Tag: Safari

Watch: Lions in a quandary after cobra slithers onto road

Footage shows the lions pause in their tracks, unsure how to react, after encountering the cobra and smaller reptile.

An African safari company on Thursday shared rare footage showing two lions encountering a cobra as the venomous snake stalked a lizard.

The extraordinary scene plays out on a road and viewers can hear a guest express disbelief at being able to photograph “a cobra and a lion in one shot.” (Video posted below.)

But, as Daniel Wildlife Safari explains, and as viewers can see, the lizard also stars in this bizarre confrontation:

“What seemed to have happened was that the cobra was hunting the lizard. The hunt must have caught the lions’ attention. The lions cautiously stalked the snake which drew the attention of the snake away from the lizard. Once the tension between the lions and the cobra eased, the lizard stumbled in front of the lions.

“The lions were unsure of this whole situation and were shocked! After encountering the venomous cobra, the lions did not want to take the chance with the defenseless lizard. They left the lizard alone and all 3 animals went away seemingly unscathed.”

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Tourists ‘shocked’ as elephant appears ready to crush car

Safari tourists in small car learn the hard way that it’s not wise to play games with a bull elephant.

An Africa-based magazine this week shared an extraordinary image showing a large elephant draped over the hood and windshield of a Volkswagen Polo, seemingly poised to crush the car and its occupants.

“Two safari drivers were left shocked when a bull elephant stepped over the car and decided to scratch his belly itch,” Khakibush Magazine stated via Instagram, adding that the bizarre encounter was photographed by Armand Grobler in South Africa’s Pilanesberg National Park.

No other details were provided, but Grobler told FTW Outdoors that the dangerous encounter occurred in 2013 and was caused, in part, by the driver’s actions.

Grobler, now a guide, was asked to describe the turn of events that led to what became known as the “Elephant Itch” photograph.

“We were driving with a group studying animal behavior when we came across the Polo, which was reversing with the elephant walking in front of it,” Grobler recalled.

“One of the major things that you learn is never to reverse when an elephant is walking toward you. You either stop and let it walk past or you get out of the way completely. The elephant sort of finds it as a game if you keep on reversing, almost taunting it.”

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Grobler said the elephant disappeared into the bush but the driver kept reversing, trying to keep pace with the pachyderm.

“The car was trying to keep up with the elephant, and eventually the elephant came out and at first put its tusks the roof and then the trunk, and then it walked around it with the front legs on the left-hand side and the hind legs on the right-hand side, and then it just crushed the Polo,” Grobler said.

“But it wasn’t trying to do damage. It looked like it was scratching an itch. The car, ironically, was the correct height for the itch, and therefore we named it the ‘Elephant Itch’ photograph.”

Grobler said the encounter lasted about 15 minutes. He did not say how badly the Polo was damaged.

‘Fur ball’ cheetah cubs play on road in ‘beautiful video’ shared by guide

Guide Rodney Nombekana promises: “Guaranteed the most beautiful video you will see today on social media.”

A safari guide in South Africa on Monday shared rare closeup footage showing a cheetah with five young cubs and promised Facebook followers:

“Guaranteed the most beautiful video you will see today on social media. A cheetah with tiny fur balls in Kruger National Park.”

The accompanying footage shows the cubs reacting curiously to their surroundings but mostly playing at every chance while sticking close to mom.

One follower suggested the footage was not real because cheetah moms with cubs are usually elusive and keep their distance from tourists.

But Rodney Nombekana, the guide and photographer, assured that it the footage, captured last September, is genuine.

Be sure to watch at the 30-second mark as one of the cubs plays a short game of tug-o-war with momma’s tail. (Please click here if the video player does not appear below.)

Ferocious leopard fight broken up, emphatically, by third leopard

Dramatic footage shows a dominant male leopard bolting in to end a fight between a female leopard and her adult daughter.

A fierce battle between leopards, apparently a mother and adult daughter, was forcefully declared over recently by a third leopard that bolted in to separate the combatants.

