Male Lions Cross River

Moments later, they rose to their feet, picking up the trail of the lioness who had given them the slip while they slept. What followed was nothing short of remarkable—be sure to see how the final sighting of the day unfolded

As the two males tracked the lioness, they pursued her movements with purpose, following the same path they had taken in the morning—heading straight for the Sand River. We took a chance, making a calculated guess that they would attempt to cross the river at the same location where we had narrowly missed them earlier. Looping far ahead, we crossed the bridge in anticipation, knowing they were unaware that the lioness had already tried to cross and encountered crocodiles.

They reached the river quickly, and we were perfectly positioned. As the light faded, they approached the water’s edge, drank, and nervously assessed the scene. Something felt off to them—they could sense that the lioness had altered her course. Together, they tested four different sections of the river, each time raising our anticipation. Eventually, we began to think they didn’t have the courage to cross.

Then, whether out of bravery, foolishness, or pure laziness to take the safer route via the bridge, they entered the river. Excitement surged through us. Watching two male lions cross the river is a rare sight, especially in the wet season when the water is higher and murky. They waded into the crocodiles’ lair, wide-eyed and hyper-focused. At one point, they bumped shoulders, spooking each other, and in a sudden splash of water, they panicked before bounding through the final stretch to safety.

We couldn’t believe our luck—our patience and determination had placed us in the perfect position to witness this incredible moment head-on. This will undoubtedly be one of the biggest highlights of the trip—though, remarkably, each drive seems to outdo the last. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!