Living The Lion King

I’ve arrived safe and sound in Zimbabwe! It’s been a very long day of induction, but I’m having so much fun already. We’ve learned a lot about the program, conservation efforts, and how we as volunteers help. Lions are already extinct in more than 20 African countries, and about 80-90% of lions across Africa are already extinct. African Impact, African Lion & Environmental Research Trust, and Antelope Park are set to release their first pride of lions in the wild (filmed by BBC). These wild born cubs to captive bred parents have had no human interaction and have been bred with the best genes to survive in the wild. If this release succeeds, it will be a huge step in the conservation of other species, as this model can be easily adapted. 

After a long introduction to the program, its goals, and how we are helping, we had a lion safety briefing. From there, it was time for our first lion walk with the cubs. The cubs are now almost 7 months old, and still so small (though the pictures are deceiving). We walked with the cubs in the bush as members of their pride. There is a certain way to assert your dominance over them so that they act with their natural lion instincts in the bush. I’ve never felt so connected to nature and animals. This is an experience unlike any other. 

I’m meeting people from all across the globe. I have roommates from Belgium, Germany and the UK and there are other people from China, the States, Norway, and more. Right now, there are about 40 volunteers here. It’s interesting to me because for a lot of these people, it is their first time in Africa.

Riding in the open-air safari car through the bush brings back so many nostalgic memories of my past trips to Africa. This time, I’m seeing and experiencing Africa in a whole new manner.

The internet is slow as I am literally living The Lion King in the middle of nowhere so… more later!