The accompanying footage was shared by Safari Travel Ideas, which stated:

“The mother entered the daughter’s territory in pursuit of the area’s dominant male, who at the time was with the daughter. Daughter was not happy about that as you can see.”

The wild confrontation played out in front of tourists in Sabi Sands Nature Reserve in South Africa. The footage, best viewed with audio, shows the male leopard knocking both female leopards into apparent submission.

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Watch: Tourist wants no part of close tiger encounter

Footage shows the woman standing and pleading with the driver to leave, while others in the vehicle remained calm – and for good reason.

Imagine that you’re on safari observing a tiger at close range and one guest stands in the vehicle and loudly pleads with the driver to back away.

“Please, can you go?!” the woman insists in the accompanying footage, using a hand gesture for emphasis. Later in the footage, the woman again stands and demands that it’s time to leave.

The footage was captured last year in India’s Ranthambore National Park. It was reposted Tuesday by Ranthambhore Wildlife, titled, “Tiger scares lady or lady scared tiger.”

The video inspired lots of social-media commentary and one follower remarked that “yelling like an idiot” could have provoked an attack.

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Another chimed in: “This woman is more aggressive than the poor tiger! What’s wrong with her?”

It’s worth noting that tigers in India’s wildlife reserves are accustomed to the presence of safari vehicles and typically do not become aggressive if tourists and guides remain quietly seated.

If a tiger approaches, it’s essential that everyone remains calm.

A few comments were somewhat in defense of the woman, but many were critical and several people pointed out that tourists pay lots of money for the chance to observe wild tigers.

While some might question whether the driver allowed this to become too close of an encounter, Ranthambhore Wildlife implied that the woman was the only person violating protocol:

“It’s essential to remember that tigers are wild animals and deserve our respect. As we venture into their natural habitat, we must prioritize our safety and theirs.

“A calm and composed demeanor is crucial in such situations. By following the guidelines and exercising self-control, we can ensure a thrilling yet safe experience for both humans and animals alike.”

Ranthambore National Park is in the state of Rajasthan. The forested region is home to more than 80 Bengal tigers and other large animals, such as leopards, sloth bears, and crocodiles.

Ranthambhore Wildlife (note difference in spelling) operates safaris twice-daily in the park.

Guide in Africa captures rare footage of bird bathing in ants

The footage might make your skin crawl, but hornbills and other birds initiate this behavior as sort of a spa treatment.

A guide for a safari lodge in South Africa has captured extraordinary footage showing a large hornbill perched atop an ant hill while allowing the insencts to swarm over its body.

Yes, the accompanying footage might make your skin crawl. But this behavior is initiated by certain birds as sort of a spa treatment.

“This is very rarely seen but guide Zaan Snaps had an eagle eye this day and spotted a hornbill practicing a behaviour called anting!” Umkumbe Bush Lodge exclaimed Wednesday via Instagram. “This is when birds purposely sit atop an ants nest and allow ants to crawl all over and this assists with cleaning the bird of parasites.”

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The lodge, which shared the footage, jokingly described the event as “next-level dust bathing.”

The lodge also explained: “Ants secrete formic acid as a form of deterring predators but some birds absolutely love it.

“It is believed that passive anting could have a few benefits: 1. Parasite control, 2. Feather maintenance, 3. Stimulation of feather growth, 4. Self Stimulation.”

Besides “passive anting,” certain birds practice “active anting,” during which birds pick up ants with their bills and rub them against their feathers.

From Britannica: “A great deal of controversy has existed over the function of anting. Some authorities have theorized that it is a form of self-stimulation, but most ornithologists conclude that anting is a type of feather maintenance.

“Formic acid and other ant fluids are known to be insecticidal; dressing the feathers with ants would thus kill or deter avian parasites, such as lice and mites.”

Watch: Angry tiger reacts to ‘intrusive’ tourists in safari vehicle

Footage from India shows the agitated tiger charging an open-topped jeep full of tourists, including at least one child.

Wild animals exhibit remarkable restraint when tourists in vehicles violate their space. But occasionally, they lash out.

