tooafricamad

Hi Guys
I had a really nice day today. I decided to give the staff off and Celeste and myself took the 20 minute drive to the Rhino and Lion Park next to the Cradle of Humankind site. I guess I should say that I am thankful to live in this part of the world and have all this on my doorstep, but what I do want to share is something that always puts shudders in my body. Thats my partner Celeste. I don't know how she does it but today I sat spellbound for 1 hour whilst she was talking to lions. The lion and rhino park is not the Sabi Sands nor any other wildlife area but rather a huge sanctuary for these cats and they do have a lot of acres to roam. These lions are very huge and look like they have had a hollywood makeover as they do not have the day to day lives of lions in the wild. But, needless to say, what I saw today amazed me. Celeste sat in the car and spoke to these lions and they actually got up and came to us. Maybe they are used to human voices and thought it is feeding time but they had already eaten. I have been together with Celeste for the past 14 years and she has something which I have never before seen. I wish I had it but I don't. Has anyone else out there got this incredible gift.
Mark

cary999

This place is near Johannesburg?
regards - tom

bots

Hi MARK I do know of a lady here in Maun,
Moira she has been here for approx 40 years and has a thing with some of the Chobe Elles,
She calles them by name whenever she finds one that she has known for a long time,and they come to her.

atravelynn

Mark,

That's an amazing talent. Now here's a question for you. Do YOU listen as well as the lions do to Celeste?

tooafricamad

cary999 and lynn and bots
carry999, The Park is 20 mins drive from my office. Celeste and I have been going there for 14 years as it is just a perfect place for the two of us to get out of the office and get back if I must say to who we love.

bots
I am so shit scared to let her out of my site as she has done the most amazing things and this year I am going to film her doing it. She has got it. Bots I swear Celeste is the same. I wish I have what she has. She is simply amazing.
Mark

tooafricamad

Lynn
I kept this one for you. What do you think?
Mark

cary999

Ok, thanks Mark. 20 minute drive from your office, good info. Give me a hint, is your office near Johannesburg???? Does JHB mean Johannesburg??? I'm kinda guessing that it does. But if you don't want to spell it out, that's ok.
regards - tom

ArthurSA

www.maropeng.co.za That's the link for the Sterkfontein Caves and the Cradle of Humankind (a World Heritage Site).

The Lion and Rhino park (and Wonder Cave) is in the same area. www.rhinolion.co.za/rhino.html

None of that is 20 minutes from the very centre of Jo'burg. So Mark must live almost on the Northern border. But nevertheless it's very accessible for anyone staying in Jo'burg and who has transport.

atravelynn

I think Dr. Doolittle may be have a grain of truth to it.

tooafricamad

cary999
Hi, yes my office and home is about a 20 min drive to the area. I live on the outskirts of Johannesburg or JHB which has now become so over-populated I am looking to move. But never-the-less within 5 mins I am out in the veld.
Honestly though, for anyone having to overnight in Johannesburg and does have a day to spare it is well worth a visit. Almost all hotels in JHB have leaflets from operators offering day trips here. Just ask the concierge desk. Me, NO! I don't do these trips unless you want a really wild experience with a local but your travel insurance will probably double. Only joking! but it is worth a vist.
Mark
Mark

crystalsong

Mark,

We will be visiting the Lion Park this March. Can you tell me what to expect? What does one do there? Do you drive around, or can you walk? How big of a place is it?

Thanks.

ArthurSA

There is a "Lion Park" that is closer to central Jo'burg. But that's not the one to which Mark referred. I've not visited either, but my guess is that they are very far removed from a larger game park.

tooafricamad

Hi crystalsong
The Lion Park is not that big and you do a small game drive where the plains game roam around and then you drive into the 4 lion enclosures. There is a nice curio shop and restaurant and in the front there are small cages with lion cubs, hyenas, etc. The main attraction for you will be playing with the lion cubs. Its a nice experience but nowhere near the real thing.
This is not the park I referred to above.
Enjoy it
Mark

crystalsong

Mark,

Is the park you just described near the Zulu Nyala Country Manor? The park we are going to is not in Joburg, but outside of it, very near the Zulu Nyala Country Manor. If this isn't the park yu just described, then could you please tell me about this other park?

Thank you.

tooafricamad

crystalsong
The park I am referring to above is the Rhino and Lion nature reserve which can be seen at http://www.rhinolion.co.za/
The Lion Park can be seen at http://www.lion-park.com/
Hope this helps.
Mark

crystalsong

Hi, Mark:

Thanks for the links. I went to the Lon Park one, and that looks like the place we'll be at. When I tried to access the other link, my computer went wild and shut down. I tried it a couple of times, but maybe there are just too many graphics for the website to work with my screen access program.

Thanks.