Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya has shared a frightening experience he had while walking with lions during a visit to a wildlife sanctuary in Zimbabwe.

In a video that has since gone viral, Wode Maya is seen walking cautiously beside a large male lion while holding a cane. The mood quickly changed when a lioness suddenly appeared behind him, causing him to panic.

According to Wode Maya, his tour guide immediately calmed him down and assured him there was no danger, allowing the group to continue the tour.

Speaking in an interview with George Quaye on PrimeTime on Joy Prime, the content creator said, “We walked with this lion and it almost attacked one of my videographers.”

George Quaye, who praised Wode Maya’s composure during the ordeal, asked why the lion did not attack him instead. Wode Maya replied, “I feel like the animals love me.”

He explained that the lion charged at his videographer because he had disobeyed instructions.

“Before you walk with the lion, they give you some guidelines, but he disobeyed; he was in front instead of being behind it,” he said.

Wode Maya added that the situation could have turned tragic. “The moment I raised my head, I saw the lion going towards my crew; I shouted, and everyone pushed him to the floor. He was almost killed by the lion,” he recounted.

Calling it one of the scariest experiences of his life, the popular YouTuber warned fans not to imitate such risky adventures. “I always tell people, what we do, please don’t try it,” he cautioned.

The incident and his interview have since generated mixed reactions on social media, with many praising his bravery while others criticised the close interaction with wild animals.