Heartbreaking moment: Huge lion strolls through campsite in front of stunned safari-goers

THIS is the terrifying moment a giant male lion saunters through a campsite in front of a stunned family.

The campers were shocked when the predator casually wandered near their tents – just meters away from them.

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The horror The encounter happened at a wildlife sanctuary in Kgalagadi, Botswana, where safari-goers were taking a break.

The stunning video begins with the lion walking across the campsite, curiously surveying its surroundings.

It approaches a table and examines what is on it – right next to the frightened family.

Despite their fear, the group managed to stay calm and whispered to each other to keep quiet.

At some point, the big cat is startled for a moment after accidentally knocking a bottle off the table, which smashes on the floor.

The video ends with the lion approaching the family at a frightening distance and staring at them for a while before heading off into the wild.

Describing it as a “unique” sighting, one witness said, “Lions come to the camps unannounced and in complete silence, just as has happened to us.”

However, another camper told Storyful that before their trip, the group had agreed that if they encountered one another, they “would not go for a walk as that would encourage most wildlife to hunt.”

The woman said: “If someone panics and runs or makes sudden movements, there is a high probability that they will be attacked.”

While she appreciates that it was a particularly rare encounter, she noted that “there was no room for error.”

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