Last Tuesday, 26 November, I had an unforgettable afternoon. I joined a small group at Lion Encounter for an experience of a lifetime – we were going on a bush walk…with three 10 month old lion cubs!
I was picked up at the Zambezi Waterfront Hotel in Livingstone & on arrival we were presented with refreshments & a DVD briefing regarding the project & our imminent walk. Joining us and the cubs were 3 instructors & 2 volunteers, they were there to ensure everything went smoothly & almost as importantly, that no photo opportunities were missed. There are elephants, giraffes and gazelles also in the park, I felt completely relaxed and at no stage did I sense any danger whatsoever. The lions lead the way & set the pace, stopping when they feel like it, darting off into the bushes for a cheeky play & of course, leaving us all in absolute awe of their grace, power & playfulness.
Image by: Michelle Lewis
You can visit Lion Encounter, who were the first to ethically introduce captive bred lions to the wild, on either side of the border in either Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe or, like I did, in Livingstone town, Zambia. The re-introduction of lions, raised from captive bred cubs into the wild takes about 3 years and funds from this encounter as well as the proceeds from the DVD of our walk which I purchased after the tour, go toward this essential project. You can also purchase souvenirs, make a donation or be a Volunteer to assist in this fantastic programme.
Written by Martin Kaesler – Acacia Sales/Marketing