A few weeks ago I managed to snatch a couple of days out the office and I decided to hop on a plane and head to Johannesburg. I have always wanted to visit the lion park but whenever I have been over that side I just haven’t been able to find the time. With our day planned, TJ (Acacia crew) and I borrowed our friend’s bakkie and headed out. At only R150 it is a total bargain, we spent the first couple of hours wondering around ‘cub world’ where we were able to check out some leopard cubs including a black leopard, play with some lion cubs and feed giraffe. The highlight of the day was after lunch when we drove round the enclosures. We drove through packs of wild dogs which was amazing as anyone over here will tell you these creatures are notoriously scarce and almost impossible to spot in the wild. Their mating habits (only the strongest female in the pack will come on heat) along with many other reasons have put this species onto the endangered list. The world population does not exceed 3,000-5,000. Many early colonial game administrators regarded wild dogs as little better than murderers and called for the species’ extermination. Farmers, fearing the dogs might prey on livestock (which they seldom did), also wanted the dogs wiped out. A combination of outright persecution and habitat loss has nearly accomplished this goal. They also have natural predators like Lions and Hyenas, and Eagles may sometimes steal the young. So to be able to see these animals (even in an enclosure) is amazing. After the wild dogs we headed into the white lion enclosure, it was a warm afternoon and the pride (along with cubs) were stretching lazily in the sunshine. We pulled the bakkie up right next to them and killed the engine. One inquisitive female regarded us sleepily and decided we were worth checking out; she came right up to my side of the pick-up walked around the back out of site. THUD THUD, the sound of her paws on the back of the pick-up. The suspension lolled as she eased herself onto the back of the truck. Oh my God, this fully grown female was in the back of our bakkie sniffing, pawing and being rather adoringly intrusive. She eventually came up to the window and was looking at us through the glass…..being nose to nose with a lion in the back of our bakkie with only a piece of glass in-between is an experience I will NEVER forget. Eventually she hopped out deciding that we were in fact not worth the effort and ambled back to her patch in the sun.
A truly memorable day and I am so pleased I waited to go otherwise this experience may never have happened. The Park also has permanent safari tents available so next time I will most definitely be staying there and hopefully falling asleep to the lions call – a sound so eerie and wonderful that for me reinforces the beauty and power of this continent.
Written by: Lauren Lees – Acacia Operations/Crew