Park ranger Richard Sowry took some photos of a pride of lions sleeping peacefully on the tarmac road just outside Orpen Rest Camp.
Kruger visitors that tourists do not normally see. #SALockdown This lion pride are usually resident on Kempiana Contractual Park, an area Kruger tourists do not see. This afternoon they were lying on the tar road just outside of Orpen Rest Camp.
📸Section Ranger Richard Sowry pic.twitter.com/jFUBAWvmsA— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 15, 2020
Kruger media officer Isaac Phaala told the BBC that normally the lions would be laying in the bushes because of the cars, but that they are “very smart and now they are enjoying the freedom of the park without us.”
— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 13, 2020
Earlier in the week, Jean Rossouw, greenkeeper at Skukuza Golf Club located within the national park, captured more photos of lions and hyenas strolling about the green. Lionesses even drank from the ponds on the course, and chased hyenas.
Even as the sun rises, without all our human visitors, the urge to sing the 'lion sleeps tonight' is just a whim away, a whim away, a whim away!
📸 ©️ Jean Rossouw; Skukuza Golf Club , Kruger National Park@SANParks pic.twitter.com/M9XiagVqjX— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 13, 2020
Before that, wild dogs showed up on the course without even booking tee time.
— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 10, 2020
Always polite, impalas and zebras decided to chip in and help keep that lawn nice and short, as well as give the trees a little trim.
Assisting the greenkeeper in his efforts to ensure the Skukuza Golf Club is in its usual tip top shape when the humans return to play after #SALockdown .
📸Jean Rossouw Kruger National Park@SANParks pic.twitter.com/pvPPTZqHxf— Kruger National Park (@SANParksKNP) April 17, 2020
Given the absence of humans, the park is more than happy to let the animals roam free and enjoy the peaceful environment. 