“Guides Are Everything”: Safari Guide’s Reaction As Lion Approaches Him Impresses Tourists
- A male lion walked directly alongside a game-viewing vehicle at Thornybush, leaving passengers speechless
- The safari tracker stayed completely calm and avoided eye contact as the lion passed within arm's reach
- The footage captured by @alyssapassero went viral, sparking debate about lion behaviour and safari safety
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Source: Instagram
A safari moment at Thornybush left passengers on a game-viewing vehicle completely stunned when a male lion walked right up alongside the truck during a golden-hour game drive on 7 September 2026.
Instagram user @alyssapassero filmed the close encounter, which quickly went viral for the way it captured both the raw power of the lion and the extraordinary composure of the vehicle's tracker.
In her caption, Alyssa described it as:
"the most breathtaking moment of our entire safari,"
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Adding that watching the tracker calmly avoid eye contact as the lion approached was something she would never forget.
"South Africa was unreal," she wrote.
The tracker's calm under pressure
While passengers could be heard gasping and muttering in disbelief, the Thornybush tracker on the vehicle remained completely still, deliberately avoiding eye contact as the lion sauntered past. It was that quiet, practised restraint that seemed to make the difference between a tense moment and a dangerous one.
The footage, set against the warm tones of an African sunset, drew millions of viewers who had strong opinions about what they were watching.
View the Instagram below:
Viewers weigh in on the lion encounter
The clip sparked a lively conversation online, with many people questioning whether simply staying still and avoiding eye contact was truly enough to deter a lion on the page:
@socialworker1977 asked:
"Ok, serious question. They really don't attack if you don't move? Obviously he didn't, but I just find it so hard to believe. Lions are so beautiful, but I definitely would have been shaking!"
@farah.anwarr joked:
"Why is everyone behaving like the lion can't hear after he passed them 😭😭😭"
@kingsleypst said:
"Still trying to figure out what eye contact has to do with it tho... as in it's that easy? Just don't look? I'm running for sure 😂"
@michaelbeach pointed out:
"They sure started celebrating their survival pretty early. The lion was still right there and could have easily changed his mind, turned around and said, 'F*** it, I am kinda hungry' 😮🤣"
@dinerogoon laughed:
"Bro said 🦁 'Make sure this is your last tour for today' 🤨... 😂"
@notmattyinmotion added:
"People have no idea how breathtaking that roar is. You feel it vibrate through your whole body. The power behind that lion is just next level. I'm sure everyone was scared 😂"
@cmanramfan summed it up simply:
"Guides are everything. They know these animals. They know their behaviors. They are rock stars!!!"
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- WildEarth staff had viewers in stitches as they hilariously attempted to mimic animal sounds, with one man's surprisingly convincing lion impression stealing the show.
- A reveal that some informal waste pickers can earn up to R28,000 a month—more than many formally employed workers—has left South Africans divided over their earnings and working conditions.
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Source: Briefly News
