill.

He continued stalking along the side of the jeep, still looking for any opportunity to kill his prey but everyone sat completely still, too numb to move. He reached the back of the jeep and lay down and everyone breathed a sigh of relief until our driver explained that we now had a big problem. We were stuck between two lions!

After a few moments he said he was going to try to manoeuvre us out of there but warned us all not to move, not under any circumstances. He explained that the lions saw a truck that roared but if any of us moved they would see prey! He carefully  manoeuvred back and forth many times before we drove away and could all breath again. Although I think it was a few hours later that our breathing finally got back to normal and our hearts finally settled to a normal rhythm.

This encounter was definitely the most exhilarating experience I have ever had the pleasure of.  

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