Tourists expecting breathtaking views of African wildlife got far more than they bargained for when a lioness zeroed in on an unexpected target inside their vehicle.
On TikTok, user kitchentalks8 shared a video showing herself and several others on an African safari in Pretoria, South Africa, when they’re approached by a lion and two lionesses.
“That one safari where the girl asked if someone could go and fetch her jacket,” text overlaying the clip said.
As the video begins, one lioness is seen getting closer to the safari truck, which appears to be protected by a metal gate.
The lioness is then able to get her teeth on someone’s jacket inside the vehicle and rip it out.
Reacting in Shock
Several on the safari truck are heard reacting in shock as the lioness bites the jacket and walk away with it.
In the caption, the woman wrote that while on the safari, they approached an area where the lions were and initially noticed them laying under a tree.
“The lioness got up, slowly approached the vehicle and took bestie’s expensive jacket,” the woman wrote in the caption.
“I’m sure it was the shock talking, but she asked if someone could go and get it because it was expensive—my friend and I had to duck because—gurl, be for real.”
The woman also noted that while she’s been on several safaris, this experience was “a first” for her.
‘Can’t put a price’
TikTok viewers focused on the irony of a luxury item nearly becoming a souvenir for wildlife, amid 1,800 remarks and 2.8 million views since January 13.
One pundit quipped: “‘So expensive’…. Lioness: I guess we both have expensive taste.”
Another commented, “She said you can’t put a price on life, but that jersey? That’s expensive.”
Meanwhile, a fellow contributor offered: “‘It’s expensive,’ yeah, so are funerals, [laugh out loud].”
The lighthearted responses contrasted with the visible tension in the video where passengers can be heard reacting as the animal comes within arm’s reach of the vehicle.
Close Encounters on Safari
While the exchange became a punchline online, wildlife sightings at close range are a common part of safari tourism.
Newsweek reported on a viral TikTok video that captured a dramatic encounter between a group of tourists and a pride of lions at the Lion & Safari Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The clip shows a group of lions stalking and surrounding the content creator’s vehicle, coming within inches of the windows.
Another Newsweek story covered a “dangerous” safari scene shared on TikTok where several tourists got into a terrifying standoff with an elephant.
The clip shows a vehicle driving down a dirt road, while an elephant is shown standing in the distance. A voice off-camera says “Please let us through” as the vehicle stops on the road and the elephant stares straight ahead at the car, moving a few steps towards it.
Newsweek has reached out to kitchentalks8 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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