Reckless Truck Driver Scares Lions Off the Road in Kruger National Park

NOTE: Two wrongs don't make a right!
The proverb "two wrongs don't make a right" means that responding to someone else's bad behaviour with your own bad behaviour does not make the situation better or correct the original wrong. Instead of solving the problem, engaging in retaliatory or similar negative actions only creates more bad behaviour, ultimately making things worse and reducing you to the aggressor's moral level.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
A wrong is a wrong:
The initial wrongdoing, no matter who committed it, remains a wrong action.
Retaliation doesn't fix things:
Even if someone has done something bad to you, returning the favor with another bad action won't make the first one disappear or improve the overall situation.
It escalates negativity:
When you commit a wrong in response to a wrong, you are adding another negative act to the world, making the situation twice as bad.
It's about moral conduct:
The proverb encourages people to behave morally and not stoop to the level of those who have wronged them, advocating for fairness and positive actions instead of revenge.

On 11 August 2025, a dramatic incident unfolded on the main road about 4 km north of Satara Rest Camp in Kruger National Park. The Satara Lion Pride—consisting of two lionesses, one small cub, a subadult male, and an old, sick male lion identified as Mfowethu, the last surviving brother of Casper the White Lion—was seen lying across the road, causing heavy traffic congestion.
The lions occupied half of the road, leaving only a single lane for vehicles to pass. Unfortunately, some tourists ignored park regulations and stopped in the open lane to take photographs, despite clear rules stating that the lane furthest from the animals must remain open at all times. This resulted in traffic piling up in both directions, blocking many vehicles from reaching their destinations.
Among the blocked vehicles was a delivery truck owned by Ngomthi Firewood, en route to deliver firewood to the park’s shops. The driver, unwilling to wait, attempted to force the situation. He opened his door and made gestures to the lions in an effort to scare them away. Although the lions briefly moved off the road, they soon returned to the tarmac. Eventually, when a small gap opened, the driver pushed through, nearly driving over the lions and frightening them into retreat.
This incident serves as a reminder that Kruger National Park is a wild nature reserve. Visitors are guests in the animals’ natural habitat and are expected to respect the rules designed to protect both wildlife and people. Sadly, this reckless behaviour put the pride—particularly the cub and the ageing Mfowethu—at risk. It is the responsibility of everyone entering the park to act with patience and respect.
The actions of the Ngomthi Firewood truck driver highlight the dangers of disregarding these principles, and it is hoped that accountability will follow to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Game drive etiquette rules:
– When you come across a sighting, slowly pull over on the side of the road closest to the animal, but keep a safe distance
– If there are animals in the road, immediately stop at least 20 m from them
– The lane furthest from the sighting should never be blocked, so that others can pass if they want to
– Don’t linger longer than a few minutes at a sighting, so that others can view it too
– Never go off the designated roads
– Never climb out of your vehicle during a drive, or hang out of your car windows or sunroof
– Don’t hoot or blare loud music
– Avoid driving into vegetation, as this could damage the environment or kill small animals
– During night drives, never shine a spotlight directly in animals’ eyes
– Never make noise to get animals to move, stand up or otherwise react for pictures
– Respect the rangers, and always comply with their requests or instructions