Some wildlife encounters arrive quietly. Others unfold like a perfectly written story where, for a few moments, you feel as though you are standing in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. One of my most memorable lion encounters happened in a place that had become almost a second home to us over the years: the Pilanesberg.
When a Kruger trip was still months away and the bush was calling, Pilanesberg was always our go-to reserve. It was close enough for a weekend escape, yet wild enough to deliver those unforgettable moments we all hope for in the bush. It also became our family’s traditional Christmas holiday destination. Dad had to return to work on the 31st each year, so travelling too far wasn’t practical. Pilanesberg solved that perfectly.
One this particular December day, Mom and I decided to do something unusual for us. Instead of heading out on a game drive with the many friends we had made over the years – families who camped in the same spot every festive season – we chose to stay in camp. We politely declined the invitations to join drives and instead spent the day slowing down.
We wandered along the walking trails inside the camp, swam, chatted, and simply enjoyed the relaxed rhythm of camp life. The bush has a way of reminding you that you don’t always have to be chasing sightings to appreciate it. Before we knew it, the day had slipped by, and Dad had returned from work.
Having missed out on the day’s activities, he was eager to get out the next morning. So at first light the following day, we were already waiting at the gate. When it opened, we rolled into the park at our usual slow pace, letting our eyes adjust to the soft early morning light.
The bush was just waking up.
We spotted some of the usual early morning characters, a jackal trotting purposefully along the road, elephants moving quietly through the trees, and various plains game scattered across the landscape. We paused often, soaking in the beauty of it all. It was one of those calm mornings where the bush feels peaceful and unhurried.
After about 45 minutes, though, something began to feel a little strange.
We hadn’t seen another vehicle.
At first we didn’t think much of it, but Pilanesberg has several entrance gates, and by that time of the morning it was unusual not to see anyone else on the roads. Eventually curiosity got the better of us, and we decided to drive toward Pilanesberg Centre – a small restaurant and shop complex in the park.
As we approached the centre, the mystery suddenly solved itself.
Heading directly toward us, completely dominating the road, was a pride of lions. Not just a few individuals either – more than ten lions moving together with the quiet confidence that only lions possess.
And trailing behind them was everyone else.
Vehicle after vehicle had formed a slow-moving procession behind the pride. No one could pass, no one could turn around. The lions owned the road and the entire line of cars had no choice but to follow.
From where we were, approaching from the opposite direction, it felt surreal. We suddenly had front-row seats to this incredible scene as the pride steadily walked toward us.
We couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Behind those lions stretched what looked like a “human chain” of vehicles – dozens of cars creeping slowly along. Somewhere back there might have been vehicle number fifty, all of them hoping for a glimpse of what the first few cars were seeing.
At the same time, we did feel a little sorry for them, though.
One thing my family has always tried to do in the bush is anticipate what animals might do next. Watching the direction the pride was heading, we quickly realised something: they were moving straight toward the waterhole near Pilanesberg Centre.
With only a few hundred metres left before they reached it, we made a quick decision.
Dad carefully reversed the vehicle back down the road, we parked at the centre, and then we walked inside to wait. Instead of watching them from the road like everyone else, we positioned ourselves where we could see the surrounding bush. Sure enough, a few minutes later movement appeared between the trees. One by one, the lions emerged from the bush and walked calmly toward the waterhole, exactly where we had predicted they would go. It was an incredible sight.
Watching them approach through the vegetation, hearing the quiet rustle of grass and branches as they moved, and then seeing the entire pride gather at the water felt almost unreal. From start to finish, we had witnessed the whole story unfold, from their road march through the reserve to their final destination at the waterhole.
Moments like that are what make the bush so special. Not just the lions themselves, but the feeling of being part of something unfolding naturally around you. On that morning in Pilanesberg, we didn’t just see lions. We watched a wild moment play out exactly as nature intended, and we had the privilege of witnessing every step of it.
Moments like this remind us that lions belong exactly where we found them – wild and free in their natural habitat. Youth for Lions works to ensure that these magnificent animals remain part of our wild landscapes, not confined to cages or bred for human use.
Text and images by Youth Ambassador Gabby Sykora.