The post Why Would a Lion Prowl Through a Tent Like a Midnight Thief? appeared first on A-Z Animals.
To truly get a feel of living amid the wildlife on an African safari, some hardy adventurers choose to tent camp. Camping in Africa can range from a luxury tent with every amenity to pitching a tent on the ground. Whichever you choose, there are no walls between you and the wildlife, leaving you to hear the sounds of lions roaring or hyenas cackling in the distance. But are you truly safe in a tent, or will some fearsome predator, such as a lion, get curious and try to join you? Find out what happens when a lion is seen prowling through a tent.
There is nothing quite as thrilling as spotting a lion in the wild, strolling through the African bush.
©Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com
Lions Can Get Curious
Experts say that most of the time, lions will regard a zipped-up tent as a solid structure and not get too curious about it. However, this is not a foolproof safety measure, and caution should always be exercised. One safari website states, “Wild animals and predators do not come into the tents, which can be zipped up completely and respect the tent as one big object to omit.”
A pair of campers watched a lion prowling around their tent in the early morning hours on an African safari.
©Wild Sightings / YouTube – Original
However, there are always exceptions to the rule. A pair of campers found this out while staying overnight in a tent in the Mabuasehube Game Reserve inside the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Videographer Robert Hofmeyr and his brother-in-law, Andy Caldwell, caught some stunning footage when their tent was ransacked by a male lion. The video can be seen on the YouTube channel, Wild Sightings.
What to Do When a Lion Eats Your Pillow?
Lions may ignore zipped-up tents, but that doesn’t mean they won’t want to check out one that is open. The campers were prepping for their day. It was early in the morning before sunrise when they spotted a lion curiously wandering into their campsite. To keep out of its way, they ran to the safety of their vehicle, leaving their tent open. The two drove a bit away from the camp in order to safely shut the rear doors of their vehicle. But when they returned, they found the lion running off with a pillow, as if it were a dog that had found a chew toy.
Hofmeyr narrates, “we have a bit of a problem now because the lion is eating Andy’s pillow.” He continues, “and we can’t get out of the car.” The two are laughing, but also nervous about the incredible encounter.
The Lion Continued to Search the Tent
The lion plays around with the pillow outside the tent for a while. Next, he saunters back inside to see what else he can find. Hofmeyr and Caldwell are forced to watch it all unfold as their tent and its contents turn into a giant chew toy. They try honking to drive the lion away, but it remains undeterred. They decide to drive up closer to the tent. Finally, the lion emerges, now gripping a sleeping bag in its teeth.
While prowling a tent, a lion played with a camper’s pillow.
©Wild Sightings / YouTube – Original
The lion eventually loses interest, and the two campers wait for daylight to assess the damage. Aside from the now torn and slobbery pillow, they find a torn bag and several spots where the tent is ripped. The lion also carried off a camping chair and chewed a few holes. Caldwell questions if he will use his tattered pillow again. Hofmeyr tells him that it’s “just a bit of lion slobber.”
Why Would a Lion Enter a Tent in the First Place?
From the behavior we see in the video, the lion that ransacked the camper’s tent was likely curious and playful. As the experts say, a lion will usually view a tent as a structure. The animal won’t consider that there is anything inside. But when the two campers in the video left in a rush, their tent was unzipped. The lion had a clear view of what must have been an interesting find for the day.
Lions are very intelligent and curious. Scientists believe that it takes complex social skills to live and hunt together in prides. These complex social skills require intelligence. Animal experts have witnessed that lions living in zoos have unique personalities. Some are more shy, while others are bolder. Lions have also been found to be good puzzle solvers and will problem-solve to find a treat.
How to Stay Safe While Camping on a Safari
According to one safari adventure group, when tent camping in Africa, keep your tent zipped up at all times. Safari camps are typically not fenced. Wild animals are free to wander by. If you zip your tent while you are in it and when you leave, you will reduce your chances of having a curious lion eat your pillow.
For those really brave folks who want to get a full sense of wildlife, some safari tours even allow guests to sleep under the wings of an aircraft. But out there in the open, you must be aware that any animal may stop by to investigate at any time. Or if you’d like a little more safety, but still have the open sky above you, sky beds are raised platforms that allow you to sleep under the African stars.
The post Why Would a Lion Prowl Through a Tent Like a Midnight Thief? appeared first on A-Z Animals.