The i-to-i Campfire online travel community - Meet. Share. Travel with Purpose

Hi,

Hope you are well. I know that I still "owe" you some pictures, they will follow soon. The Lion Park is in my mind every day, and I hope that I can return soon. I miss the team and the cubs.

How about you?

Hi Laurissa,

Sorry for my late reply. Yes, I much enjoyed my time at the Lion Park, it passed too fast! It was so lovely interacting with the cubs every day, words hardly can describe what I felt in these moments. I fell in love with four little cubs that we were allowed to bottle-feed for the very first time when they were about six weeks old. Looking into the eyes of such young cubs while they suckled at the bottle that I held is something that touched me deeply in my heart. I had tears in my eyes the day I had to leave.

The team at the park is great, in particular Alex and Alison. I miss them all, so I hope that I can go back again, maybe next year. But this depends on whether or not the park will still exist. Some say that the park will be closed by end of January, but nobody knows it at present.

I will upload some pics, but still have some technical problems to solve :-) It will be only a little choice out of more than 1000 pics and 8 GB of videos...

Just checked all your uploaded pics - they are all sooo cute! If this is what every volunteer at the Lion Park can expect, my absolute dream of having close interaction with lions finally will come true. It still appears surreal to me that there is a place where this really is possible.

Thanks for your advice regarding Kevin and Alex! Such thing indeed is valuable to know in advance. Most volunteers mention Alex as one of the absolute highlights at the park, so I hope to have lots of opportunities to spend time with and learn from Alex, too.

I'm not a vegetarian, and thanks God I'm not allergic of anything, I only have sometimes to be careful with my stomach, as it is a little bit sensitive. So it seems that I should not have problems with the food.

Although I saw a lot of stunning sunsets at Mauritius, I'm excited to see the sunrise in South Africa with all the animals around. Well, to get up at 6 in the mornings is maybe somewhat hard, but I'm accustomed to it.

Do not mention Kevin to Alex whatever you do! Alex the trainer, trained Kevin up and taught him everthing he knows and of course Kevin got the big break on TV so Alex is abit pissed by that.
No, all the animals are vaccinated so they dont have rabies. Its just like getting bitten or scratched by a cat or a dog here. I got the boosted rabies but I didnt need it at all. I think only a couple of us got it done, the rest never bothered and they are fine.

You really should try the cheeseburgers! They are amazing, the toast and breakfast are good too. We were all having a magnum a day. They are great for when its hot.
You will get taken to the shops when you arrive for food, so just buy what you want as there is a cookere, and freezer so can make your own food. You will go out a few nights for something to eat to carnivores (which is beautiful) if your not a vegetarian that is?! Zebra is really nice.

Try and get up for 6 one morning and see the sun rise. It is stunning! Especially with the zebras and giraffes infront of it.

I had Gortex boots from Blacks (can never remember the name) they were really sturdy so luckily I still have 10 toes! Ill put more pics up of them eating my toes. I had 6 cubs on me at once! haha They all loved my boots except Dimitri who took a liking for me and would rather have a cuddle.

xx

Oh, I think there will never be enough that you can tell me about your time at the Lion Park :-) The more I read, the more I feel confirmed in my decision for this trip!

As for boots and laces, I already heard that the lions like to eat them. This must really awesome. I have good hiking shoes and boots, I expect them to be perforated, and I also expect to have some scars after this trip :-) So what!
The problem might be that back at home most people won't believe it when I will tell them that it was a lion, unless they will see some pictures...

When you got scratched or bitten by the animals, did you ever need a doctor's help? Or was it always sufficient to have some disinfectant at hand only? (Inoculation against rabies has already been finished.)

Were you satisfied with the food (breakfast, lunch)?

Did you meet Kevin, too? One and a half year ago, I saw him in a documentary in TV, and I was completely stunned. I wished to be there, but at that time I could not really imagine that I will ever go to the Lion Park by myself.

The living with lions project indeed sounds very interesting. Maybe I'll do it later, too. Depends on if there will be an age limit...

Yeah, I bought a padlock for over there but ended up just using my suitcase one. And being honest I think our tent got locked up 5 times at most, we left them open at night inclding the fronts as 2 of us regularly get up to go to the loo during the night.

Not once did I feel unsafe there. The people are fantastic, Given is gorgeous!! Natalie and Emma are really nice and friendly and will help with anything and just sit and chat with the volunteers. Emma has lions in her house!! Her life seems amazing. They are scared of her Chihuahua though which is really funny. Alex the trainer is amazing! Get speaking to him as he knows so much and will take you to walk with a Cheetah! That was scary but fun and sureal at the same time. Hes the only one that can go in with the big lions and not get eaten haha.

Hope you have good boots as the lions like to eat them! My laces were chewed, my boots were covered in holes, luckily they were really good boots and I couldnt feel a thing. Another tip is wear red laces! Lions are colour blind but can see red (Alex told me) so they took an instant liking to me (well my laces) haha

The babies are tame, although they do like to bite boobs, bums and hair! They are just playing though although it can be sore. I have scars on my legs and hands but who else can say - "That was a Lion"

Im going back with one of the girls in April 2011 to the living with lions, which looks really good. Im sooo excited to go away again. I just wish it was tomorrow.

If you need anything, just let me know. If I think of anything else to tell you I'll let you know.

xx

Well, its good to know that there is a safe in the main office, as I don't like it to have all my valuables constantly with me. As for locking up the tents, do I have to bring padlocks?

I really can say that I'm far more than excited to go. I'm sure that it will be the greatest adventure I ever had so far. A very good friend of mine already predicted that it will change my life significantly. If so, I could imagine to return one day. So I'm thinking every day of my volunteering at the Lion Park. A few months ago I was allowed to interact with two tame cheetahs in a little zoo. It was so fantastic, more than words ever can say. Since that day I know that I definitely have to go to the Lion Park - though I know that the animals there are not tame.

It makes me sad to hear that Georgina died. But if Purdy is already pregnant again, indeed it would be fantastic if the birth of the baby giraffe would by during my stay.

Aw, Larissa- your photos are just FANTASTIC. I want to jump on a plane an head over for some cub cuddles now! What happened to baby Georgina. How sad :( It looks like you had an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing your pics!

I wish I had done that. 10 days was not long enough.
There is a safe in the main office, that you can put your things in. We just kept ours in our tent as the tents are locked up at night anyway and there is a security guard in the tented area at night too, and laser beams that go around so would set off if someone jumped the fence (except when Gambit and Purdy are in as they would set them off).

Are you excited about going? I really wish I was going back.
Last week the baby giraffe Georgina died. She was only 8 months old and so beautiful. Its a real shame but Princess one of the workers told me that Purdy was most probably pregnant again and should be due around April :)
That would be nice if she had the wee one while you are there.

If you need anything else, just let me know. I'll upload more of my pictures to get you excited. xx

xx

Hi, thanks. I already traveled a lot and far, but until now never to Africa, never alone, and never volunteered before. So it is very helpful to have all this information already now, to be prepared as best as possible.

How did you manage storage of your personal belongings (like passport etc.) to prevent them from being lost or stolen?

I'll be at the Lion Park from March 15 to April 4, 2010. As I don't want to stay for 10 days only at the park, I decided to book directly to get full three weeks. I just can't wait to be there!

Regards