African lions romp in unexpected snowfall (VIDEO)

GG Conservation has shared rare images of the big cats exploring wintery terrain for the first time

Lions at the Glen Garriff Conservation (GG Conservation) wildlife sanctuary in Harrismith, South Africa, are experiencing heavy snow this September, an unusual event for the big cats, the organization reported on Wednesday.

The sanctuary reported that the majestic animals were both intrigued and cautious as they explored the landscape. Suzanne Scott of GG Conservation captured footage of the lions navigating the wintery conditions. According to a post on the sanctuary’s Instagram account, the animals seldom encounter such an environment and were fascinated by the “novel stuff falling from the skies.”

The spell of bad weather struck on Saturday, with the impact particularly felt along the key N3 highway connecting Johannesburg and the coastal city of Durban. Heavy snowfall completely halted traffic, leaving drivers and passengers stranded.

Motorists expressed concern, reporting that they felt helpless and vulnerable due to the unexpected standstill. The South African Weather Service had issued warnings, but the severity of the snow caught many by surprise.

On Friday, SAnews reported that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) had forecast a significant drop in temperatures and the possibility of another snowfall over the high-lying regions of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces in the coming days, beginning on Sunday. 

READ MORE: South Africa hit by surprise snowfall (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)