In most parts of the world, seeing a lion is a very much controlled experience – typically in a zoo. In Etosha National Park in Namibia, you have to keep your camera handy because there’s no telling when you’ll see a large animal – or even if you’ll see one at all. In spite of this, it’s not uncommon to see tourists leaning way out of their car windows, or even sitting on top of their cars – “surely they wouldn’t let us visit the park if it were really dangerous.” Hint: that’s why they tell you to stay in your cars.
When you do spot a lion, it is sometimes shocking how they can be very close and you don’t even realize. This was our experience when we thought we spotted one in the distance, but by the time we got there, she was nowhere to be seen. Making a 3 point turn to head back, we were startled to see her just a few feet in front of the car:
We’ll be sure and keep our arms inside the window at all times…
