Day 4 – Wednesday
27th July
This morning’s walk with the L’s was hard work – they
decided to go after some zebra and when they go we have to go too! By the time
we’d found them and finished the walk it was nearly 9am and we’d travelled
almost 7km – a good morning workout! I was then supposed to be on stables but
there wasn’t a huge amount to do so just shovelled horse crap for half hour.
Only bonus was that I could then sunbathe for two hours and also hug the stable
dogs Summer, Landella and Chundu.
In the afternoon we did a training walk with the L’s and then elephant herding again, although this was also shortlived as Jaicha disappeared so we had to go back to camp while the handlers went to search for him!
All this was made up for by the night encounter. We took two trucks out with all 26 vols to see the 4 C’s, Chundu, Chise, Chobe and Cheta – four 2 year old lions and lionesses. They were gorgeous! Once we were in the bush all the headlights went off and we used a huge red spotlight to find and light up the eye of the game. We were out in the freezing cold from about 7pm ‘til 10pm (way past bedtime here at Antelope Park!) and had one good chase when the lions went after some zebra but were otherwise unsuccessful: I can’t wait to do another one though.
In the afternoon we did a training walk with the L’s and then elephant herding again, although this was also shortlived as Jaicha disappeared so we had to go back to camp while the handlers went to search for him!
All this was made up for by the night encounter. We took two trucks out with all 26 vols to see the 4 C’s, Chundu, Chise, Chobe and Cheta – four 2 year old lions and lionesses. They were gorgeous! Once we were in the bush all the headlights went off and we used a huge red spotlight to find and light up the eye of the game. We were out in the freezing cold from about 7pm ‘til 10pm (way past bedtime here at Antelope Park!) and had one good chase when the lions went after some zebra but were otherwise unsuccessful: I can’t wait to do another one though.
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| Sunbathing out by the river |
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| Myself, Heleen, Sarah and Neeru wrapped up warm for night encounter |
Day 5 – Thursday
28th July
Well and truly integrated into the workforce here today!
Usual morning walk – this time with the P’s the two younger cubs (15 months)
called Paza and Penya. They were very playful! Twice Paza decided me and her
were going to play i.e. she ran at me with a very mischievous look in her eyes!
When they do this you have to point your lion stick at them and shout “NO!” …
which I did – fun as it sounds to play with a lion I would definitely lose!
Anyway, the morning activity was to build a den for two of the lionesses here that are expecting their first litter of cubs in the next few weeks - *fingers crossed* I get to see them. However, half way through we got called away to help put out a bush fire – EXCITING! Or not as it turned out. By the time we got there everyone else had managed to put it out. Anyway, since everyone had been taken from their activites we all went to watch the Big 5 males (Mufasa, Puma, Casper, Arther and Maxwell) get fed up at the Breeding Programme (BPG) – seriously intense! The 3 most dominant males came charging at the fence then spent ages lying on the offal growling at each other while poor Maxwell and Arthur had to sit aside and wait their turn. Definitely need to take my camera next time!
In the afternoon I worked up at BPG with Neeru collecting lion shit from the FIV (Feline Immuno Virus – cat HIV) lion enclosures. It stinks! It’s weirdly fun though – everyone does it with a good attitude and you have a laugh … but it really does smell quite appalling! Dog poo is gonna smell like perfume in comparison! Although I did make friends with a lioness called Cheeky while cleaning the enclosure next to hers: she came up to the fence and brushed up against it so we had a chat and I scratched her neck and back … casual!
My evening was spent chilling in the vol lounge with Sarah, Solveig (hence forth known as Sunface), Neeru and Anne Lea watching Wolverine – sorted!
Anyway, the morning activity was to build a den for two of the lionesses here that are expecting their first litter of cubs in the next few weeks - *fingers crossed* I get to see them. However, half way through we got called away to help put out a bush fire – EXCITING! Or not as it turned out. By the time we got there everyone else had managed to put it out. Anyway, since everyone had been taken from their activites we all went to watch the Big 5 males (Mufasa, Puma, Casper, Arther and Maxwell) get fed up at the Breeding Programme (BPG) – seriously intense! The 3 most dominant males came charging at the fence then spent ages lying on the offal growling at each other while poor Maxwell and Arthur had to sit aside and wait their turn. Definitely need to take my camera next time!
In the afternoon I worked up at BPG with Neeru collecting lion shit from the FIV (Feline Immuno Virus – cat HIV) lion enclosures. It stinks! It’s weirdly fun though – everyone does it with a good attitude and you have a laugh … but it really does smell quite appalling! Dog poo is gonna smell like perfume in comparison! Although I did make friends with a lioness called Cheeky while cleaning the enclosure next to hers: she came up to the fence and brushed up against it so we had a chat and I scratched her neck and back … casual!
My evening was spent chilling in the vol lounge with Sarah, Solveig (hence forth known as Sunface), Neeru and Anne Lea watching Wolverine – sorted!
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| Penya showing off her tree climbing skills on our walk |
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| The walk is a bit too much effort for Paza |
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| One of the FIV lionesses relaxing while we cleaned her enclosure |
Day 6 – Friday 29th
June
So I’m currently sat looking out on the lake with the only
noises being that of insects and fishes jumping out of the water – awesome.
There’s supposedly a crocodile in the water but I’m not convinced … although
I’m also not willing to go for swim and find out.
This is now day 6 of my month stay in Zimbabwe and it’s great. In these days I have walked with lions, fed and ridden on elephants and made some great friends – animals and people! Admittedly most of the week as been induction stuff but now we’re really getting stuck in. Off for the morning activity now – continuing building the den for the pregnant lionesses Soriah and Sahara. Hopefully we can finish one today and make a start on the second.
…
BUSH DEN COMPLETED! Pretty proud of our efforts! My arm is gonna suffer tomorrow from all the hammering of nails though. Only about 10 minutes now so can replenish energy! Food isn’t actually too bad here although it is always fairly similar – potatoes/rice/vegetables and a choice of some form of meat dish which is mostly fat and bone. Nom. They sell cider at the bar though –bonus! Imagine there will be quite a bit of cider drinking tonight as it’s a Friday. This afternoon I’m cleaning the enclosures at BPG again which should be good but really hot! And as normal I’ll finish off the day with a lion walk. Standard day at Antelope Park!
This is now day 6 of my month stay in Zimbabwe and it’s great. In these days I have walked with lions, fed and ridden on elephants and made some great friends – animals and people! Admittedly most of the week as been induction stuff but now we’re really getting stuck in. Off for the morning activity now – continuing building the den for the pregnant lionesses Soriah and Sahara. Hopefully we can finish one today and make a start on the second.
…
BUSH DEN COMPLETED! Pretty proud of our efforts! My arm is gonna suffer tomorrow from all the hammering of nails though. Only about 10 minutes now so can replenish energy! Food isn’t actually too bad here although it is always fairly similar – potatoes/rice/vegetables and a choice of some form of meat dish which is mostly fat and bone. Nom. They sell cider at the bar though –bonus! Imagine there will be quite a bit of cider drinking tonight as it’s a Friday. This afternoon I’m cleaning the enclosures at BPG again which should be good but really hot! And as normal I’ll finish off the day with a lion walk. Standard day at Antelope Park!
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| Hammering away at the den |
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| FINISHED! Neeru, Anne Lee, Amanda and me testing out the den |
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| A normal night hanging out by the pit fire |
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