Lions (Panthera leo) are Africa’s most iconic big cat. These Lions were part of a pride of nine that were “shade hopping” – moving from one shady spot to the next to escape to 40 degree-plus heat on the Hippo Pools Road in the southern part of Kruger National Park. At one point a pair of Lions walked directly towards me as I sat in the driver’s seat of our Kombi. I failed to notice how close the female Lion had come as I tracked her through my camera viewfinder. I suddenly realised that she was only a metre from my window and was looking intently at the furry wind shield on my microphone – close enough to knock the camera from my hand, or even worse grab me. I quickly stopped filming and closed the car window.