Lioness bumped in Kruger: Driver tells his side
A motorist who bumped into a lion at the Kruger National Park says he did not see the feline as other drivers had been blocking the road while scrambling for good spots at the sighting.
A video of a driver bumping a lioness between Satara and Olifants camps on August 8 caused massive public outcry. Lowvelder managed to track down the driver. Here is his version of the events.
As is usually the case with a lion sighting in the park, there were a lot of vehicles as the visitors were jostling for positions to get the best possible view of the pride. A seemingly impatient driver was filmed forcing his way through the traffic with his white Toyota Land Cruiser and bumping a lioness on her rear.
@lowvelder An apparently impatient driver bumped a lioness with his SUV and caravan in tow as he tried to push his way through the viewing traffic between Satara and Olifants Camp in the Kruger Park. #lions #lioness #KNP #Satatrcamp #Olifantscamp #krugernationalpark #Kruger
Video supplied by – Video: Supplied Safraaz Suliman.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Unruly driver bumps lioness in Kruger Park
The video soon trended on social media, drawing a diverse range of comments from as far afield as the United Kingdom. The newspaper can now identify the driver as Eberharb Frank, a German national who has been living in South Africa since 1967.
Frank explained that due to the height of his vehicle’s suspension, he did not see the lioness so close to the bumper. “I got a fright when I felt the bump,” said the Johannesburg resident who is a frequent visitor to the park. Frank said he and his wife had already spent a week in the park and were on their way out when they hit gridlocked traffic on the H1-4.
He blamed his actions on the conduct of others who were trying to get the best view of the lions and blocked the road in the process. According to Frank, he drove forward when he saw a gap at the same time as the lions moved onto the road so close to his vehicle that he did not see them. “If the people had provided a way through, this would not have happened. I remember once years ago there was a buffalo kill near Crocodile Bridge. People were also blocking the road, but a ranger told them to provide passage for cars who needed to get through,” he said.
ALSO READ: Possible charges for driver who bumped lioness in the Kruger
The KNP’s conditions of entry that appear on the permit tourists receive at the entrance support Frank’s argument.
They state: “In case of a sighting with many cars causing congestion, the lane opposite (further away) from the side of the game or object(s) being viewed may not be blocked by stationary vehicles. This lane must be kept open for those who wish to pass the sighting.”
Frank said he called the Satara camp to report the incident, but was told the manager was not available. He said he left a message, but was never phoned back.
The KNP’s spokesperson, Ike Phaahla, said he was unaware of this phone call. He said park management had asked the KNP Protection Services to trace the vehicle’s owner to investigate the matter after being alerted of the incident.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Feeding frenzy on Skukuza Golf Course leave patrons in awe
Phaahla requested witnesses to come forward with information to assist the park in conducting an unbiased investigation, as the video alone did not provide enough details. He reminded the public that animals have the right of way and encouraged everyone to familiarise themselves with the park’s rules.
Phaahla said the driver might be charged under the National Environmental Management Act (Nema) of 2003 and the Protection Areas Act and issued a fine, pending the outcome of the investigation.
@lowvelder Two lions with their catch, an uninvited crocodile and four scavengers made a wild sighting video opportunity for golfers a memorable one on the greens at Skukuza Golf Club. Lions Lion Crocodile Crocodiles Hyenas Hyena scavengers Lionsighting crocodilesighting hyenasighting Golf golfing SkukuzaGolfClub Skukuza KrugerNationPark Kruger
