Ethical Considerations
The topic of walking with lions in South Africa is very controversial. Conservation and Animal Rights groups are strongly against Walking with Lions and it is gradually being banned in many African countries. It remains a stage in a production line of cruelty that begins with cubs born in captivity being separated from their mothers and passed to unwary volunteers to raise and hug, resulting in full-grown lions that are acclimatised to humans and cannot be released into the wild. Instead, they are handed over to hunters as easy targets, their inherent fear of humans cuddled out of them, and their bones are shipped to Asia for use in traditional medicines.Many conservationists are strictly against this form of wild animal encounter, saying that should the trained lions be released into the bush they either become man-killers or are incapable of fending for themselves.
It’s easy to see why it appeals to many tourists. You’re strolling through the bush with a handful of cute cubs by your side, or some young adults, watching as they roll around in the dust and play with each other.
The fact is, walking with lions is an extremely controversial activity that many countries are now, thankfully, starting to phase out.
Please note that the lions used in walking with lions programmes are rarely, if ever, released back into the wild.
The Walking with Lions Experience
The experience involves walking through the bush with a number of cubs or young adult lions for about a kilometre, at which point tourists are able to pat and touch them.
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The trainers are on standby if any of the lions get too playful, and participants in the encounter are given a thorough safety briefing as to what to do - and more importantly what not to do.
For instance, crouching down or suddenly running away will elicit hunting instincts in the cubs, and they may respond aggressively. Operators will also not allow anyone under 1,2m to participate in the encounter because lions, by instinct, will go for smaller prey.
It's a fascinating and memorable experience to walk through the bush as the young cats cavort and patrol their environment.
Walking with Lions in South Africa!
On your walk, the ranger will explain to you the rules associated with the lion walk and the safety precautions to be followed.
Although the first few minutes can be quite daunting. Who wouldn’t be?
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You will be met by your guide who will be with you for the duration of your walking with lions tour.
Once we get to the lion concession, we will have a cup of coffee and muffins.
We will then introduce you to the lions who will be longing to accompany you on your walk in the bush with them.
The walk is about 2km and takes about an hour depending on what the lions see or even try to hunt.
The walk is limited to 1 hour and is only done once a day. Limited to 8 people.
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Once the walk is complete we take you on a tour of the lion concession where you will get to meet the breeding lions and any other rescued animals that may be there at the time.
Ukutula Lion Center
Ukutula means place of quiet. It is situated 1½ hours drive from Johannesburg and 1 hours drive from Pretoria.
At Ukutula, you can interact and walk with the lions.
Ukutula runs a variety of programs to engage guests, from voluntourism opportunities to day visits. Ukutula sits on 260 hectares, more than enough room for a few lions to roam around.
The process is fairly straightforward. The lions, along with their ranger walk down a path with the tourists (me) and our guide following at a safe distance.
The lions are free to do as they wish, wander around in the bush, do some hunting, whatever their lion hearts desire.
More than once the lions turned around to stare at us, goodness knows what was going through their heads.
I never felt in danger and even though the experience was a bit contrived I didn’t get the impression that the lions were unhappy or not actively engaged.
A visit to Ukutula though is about much more than just walking with lions.
Following our stroll in the bush we had the opportunity to visit the nursery, a den of uncontrolled cuteness.
The opportunity to cuddle a baby lion was remarkable and something I’ll never forget.
Tigers of course aren’t native to Africa, and these were rescued from a private farm from an individual who was mistreating them. The rescued tigers have since had cubs and watching the lion and tiger babies play together in the nursery was an amazing sight to behold.
Overall I enjoyed my time at the sanctuary, although I’m still paranoid about the experience.
I’m just so concerned about wildlife conservation that I approach everything with skepticism, and it’s no reflection at all on Ukutula. In fact, from all accounts they seem to be doing anything right.
That being said, from everything I’ve seen and read, Ukutula seems to be a genuine research and breeding center. Their focus is on genetics and lions’ immunity to a variety of diseases, with the hope of helping the countrywide population.
Zorgfontein’s Walking With Lions Project
Driving along the Garden Route in South Africa, we stopped in Mossel Bay to Walk with Lions at Zorgfontein’s Walking With Lions Project.
We felt that we really learned a TON about lions and how to best help them. It is through exposing people to the unfortunate situation of some animals, that we can make progress to reverse negative cycles in nature.
At the end of the day, you have to choose what feels right to you.
The lions were saved from potential canned-lion hunting programs and were hand raised.
Since the lions were captive-bred, and their mothers were raised in captivity, they could not be released into the wild.
If the cubs were not brought to Zorgfontein, their fate would have been sealed by lion hunters.
Instead, when the lions become too old to continue to safely be walking, they retire at the the Botlierskop Game Reserve, in the lion camp.
The walk lasts for one hour, with two free-roaming lions and their Rangers.
Each person is given a walking stick, to help with the uneven terrain and to keep the lions at a distance if they come near.
During the lion walk, we did not feel that the lions were treated badly.
They were able to choose what to do and where to go. They were not drugged or tranquilized.
The walks are strictly controlled and petting the lions is not allowed, except when instructed it is okay.
Getting to ‘roam’ with the beautiful, proud lions in their natural environment is such a privilege.
The Rangers were so passionate about the lions.
Their Rangers also do not let the predators out of their sight.
At first, it is a little intimidating being in the open with the lions and only a stick in hand, but as the walk continued we became a little more confident.
The lions seemed comfortable enough around people, but it was definitely better to keep them in sight than to have one behind you.
Also, only younger lions are allowed for walking with lions.
A lion’s tongue is enough to take your skin off if it licks you because of the barbs on the tongue.
Do not cancel your walk if it is raining. We were told that during less favorable weather, the lions have more energy.
The Walking with Lions Experience tour
The Walking with Lions Experience tour is an interactive and educational tour.
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