Watch: Hoedspruit resident finds pride of lions on his doorstep

“Knock knock, who’s there?” – a majestic pride of lions, that’s who. A Hoedspruit-based businessman has uploaded an early contender for viral video of the year, after arriving at his father’s house and finding some uninvited visitors outside.

Pride of lions invite themselves round to Hoedspruit house

The lazing lions can be seen sleeping, grooming, and patrolling on the porch. The only thing separating them from the human inside the house is a glass door. Thankfully, once the lions clock that they’ve got company, they decide to keep themselves to themselves – with a few playful frolics thrown in for good measure.

David de Beer is the owner of Davon Construction. He captured the breathtaking footage, and uploaded it Facebook earlier this week. He posted a very tongue-in-cheek caption, showing remarkable calm for a man who now has to explain to some of the deadliest predators on the planet that they are in contravention of Level 3 lockdown laws…

“So we arrive at my Father’s house (that’s for sale) on Leadwood Estate in Hoedspruit today – only to find someone else has already moved in….”

David de Beer

Watch: Lions found sleeping at residential property

Hoedspruit joins Fourways in ‘urban safari’

Hoedspruit is a town situated at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg, in the Limpopo province. It nestles serenely on the railway line from Tzaneen to Kaapmuiden. It’s at the heart of South Africa’s wildest open plains, and locals are no strangers to seeing one of the ‘Big 5’ roaming. However, encountering a whole pride of lions in your garden is wholly unique.

This clip has been shared as authorities in Fourways attempt to track down a local hippo on the loose. No official sightings have been made this week, and citizens are being advised to keep their distance – which must be second nature during a pandemic – should they encounter this adventurous, semiaquatic mammal.