The Walking with Lions Experience tour is an interactive and educational tour. By teaching people about lions and their natural behavior we are able to create a greater awareness of the importance of their conservation. The tour starts with a 30 minute introductory talk by the reserves lion expert who is involved in the well-being of the lions. He is also actively involved in the relocation process ensuring the lions are placed in suitable game reserves like the Kruger for example.
The talk is really captivating as he touches on all aspects of lion behavior, their bleak future in South Africa and the ethics and policies of the reserve. After the talk you will get to walk in the African bush with 2 of the younger lions for about an hour. You will get to observe how finely tuned the lions instincts can be and how they accept you as one of their pride. After the lion walking we will spend an hour with the cubs where you observe them being fed and doing what cubs do…play. The ranger has developed a strong bond with the older breeding lions and is really special to see how they respond to him.
How your involvement helps the lions of South Africa
The walking with lions is an active conservation program where you can contribute to the future of the African Lion population which has been on a rapid decline in the past 20 years. By supporting the conservancy you will be aiding the ethically sound program whereby the offspring of the captive-bred lions can be released back into the wild. The conservancy only has 4 adult lions and 6 cubs. As the cubs reach maturity they are released into the wild. The conservancy is heavily focused on conservation and they focus on stage 1 and 2 of the conservation project which entails breeding and raising of the cubs.
Is the Walking with Lions Experience safe?
The walking with lions is only done with the younger lions that have not yet reached maturity. So they are not looking at challenging you for dominancy as with the older lions. Lions are also highly social animals and will accept us as part of their pride. They do not see us as prey. Which is a good thing as a lion as highly tuned instincts. A lions behavioral patterns are very predictable.
On your walk, the ranger will explain to you the rules associated with the lion walk and the safety precautions to be followed. Although the first few minutes can be quite daunting. Who wouldn’t be? It’s not every day you get to walk next to the notorious South African lion. But after few minutes you will be lost in the majestic wonder of these incredible felines as they engage in the age old lion swagger of the bush.
