Random Ramblings: South Africa Days 5 and 6

Days 5 and 6 – Welgedacht Reserve

What an incredible two days!! I can quite honestly say that these have been two of the best days I have ever experienced.

Wednesday we headed out to the north and south enclosures and did animal checks and filled up some water and watered some plants and gave fresh water to the lions and hyenas. Then we met up with Kevin Richardson. Kevin is the man who runs this place. He is known as The Lion Whisperer. Kevin has a unique relationship with the lions that he looks after. Most of them he has known since they were cubs. There are many you tube videos about Kevin and he has appeared on Nat Geo and other such doco’s. I had a chance to ask Kevin many questions yesterday and today and boy have I learnt a lot. I’ll get more into that later.

In the afternoon we walked Thor. And by we, I mean Kevin walked Thor the white lion and we sat in the game truck away from harm. While Kevin has this relationship with the lions, the lions don’t know us and this is definitely for safety reasons. These lions could see us as a threat and attack. Mind you, there wasn’t much separating us from the lion… Here are some pics from our walk.

In the afternoon we planted trees and burned some off meat and insides that couldn’t be fed to the lions. We also discovered a hyena had given birth to two pups. Both of which unfortunately didn’t last til today.

Thursday – The morning started out with an animal and fence check. We checked to make sure all animals were accounted for. In the big enclosure there is an extra animal though… Rambo they call him. It is an impala that accidentally got in there and apparently has survived three different groups of lions so far. The impala cannot figure out how to get out of the enclosure and the workers here have had no luck getting him out. He is now in with 5 male lions… will be interesting to see if he survives!

We finished off our planting and then went to prepare food for Friday’s feed. Cutting up a horse is not my idea of fun but you do what you must do when working with animals. Followed by an early lunch and then off to walk Bobcat and Gabby with Kevin again.

This was a thrilling walk. Gabby ventured off and chased after some wildebeest trying to hunt one but was unsuccessful. Bobcat and Kevin just enjoyed each other’s company and I sat in the truck absolutely amazed at what I was watching. Extremely jealous but just in awe as well.