Overview
For animal lovers who can also handle some fear, Walking with the lions in Zimbabwe is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The experience is run by an organization researching the declining population of lions in both Zimbabwe and Africa. What makes this activity special is the fact that the lions are not trained or drugged and thus are in their natural habitat. The experience is safer than wandering through any park reservation as most of the lions in this area are accustomed to the humans who have been researching them. This is a rare opportunity to get the best of both worlds. You will be able to walk with wild lions while also having some sense of safety…I Hope!
My Experience
Briefing
The experience starts with an early morning jeep pickup from the hotel at whcih you are staying at. After a drive into the park, you are taken to the campsite where the guides operate from. The morning starts with some breakfast and a general overview of the program. You learn very quickly that the lion population has diminished significantly in Africa due to poaching and hunting. It’s quite sad to think that one of the world’s most recognized animals is in danger simply for human entertainment.
Along with the sadness you feel as the guides go through an overview, it’s hard not to feel fearful as well.. I kept looking around me into the open fields, thinking, “Where are these lions?”. I had an initial shock when the guide mentioned that we had to go look for the lions rather than them being in a fenced area. Living in America, I was used to animal encounters happening in controlled areas with controlled animals (which is part of the reason I do not generally like these experiences). Here it was different. I was in Africa, which meant I was in the home of the animals, not the other way around.
The guide told us the lions in the area had grown up with humans who had been researching them since birth. This was his reasoning for why these lions were much safer than many others. He claimed the lions in the area did not view us as threats. Even so, the fact that they weren’t trained, fed, or drugged kept me on edge. I kept looking at the emergency shotgun that one of the employees was holding wondering if he had ever had to use it.
First Moments with the Lions
After the morning brief was over, we began our walk into the wild. The walking group was small, in fact it was just myself and a family of four who looked petrified with the decision to partake in this. Along with us were two guides who were there to lead us during this journey.
The initial walk had the same feeling as that of going up a roller coaster; you knew it was only a matter of time before you were going to get startled. After walking for about five minutes, the guides stopped in their tracks and looked right at me. I didn’t know what was going on but my heart was beating. Then one of them said, “turn around”. I did. And there, standing directly behind my legs, were two grown teenage lions. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My heart started to beat faster and the hairs on my leg stood up. Out of pride I tried to make sure I did not look fearful. It was as if I could feel the lion assessing my courage as it peered into my soul. The family, who might I add, all looked as if they had seen a ghost, had moved back as far as possible. “Come on Nish, get closer, let us take a picture” the guide said with a smirk. “Just do this. Nothing will happen. Don’t look like them” I thought in my head as I again looked at the family of four. Then I decided to do it. I got behind the lion and started petting its back as the guides took my pictures. My fear slowly vanished and I began to recognize the utter beauty of these animals. Upon touching them one of the lions yawned, his mouth widened and I saw just how sharp his teeth really were. It’s not everyday that you’re within feet of a lion’s powerful teeth. It was a scary yet incredible way to start the morning.
Following the Lions
By the time i settled in to the experience, the lions jolted up for their morning walk. Again because the animals were not trained the walking path really was up to them. Our job here was to just follow and observe while snagging any picture opportunities that were available. We were warned not to walk in front of the lions as they view this as a threat. Other than that, we could stay as close or far behind them as we wished.
I volunteered to go behind them and carefully followed in their footsteps as they strolled. Occasionally, the lions would wrestle or widen their mouths which somehow always caused a mini jolt in my body. During the whole process the guides took tons of pictures for you which made the experience that much more enjoyable.
After about 20-30 minutes of walking, I felt fully comfortable. I never realized the extent of how incredible these species were till I came up close, felt their golden fur, and saw their insanely sharp teeth. Before long, I couldn’t get enough of them. I volunteered for almost every opportunity to sit behind them when the lions decided to rest. When they were not sitting, the sibling lions did all sorts of rebellious things, growling at one another, attacking each other, and aimlessly running around. I guess there is not much difference between human teenagers and lion teengers!
It ended up being an extra lucky day (or unlucky depending on your perspective), as during the walk, the two lions ran into their two cousins. The family of four began to play even more, wrestling with one another and jumping into the nearby water stream. It was a sight to see. We were told by a guide that we could see practically any other animals along the walk. Again, the area was not controlled which meant anything was possible. It made the experience more scary but also that much more thrilling.
We did not end up seeing any other animals along the walk but four lions was plenty for the day. After about an hour plus of walking it was time to head back to the camp. The lions continued on with their lives as we departed. What started off as fearful interaction was now a sad departure. I did not want to leave. It truly was something special.
Personal Reaction
This was an amazing experience that I could not talk enough about. Only a few countries will even offer you the chance to do something like this so take full advantage of it. Lions are incredible animals that you don’t fully embrace from a distance. If there is one image that sticks in my head, it is the close up I got of a lion’s teeth as one of them yawned. That is something you just never get to see! The guides were also great and very informative. Their willingness to take pictures of you made the walk that much less stressful. I know the experience can sound scary, but try and convince yourself to do this. It’s worth every penny!
