“Camping Safaris Are Not Safe”: Kenyan Dentist Shows a Lion Entering a Camping Tent

• A Kenyan dentist and safari enthusiast shared shocking footage of a lioness breaking into a camping tent and stealing various items
• The incident occurred when campers had left for their evening safari drive, returning to find the big cat rummaging through their belongings
• Safari-goers were terrified by the footage, with many questioning the safety of camping safaris

A Kenyan dentist who shares safari content online has sparked serious conversations about camping safari safety after posting a video of a lioness ransacking a campsite in the middle of the night at a safari in Kenya.

Facebook user @TheAfricanSafariDentalGuy, who regularly shares wildlife encounters and dental practice content from Nairobi, uploaded the shocking footage on 21 August 2025 showing the big cat making herself at home in someone's tent.

The video shows the lioness emerging from the tent with a pillow in her mouth before going back inside to explore further. The campers had gone on their evening safari drive and returned to find the uninvited guest helping herself to their belongings. In the footage, you can hear the park ranger and tent owner discussing whether to get closer, but the lion clearly heard their vehicle approaching and poked her head out of the tent entrance.

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Rather than running away immediately, the lioness grabbed a sleeping bag in her mouth and made a casual exit. She eventually dropped it on the ground and circled back around the tent from another angle, showing no fear of the vehicle or humans nearby. The park ranger honked his horn several times to encourage the animal to leave, but the damage was already done.

Throughout the incident, the lioness managed to steal several items from the campsite, including the pillow, nearly taking the sleeping bag, and even dragging off a camping chair. The brazen behaviour lasted several minutes, with the big cat treating the tent like her personal shopping centre.

Safari community reacts to the tent invasion

The video quickly went viral, attracting over 21,000 reactions from viewers who were both amazed and terrified by what they witnessed.

@LusakoJSichali warned:

"That exploratory behaviour is not a good sign..."

@StacyAnne questioned:

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"Why is the door unzipped???"

@PamGlennie shared:

"But you can still hear them roar during hunting at night! Great memory!"

@TeshaFlowers declared:

"I can attest to the safety I felt with Safari N Smiles! None of this! Who does camping safaris? Who thought that this was a good idea? The lions? It's more like a picnic in a basket."

@AndreaJackson added:

"If lions are roaming, why are there chairs and a table sitting out? I would be scared as hell."

@TammySnow concluded:

"Oh yeah, really going to sleep in that after they leave, uh huh."

What experts say about camping safaris

According to experts at Viva Expeditions, African camping safaris can be perfectly safe when proper protocols are followed. Professional safari operators have expert knowledge of areas and provide valuable guidance to keep guests protected throughout their trips. Reputable camps use safety measures like fences and night guards to prevent exactly these kinds of incidents.

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However, the video shows the importance of following all safety rules, including properly securing tents and not leaving belongings outside. Modern camping safaris range from luxury tented camps with full security to more basic setups where campers are responsible for their own safety measures.

View the Facebook reel below:

Other animal encounters in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman who spotted springboks in her estate backyard, but what she discovered about living so close to wild animals raised serious safety concerns.
• A lion caused major traffic chaos at Kruger National Park, and what some visitors did to get the big cat's attention left rangers completely shocked.
• A buffalo attacked a safari car in Kenya's Masai Mara, and the reason behind the animal's aggressive behaviour had tourists reconsidering their game drive plans.

Source: Briefly News