Staff Reporter
HOEDSPRUIT – A group of safari guests got more than they bargained for when a pride of curious lions interrupted their sundowner break and made off with a cooler bag at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, outside Hoedspruit, on Wednesday.
Guests from Rockfig Safari Lodge had stopped to enjoy evening drinks after a game drive when the unexpected encounter occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, the lions approached the setup table cautiously at first, sniffing around before one of them boldly nudged the table forward. Moments later, the pride began tugging at the tablecloth and rummaging through the refreshments before grabbing a cooler bag and trotting off into the bush.
Ranger Danie Bronkhorst, who captured the amusing moment on video, said the situation, though light-hearted, reminded everyone that in the wild, “you’re always on the animals’ terms.”
No one was injured, and the guests described the experience as “a once-in-a-lifetime adventure” that perfectly captured the unpredictable magic of the African bush.
Wildlife enthusiasts online have since shared laughs and amazement over the video, which highlights just how curious—and opportunistic—lions can be when it comes to human picnics.
