Watch a Tour Guide Get Within Feet of a Rare White Lion in South Africa

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When touring South Africa there are incredible sights to see all over the wild. Being able to see a cheetah lurking in the grass or a herd of wildebeests powering through the Limpopo River just makes us appreciate the beauty of nature in the wild. However, to be able to catch sight of an animal so rare as the white lion could be categorized as the sighting of a lifetime. Don’t miss this gorgeous animal in the video above. 

White Lion in South Africa

The YouTube video posted at the top of this blog post takes us to South Africa. The Mapogo Lions YouTube page shared this incredible footage of a white lion a little over a week ago and it has received more than 500 views. 

Tired White Lion

At the start of this video, we are taken to South Africa. Where some tourists or tour guide has caught sight of an extremely rare white, or white, lion. He stands up and takes a big yawn. He’s not concerned with the car right next to him and the fact they are filming him. It’s as if he knows just how rare he really is. And just as quickly as he gets up he takes an enormous yawn and then at 24 seconds he just plops down. This rare white lion is just a little bit tired. 

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How Rare Is a White Lion?

A white lion can have dark eyes.

White lions are not Panthera leo, the common lions we know of in the wild. A white lion is Panthera leo melanochaita. These lions are extremely rare and according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust, there are fewer than 13 white lions left roaming in the wild. 

A common misconception is that the white lion is also called an albino. But, this is not the case. White lions are not albinos. “White lions are leucistic, which means that a recessive gene mutation actually makes their fur white, while their skin and eyes retain their natural pigment.” 

While one of the most beautiful animals in the wild, they are in danger. And yes, of course, we mean the danger of extinction given the fact there are only a handful left. However, we mean that given their color they are in danger in the wild because they cannot hide as the Panthera leo are able to. Their white color does not blend in well and leaves them at a disadvantage for being attacked in the wild.