"Thought It Was Their Time”: White Lion Prank On Trail Runners at Imfolozi Outrun Route Amuses SA
- A white lion appeared on the trail during the Imfolozi Outrun race on 23 August 2026, forcing runners to pass within metres of the big cat
- Footage captured runners' terrified reactions as the lion lingered on the pathway, refusing to move
- The video quickly went viral, with South Africans cracking up at the runners' priceless responses
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Source: UGC
Trail runners at the Imfolozi Outrun event got a lot more than they bargained for on 23 August 2026 when a white lion decided to make the race its own personal viewing spot.
Footage from the event, on what appears to be a bushveld trail, shows multiple runners coming face to face with the large white lion as it stood directly on the path. One by one, competitors had no choice but to pass the animal at uncomfortably close range. Some only realised later that the lion was fake.
The reactions said it all. Gasps, whispered prayers, and barely contained panic rippled through the group as the lion held its ground. One runner could be heard urging a companion forward in a tight, urgent voice: "Just walk, just walk." Another simply let out a breathless "Oh my Jesus" before pressing on.
A lion on the route
The trail appeared to wind through dense bushveld scrub, with limited room to keep any meaningful distance from the lifeless animal. The white lion was as still as the statue that it was. It stayed put as runner after runner streamed past, some giving it a wide berth, others moving with the quiet dread of someone who had very suddenly reconsidered their life choices.
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One person in the video could be heard muttering.
"Oh god, you're a monster," while another tried to calm those around them, saying, "I'll save you" in a tone that suggested they absolutely would not be saving anyone.
View the Facebook video below:
Mzansi reacts to the Imfolozi lion encounter
South Africans in the comments section on the page on the Imfolozi Outrun Facebook reel could not stop laughing:
Violette Pieters said:
"A little bit of a roar would've made it interesting... lol"
Richard Atkins wrote:
"That one couple 'just walk, just walk' 🤣 Shame, those 2 thought it was their time"
Lauren Gordon commented:
"Amy Lagesse too busy chatting to get scared 😉😜"
Estelle Weber Cilliers joked:
"That guy threw something at the lion; was it his balls? I didn't see him pick up a rock."
Colin Holman added:
"I've always wanted to station a remote-controlled leopard a kilometer from the Kruger exit and see the chaos at closing time..."
Kara Kerwan laughed:
"Jessica Hoskison, this is probably why Byron Hoskison suggested this run 🤣"
More Briefly News stories on pranks
- The Owl Rescue Centre defended its response after a DA prank involving a fake giraffe emergency sparked online backlash.
- Helen Zille became the target of a viral street prank, with footage of the unexpected encounter entertaining South Africans online.
- Appetite fooled Cape Town residents with a Black Coffee lookalike stunt, later revealing how the elaborate prank was pulled off.
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Source: Briefly News
