Eric keeps cool as curious lion says hello

[caption id="attachment_162008" align="aligncenter" width="500"] MOCK STARE: A young lion gets close to Tintswalo Safari Lodge tracker Eric Ubisi. Using his years of bush experience, Ubisi kept still and the inquisitive beast soon wandered off. Picture: Anton van Loggerenberg[/caption]

All Eric Ubisi could do was stay still and hope his instincts were dead right as the young lion got so close he could have leaned down to touch it.

The tracker said he wasn't scared as the lion decided to get a closer look at him and the safari vehicle. In fact, he enjoyed the encounter.

"If this were any other lion, I wouldn't have allowed him to get so close, but this lion I know. He is relaxed, that lion is like my dog at home," said Ubisi, who works for Tintswalo Safari Lodge, on the border of Kruger National Park.

It all happened on Monday afternoon during a game drive in the Manyeleti Game Reserve concession when they spotted the three lions lying on the ground.

"When the lions stood up and approached the vehicle, one lay down behind the vehicle and another moved towards the front and stopped and looked at Eric, so I couldn't back away," said ranger David Jacobs.

Ubisi said he could see that the lion was relaxed and would pass him.

Jacobs asked Ubisi if he was comfortable and he said "yes".

"I have spent a lot of time in the bush, and you can judge the behaviour of an animal. You can see when it is going to charge," he said.