Video footage shared Sunday by a member of the Indian Forest Service shows an agitated tiger aggressively charging an open-topped vehicle before responding to loud sounds made by a guide and retreating into the forest.

(Click here to view the footage.)

“Sometimes, our ‘too much’ eagerness for ‘Tiger sighting’ is nothing but intrusion in their life,” Surender Mehra bemoaned via X.

Viewers might note that, with the vehicle just yards from the tiger, at least one infant can be heard in the audio.

The post brings to question the issue of responsible tourism, as in, how close is too close for the safety of wildlife and tourists? (In most regions of the world, any action that glaringly alters the behavior of a wild animal might be considered harassment.)

Reads one of the top comments: “But why [do] the visitors have to risk their life in an open jeep? One leap by the tiger can cause heart attacks to some of them sitting in the jeep. The thrill will vanish in a second.”

The top comment is from a follower who seemed to imply that had the tourists remained silent during the encounter, the tiger might not have felt compelled to lash out:

“Worst is the constant jabbering by tourists – they just won’t keep quiet!”

Watch: Elephant uses trunk to create mesmerizing ‘water show’

Footage shows the elephant using its powerful trunk to compress and spray water as a fine mist directed toward tourists.

A bull elephant in South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve used its powerful trunk recently to compress and spray water as a fine mist directed toward safari guests.

“This bull tricks us with a water show!” Ranger Gabriel Harmer exclaimed via Instagram. “It was absolutely amazing! A light mist spray on a warm afternoon drive. What better way to cool down than to get water sprayed on you by an Ellie!”

Harmer’s footage is posted below and best viewed with audio.

MalaMala Game Reserve also shared the footage under the title, “Mistifier.”

“Just shows you how strong their trunks are,” one viewer observed.

“He’s got skills,” another viewer chimed in.

MalaMala is a private reserve inside Sabi Sands Game Reserve and shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park.

Impatient tourist bumps lion with vehicle; footage sparks outrage

The motorist appears to be nudging the startled lion to clear a prime observation spot in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

Footage showing a motorist bumping into a lion in South Africa’s Kruger National Park has enraged social-media viewers.

“What a selfish inconsiderate idiot!” Lion Lovers exclaimed Friday via X, calling on the park to ban the motorist. “It’s a disgrace that people behave like this.”

The incident occurred during a traffic jam caused by lions walking on a highway. These “lion jams” typically attract crowds of tourists eager to view and photograph the animals – but usually in a respectable manner.

The footage, captured by Safraaz Suliman, shows the truck rolling toward and nudging the startled cat’s rear as if to clear a prime observation spot.

“Hard to watch. This driver should get a lifetime ban from any national park,” reads a comment beneath the Lion Lovers post.

“Disgusting behavior,” another viewer complained.

Kruger is billed as the “flagship of the South African National Parks” and tourists are allowed to tour the park in their own vehicles.

However, animals have the right of way and motorists are required to exercise extreme caution when in close proximity to wildlife. Any action that alters an animal’s behavior – such as bumping it with a vehicle – might be considered illegal harassment.

The Lion Lovers tweet tagged Kruger National Park, but at the time of this post it remained unclear if the park planned to investigate.

Watch: Safari guest can’t believe she is this close to a lion

Footage shows the young woman expressing awe and disbelief as the male lion passes just yards from her open-air vehicle.

How would you react if you were on a photo safari and witnessed an adult male lion approaching within yards of your open-air vehicle?

The accompanying footage, shared Thursday by Mala Mala Game Reserve, shows a young woman expressing awe and disbelief as a lion strolled almost within touching distance.

Her reaction is so understandably perfect that Mala Mala required no description other than to state: “One of the many reasons we do what we do.”

For those who might wonder, lions in South Africa’s protected reserves are accustomed to safari vehicles and typically do not perceive tourists in vehicles as prey or a threat.

Mala Mala is a private reserve that shares an unfenced border with world-famous Kruger National Park. Besides lions, guests might encounter other iconic large animals such as elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes.