Each day I have been lucky to have been able to learn about and spend time with these incredible animals and the 4S cubs that you see alongside me here were cheeky monkeys aged 6months on a lion walk or two...
They look at us as their pride leader so when we start walking they walk and follow us...
Although I hope they grow to have a better sense of direction than me haha!
Below is John one the lion handlers trying to avoid the mid-day heat whilst getting ready to go for a walk...
Just a typical cool 32 degrees (which is cool for Zambia!)
Was funny each morning seeing the guides and handlers turning up wrapped up and the volunteers in t-shirts.
Lovewell did a training walk with us to teach us how to be assertive around the lions which is why below you can see the lion letting me approach from the front and touch her face, head and ears. It's quite rare that you get the opportunity to do this and the lions must be relaxed to allow it.
The lions are very affectionate and this is Kovu with one of his sisters relaxing in the heat.
Lovewell taught us how to be safe and how to approach them properly. You usually always approach a lion from behind as it's only their front paws that have claws to swipe with. By approaching them and positioning yourself on one knee, then you can get up quickly if you need to and the lions are intimidated by things bigger/taller than them. Although if Kovu was up on 2 legs he'd definitely have the height advantage!
Kovu making me look small again haha, i'm always amazed how big their heads are.
We found an odd looking lion called Rachel lazing in the bush haha. Rach is lovely she was my first room mate.
As well as teaching us how to behave around the lions and lead them, Lovewell also tried to teach us a little Zambian. Zambia has over 70 languages as they differ between provinces and tribes. Here in Livingstone, Nyanja and Tonga are the most frequently spoken languages so he tried to teach us both. Bemba is spoken in northern province, Lozi is spoken in the western province, Tonga is spoken in the south and Nyanja in the eastern province.
"Get up, stand up, watch your back" - key phrases that the handlers use as they have an eye on the lions at all times. The animals are useful to know incase you encounter them on a lion walk...and yes I have seen a lion run like bolt to go stalk pumba the large warthog eek!
One of the things I love the most about africa is that you really feel wild at heart, as I have stepped out the shower to see the elephants outside grazing, the giraffe's just appear peeking through tree's at you and of course the rhino just strolling. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
All of that can even be before you start working haha! One of the jobs I have enjoyed is doing the cub feeds. They happen, 5.45am, 1pm and 5.45pm each day. The cubs are distracted by Cara (the lions manager) who leads them towards her so that we can all sneak towards a bowl ready to pour their specialised milk formula in at the same time.
If done at the same time it reduces the cubs fighting for each others haha. But the noises they make when they see us coming is so funny, they are like kids that are over excited in a candy shop and then they sometimes try to paw you as though they are telling you...me first!!
Then Slurp slurp they are happy cubs, always got one paw on the bowl and one eye on you though making sure you're not after their bowl!
At lunch time, the 4S cubs who are 6 months always get carefully weighed pieces of meat and the little 4N baby cubs nearly 5 months are now also just tucking into it and starting to learn how to break it down.
Because the babies are learning, you have to watch them to monitor if each of them eat, and to make sure that they don't choke....
Naturally despite having their own bowl with meat chunks in it, they want each others!!!
One of the strengths of volunteering here is that there are lot's of jobs to do that contribute to the programmes success and the health of the lions and you get stuck in with everything.
So again you check the board and rota to see what your duties and responsibilities are for the day.
For cleaning, maintenance and meat prep, wellies are often a good idea as you come across all sorts and as you can imagine it can get a little messy at times!!
Meat prep is probably the activity that volunteers love or dislike the most, if you are lucky the animals such as goats, chickens, donkeys just need to be taken out the freezer and weighed, but sometimes they might need to be skinned, chopped more or in my case I was on site when the donkeys arrived and were humanly shot. Needless to say, I know meats needed but was probably the toughest afternoon emotionally more so because I wasn't expecting to see them alive first.
and you gotta keep your wits about you otherwise Cara might throw a cheeky piece at you lol!
The ribs are cracked ready for weighing...
Clem was in his element and even opted to cut off one of the heads...I gave that opportunity a miss!
Then the meat is weighed for each lion depending on size and age, to make sure they are well nourished.
Richard a former butcher who was volunteering with me enjoyed the meat prep sessions
Clem was becoming a well honed butcher haha, but Meghan on the right and especially Josephine on the left (a vegetarian) didn't particularly favor these sessions eek! But it's needed to contribute to the project and everyone got stuck in as it's an integral part of the programme.
But all is forgotten when you get to go back and spend more time with the lions...
Me and my mate just chilling overlooking the Zambezi, not a bad way to spend an afternoon is it?!
Pinch me, i'm sure I must be dreaming...
Whilst in Zambia Morgan was lucky have a birthday here...
So the troops rallied and out we went into the centre of Livingstone for a birthday drink...
or few... in Meghan and Josephines case haha!
We called by route 66 
and Morgan pointed out some local delicacies on the menu!
Was a great night with good music, busting out a few dance moves...so much so Clem split his trousers...
and all smiles before 6am wake up!!! The lion encounter programme works on a rolling rota 7 days a week but you can request time off for a little sightseeing, so a couple of days later...
The magnificent seven requested an afternoon off and we were able to go to Mosi-oa-Tunya also known as The Smoke that Thunders -Victoria Falls!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!
 |
| It was definitely worth the wait, the sound is unbelievable of the waters crashing below!!!!!! |
Whilst walking over the bridge needless to say we got a little wet ...through from all of the spray!!!!!
But we were all full of smiles and embraced getting wet!!
Another great memory with great company:-)
This is the bridge that we had walked over with the falls behind it.
Then Julie had a bright idea to do the microlight flight instead of of seeing it by helicopter...mmm!
And I am so pleased she did as this was incredible and was a great way to see the size of the falls!!!!
Not at all worried that at over 1500ft you only have a small belt around your waist and its the pilots chair that keeps you in position eek!!We flew over and all around the falls to see it from different sides...one side of the river is Zambia and the other side is Zimbabwe.
Its not often i'm speechless! Amazing sight.
then landed safe and sound, full of smiles...wow, wow,WOW!!!!!! That's all I could say.
More incredible memories from this amazing country and as the locals say...This is Africa!!!!
Steffen, Josephine, Meghan, Rich, Clem, Me and Julie... a great day with great friends x
Love Rams amazing pic of the Moon Bow...yes you read right...the reflection of the moon light over the spray from the falls creates a rainbow at night when there's a full moon.
Another tough day in Africa;-)
We thought it was only right to finish it off in style by going for High Tea at the 5* Royal Livingstone Hotel
We passed by a few locals grazing outside!
Before the crew tucked into cakes and pastries....
...and a cup of tea!
Was a lovely evening so we sat by the Zambezi river as the sun went down...
Wakey, Wakey Rise and Shine.... this morning everyone was up early and all hands on deck for Fire Burning!!!
The guides made fire beaters out of cloth, and we got ready with our masks for the grasses around the enclosures to burn!
It needed to be done as the Forestry Commission were going to set bush fires and the grasses needed to be burned by the enclosures beforehand to prevent the fires spreading near the lions who are based at Dambwa the second stage release site.
Then it was time for breakfast!!!
Before making our way back to the volunteer house to get changed and start the days next activity. We passed a cargo train, carrying a little extra cargo, that was peaking and waving at us!!!
Researched beckoned with Jackie and Morgan who have to observe, at a distance, the lions in the second stage of the release programme... clipboard ready!!
These lions are over 2 years old and do not have interaction with humans as they need to develop their skills in the wild bush environment in order to ensure their survival when they are released.
Morgan is a lovely guy who is doing an internship here and has been collecting lots of data on the lions across each site. He is very knowledgeable and has made myself and the others feel so welcome over here.
The lions are so caring and observations are made on their behaviours and interactions with others, so this was nice to see.
Those not on research we doing a Snare Sweep trying to find metal snare hoops that people put in the bush to trap animals. Lion Encounter volunteers have found over a thousand which means they have saved a lot of animals.
Then below you can see me pointing to the names of the larger lions here. Kovu is the male lion who I have a soft spot for and the other 4 are his pride sisters.
Time to go...come come...and they follow us. Mornings they leap and bound as the temperatures cooler, by later afternoon they walk much slower whilst trying to find shade from the heat.
We sit for the last time on our final morning walk and as Rafiki the monkey says in The Lion King Movie...It Is Time...Yes unfortunately my time at Lion encounter has come to an end ;-(
We were all a little emotional whilst trying to enjoy our last morning walk with the lions by the mighty Zambezi River before we all went to the airport.
Time to start our final walk back, with a slow stride, touching the lions for the last time...
Needless to say, there were a few tears saying goodbye to the handlers who we had spent so much time with during this experience, they will all be missed.
and bye to each other... (oh i'm going to miss standing on the back of that truck)
A little note scribbled on the board ahhh...
...and I even think the lions were a little sad too ;-)
I knew that working with lions would be an incredible experience but I really didn't anticipate the feelings that came with my time in Africa. This country has lots of spirit, friendly souls and so much incredible wildlife it truly is majestic.
I feel so lucky to have been able to get involved in this incredible release programme and get a fully rounded view of the work and responsibilities involved in protecting and caring for these beautiful endangered animals.
I have loved every second of my time here and know it will be an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.
Thanks to Cara, Darryl and Mulenga for letting me be part of such an incredible programme you do an amazing job. The guides, handlers and staff have taught me a lot and make it such a wonderful place to be. The volunteers that I have met and worked alongside have made it so enjoyable that I genuinely did wake up everyday and tell myself that I am an incredibly lucky girl right now and as for the Magnificent 7...it wouldn't have been the same without you!
Miss you all already!!!!!!!!
PS. To everyone who emailed me asking for a cub, I did try but Darryl said that I couldn't leave Africa with the 4N cubs so I guess that means i'll have to start saving to return;-)
So until next time...
