A Weekend at Ukutula Lion Interaction Programme

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Saturday morning we were on our way with Aaron, Carrie, Chloe and Robyn to a lion breeding centre called Ukutula. We had a tour around the centre which included holding and playing with 6 week old lion cubs and meeting Emma the cheatah, who was really quite small although almost full grown. We also got to see the different breeding prides of lions including some Timbavati white lions in their enclosures and find out a lot about the centre and what it tries to do.

Later on we also got to see the cubs being fed, I now know what the expression 'feeding time at the zoo' means as they were all climbing over each other trying to get someone else's food.

We were staying the night at the centre as well so in the afternoon the kids had a swim in the pool while we relaxed. We had a lovely braai in the evening accompanied by the call of the lions close by and eventually went to bed in the very nice accommodation (no tents this time) listening to the lions and hyenas calling.

It's a beautiful place to spend a peaceful weekend and feels a little like you are already in the bush with the lions right on your doorstep.

On the way home we stopped off at Harties Market and had a walk round but managed to refrain from buying any of the very large beautiful sculptures, baggage allowance is only 23kg after all.

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Photos

Andy with cub
So cute and fluffy at this age

Aaron and the girls
Cute cub

Braai time
All around the fire

Comments

[sara marsh]

envy....
sitting here at my work desk, feeling very uninspired on a grey tuesday in the midst of an English November, and so I take 5 minutes to catch up on your travels and now not only do I feel uninspired but also, fleetingly, envious - thanks but we have plans afoot to change that...house move imminent, then a few years hard graft with renovations & building a business, then we can take the winters off too! Sending our love to all and hope to be out there to see everyone in a few years time too. Sara xx