If bungee-jumping has become a drag and shark diving no longer rocks your boat, there’s a wild new way to get your kicks.
The latest adrenaline-pumping activity for the holiday bucket list is a walk with a pride of white lions – and you can even hold on to their tails if you feel particularly daring.
“It’s a first in the country… there is nothing like it. The only scary part about it is the moment before the walk, where the anticipation gets your heart beating. After the walk you get this marvellous feeling when you realise you just walked side-by-side with a lion,” said marketing manager Paul Shearer.
The Protea Hotel Ranch Resort, 25km south of Polokwane, Limpopo, is where you get to experience this rare wildlife tour. The resort is home to 30 “disciplined and well-trained” lions – among them three white lions.
There are fewer than 100 white lions in the world. They are believed to be sacred because of their rare white fur and their pigmented blue eyes.
The three lions were raised at the family run resort. First to arrive in September 2010 as a cub is leader of the pack, Mohlatsi, which means “Lucky One”. He is the biggest of the three at 120kg and is so popular that he has his own Facebook account.
“Most people believe that lions are happiest when they are in the wild. All our lions are so used to being with humans that they don’t see us as a threat.”
Shearer said they treat the hour-and-a-half walk as “exercise” for the lions. The walk starts at 7am and lasts for 3km with about 12 guests at a time. About five trainers supervise the walk and carry a cooler bag full of meat. “It’s a little treat for the lions in case they get distracted. If we notice a slight change in their temperament or uncomfortable behaviour… we stop the walk immediately. It’s a highly dangerous experience so we can’t afford to take chances,” he said.
The walk costs R620 and participants
must be 14 years or older and be over 165cm tall.
Each person carries a stick and has to dress in long pants and closed shoes. “If a piece of meat falls next to an exposed leg or foot a lion will dive for it and you might be in danger if you are not covered. The stick helps keep them at bay… they have learnt to respect it.”
Shearer said the lions are comfortable with being held by their thick tails. “… They have become used to it. If there is an indication that they are not enjoying it we will stop.” - Cape Argus