Goosebumps. From the moment the aircraft wheels touch down on African soil and your first safari is about to begin or your long-awaited return to Londolozi has finally arrived, all of the excitement and anticipation has given you goosebumps.
After your first game drive you are now fully immersed in your safari experience and you, along with your guide and tracker team, have been building up to the moment you will track down a pride and/or coalition of lions (or better yet all of them together). Yet nothing can quite prepare you for that moment when you hear one of the most iconic sounds of the African bush as a male lion gives off his formidable roar just a few meters away from you and it sends shivers down your spine.
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I can still clearly recall the first time I heard a male lion roar – pinned to my seat, my breath was taken away, yet I could feel the hairs standing up on the back of my neck and the goosebumps tingling down my arms. Although I can now breathe just a little better when a male lion calls out to claim his territory, contact his coalition of brothers or walks right passed our vehicle, I often get goosebumps just from watching my guests go through the same shivering sensation.
There is nothing quite like the roar of a male lion. You don’t just hear it, you feel it resonating through your body.
Taking in everyone’s reactions, I have wondered why it is that we humans get goosebumps and whether the rest of the animal kingdom experiences the same sensation.
What exactly are goosebumps?
Other than the self-explanatory name coming from them resembling the texture of goose’s skin, goosebumps are a result of tiny muscles (arrector pili muscles) in the skin contracting, literally making your hair follicles rise up when you experience a strong emotional feeling, such as extreme fear, sadness, joy, and sexual arousal or as a result of cold weather.
Hair in the skin with the sebaceous gland and the horripilator muscle.
Goosebumps are an involuntary reaction – nerves from the sympathetic nervous system, in other words, the nerves that control the fight or flight response cause these tiny muscles to contract. So adrenaline has a large influence on goosebumps.
Do Animals Get Goosebumps?
Many animals that we see on the game drive here also experience what could be categorized as goosebumps, including porcupines, leopards and impala just to name a few. In these cases, goosebumps are a bodily response to situations where it’s advantageous to appear larger and stronger, such as during a confrontation or courtship.
Remembering our once hairy ancestors and linking it to many of the feathered and furry creatures we see here, goosebumps in humans evolved as a defence mechanism. Goosebumps and hair-raising moments started off as a response to the cold as raised hair would trap an insulating layer of air around the body. Subsequently, our fluffed-up ancestors would appear bigger than they actually were and would stand a better chance of fending off any would-be attackers. This also explains why fear is associated with cold.
Not only did this herd of impala use piloerection to keep themselves a little warmer on a chilly winter morning but they had taken a stance of defence, alarming at a female leopard as she walked by giving off a rasping territorial call shortly after sunrise.
Although goosebumps may not serve many purposes to humans nowadays in terms of a threatening display, it is evident in the wildlife around us on cold wintery mornings or when a threatened animal has a similar reaction to fear or intimidation, causing its fur to be puffed out and making itself appear bigger or more dangerous.
Perhaps a more dramatic example of ‘goosebumps’ in animals is that of the porcupine, which puffs out its quills when sensing danger making even a pride of lions rethink their meal choice. Porcupines’ ability to erect the quills is a voluntary action helping in their defence.
This works not only for prey in an attempt to make predators back off but also for intra-specific competition during dominance displays between males and to impress the female counterparts with their genetic superiority. Referred to as piloerection rather than goosebumps in animals, the reaction is still initially triggered in the same way it is in humans, but there is also some voluntary actions involved too when performing certain displays.
Two male nyalas sizing each other up in a dominance display whereby the white fringe running down their backs has risen up as a response to an adrenaline stimulus and thereby making them appear larger.
While it might be a bit tricky to work out exactly what might send that shivering sensation down the spine of a fearless lion, in the meanwhile, maybe you can think of the last moment that gave you that goosebumps feeling on a recent safari?
Indeed, Kelsey, one of the best experiences in the bush is hearing a lion’s roar.
And being able to watch lions and porcupines together is also dramatic.
And the best moment is the one when one’s plane touches down on an airfield of Londolozi, e.g. and the guide is waiting for you ready to take you to a wonderful bush experience.
I agree Christa, all amazing bush experiences starting from the moment you land! 🙂
I agree 100% with you! There’s nothing comparable to a male lion’s roar, it vibrates through you… my feeling is elation! I feel small in front of the king. Who’s that magnificent male of the video? He is gorgeous and has an incredible mane
Absolute elation for sure Francesca! It is the Othawa Male in the video.
Kelsey the roar of a lion would make anyone get goose bumps especially when you are so near the lion. What an experience and feeling to hear that sound so nearby. I have seen the impala herd early in the morning, it seems as if their skin also gets goose bumps from the cold. Loved your foto of the two Nyala bull sizing each other up. We have Nuala bulls here where we stay and one of them comes through our houses to eat lusern and pellets. We stay in a nature reserve and I love it here with all these wild animals.
The roar of a lion up close is certainly an experience you will never forget! That’s great to hear you have Nyala bulls so close by 🙂
A nice blog Kelsey. Gotta love the roaring lion. As someone pointed out, it sounds like a V8 engine. Love the way he was looking straight at the vehicle while doing that – “I am lion, hear me roar”. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Leonie, it sure does have some resemblance to a V8!
Kelsy, while I would like to think my primal instincts are behind me goosebumps just remind me how close they are. Thanks for the reminder. LOL
Haha my pleasure William!
Funny thought it may sound I find myself getting the goosebumps a lot on safari. There is always something awe inspiring happening! How amazing is that !
I agree Kara, always something awe-inspiring and giving you that goosebumps feeling!
Good article Kelsey as you’ve touched on a sensation that most of us feel the moment we arrive to begin a safari. Whether it’s the sight of the first animal, or being welcomed by the camp staff, our senses are at complete attention. My first goosebump moment last year was seeing the Senegal Bush male during my first afternoon drive. I could hardly keep still! After that, it only got better and better during the next week. I hadn’t thought of animals reacting to various experiences in the bush by exhibiting their own type of goosebumps, but it does make sense. Something more to watch for while out exploring.
Thank you Denise, it really is a complete sensory overload from the moment you arrive. What a great start to your last visit! Definitely keep a look out on your next trip.
Another great read from Londolozi! Thank you Kelsey.
Always a pleasure Hayley!
All the time. Being on safari is a spiritual experience for me.
I agree Lisa! Thanks for reading 🙂
Very cool Kelsey!