We recently here in South Africa, celebrated our annual National Heritage Day holiday which takes place on September 24, and being frustrated at having been indoors most of the time (as I am certain you can relate to), we decided to take a day trip to the Lion and Safari Park nestled in the picturesque valley of the Cradle of Humankind in the north-west of Johannesburg.
The drive out this way is by far my most favourite when it comes to taking scenic drives, at least in our province. For many who are familiar with Johannesburg, you would know that the city is a bustling metropolis, fast-paced and much like New York, but on a smaller scale, however, within this urban jungle lays some pretty breathtaking and awesome places to visit on a weekend escapade or just simply, a day trip like ours.
Now, I feel the need to mention that (and a little bit ashamedly), this was our first family day trip safari on our doorstep….gasp!!!! To be honest, I have no excuse for why I haven’t done it before. Sufficed to say, it was one of the most phenomenal experiences we’ve had in the last two years since we’ve been in lockdown! I literally decided to book it online two days before and it was the best decision.
The drive literally takes only about 30-45 minutes from Johannesburg with plenty of safe parking on site. The Park entrance is free but if you’re opting to do a safari tour, you have a range of payable options which includes using your own vehicle for a drive through. We opted for a three-hour guided safari tour with timing options of 8 am, 11am or 2pm. Since it was a public holiday, we only had the 2pm availability which suited us perfectly as I have two teenage boys who would rather sleep in than be out early in the morning.
We did, however, decide to make a complete day out of the trip and left home early. Being out in the countryside was exhilarating and I could feel the fresh air fill my lungs as I closed my eyes, deeply inhaled and allowed the warm and inviting rays of the spring sun to lovingly envelope me. As we made our way to the entrance, the sounds of traditional drums, music and frivolity filled the air, instantly igniting a bolt of excitement within me. Gosh, it felt good to be out again, that I even for one moment forgot I was wearing a dreaded mask.
We were greeted by traditional dancers and musicians wearing the beautiful African garments of extraordinary colours and patterns. I seized the opportunity to join in the celebration of our unique and diverse heritage and learn a little drum-beating myself which was incredible fun! There isn’t a great many activities inside except for a curios shop, a photography outlet where you can choose from a range of pictures in which you can be “photo-shopped” standing beside a lion pride or other of the Big Five, and two delightful restaurants under great big thatched roofs and stores selling refreshments and ice-cream.
We opted to have an early lunch at the Wetlands Restaurant and Bar; a partially open air eatery with the most exquisite view of the park and right beside it, a patch of luscious green lawn made available to the resident Giraffe and the various buck that gather around the watering hole. The restaurant menu has something for everyone from succulent tender fillet steaks to pizzas, fries and light snacks. You can imagine my surprise when the waiter brought a platter of traditional South African delicacies for us to sample. Since it was National Heritage Day, they served us miniature versions of a Bunny Chow (a specialty from the city of Durban – a half loaf of hollowed out bread filled with the most delicious aromatic Indian lamb curry with soft, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes). The second mini delight was a slice of heaven on a plate Bobotie, the national dish of South Africa made from minced lamb or beef cooked with a dash of curry powder, spices, herbs, dried fruit and topped with an egg custard and served with fragrant sweet yellow rice. The third and fourth dishes had me in a bit of a dilemma. As adventurous an eater as I can be, my courage has its limitations. And this was very much the case when I was faced with trying Mashonza (mopane/caterpillar worms) and Maotwana or Runaways (chicken feet). But in the spirit of culture and heritage, I decided to give it a go! See the pictures 😊
We were quite ready for our three-hour safari and I was pleasantly surprised when I came to know that we were just three families on the tour which felt more like a private tour with our very own personal tour guide. To add to our good fortune, the park rangers decided to feed the lions instead of the usual Saturday feeding time. It was an absolutely spine-tingling experience to be amidst the pride, literally inches away from them and yet thankfully encompassed within the stronghold of the safari vehicle but being able to see them in their somewhat natural habitat.
As we moved through the park, we got to see cheetahs, hyenas, leopard, and different species of buck and deer. Honestly speaking, I was never really much for safaris and animals in my younger days but as I grow older (and I hopefully wiser), I find them fascinating and am ever the more intrigued by them.
My highlight of the trip was toward the end when we took a turn off the guided route to a path where only staff are allowed to drive. We headed through a striking bush of trees and vegetation with the ancient Magaliesburg Mountains for a backdrop. A short drive later we stopped on the banks of the Crocodile River to stretch our legs and fill up on refreshments brought along by the guide (this is included in the longer safaris). I was simply just mesmerized and speechless at the beauty that stretched before me. As my feet sank in the soft powdery grey sand of the riverbank, all that ensnared me was the late afternoon sun sparkling like millions of perfectly graded white diamonds on the waters of the river, and all I could hear was the tranquil flow of the water as it lazily flowed along without a care in the world. This moment in time will forever stick with me as one of the most peaceful and calming moments I have had in a long time and whenever I find myself stressed and needing to meditate, it is to this Zen-like moment that I turn for solace and refuge…my own little piece of heaven on earth.
En route back to the camp we stopped to feed one of the older female giraffes who stuck her head right into our vehicle. I think I enjoyed it more than the kids which brings me to the point that we, in Africa and the world for that matter, are so very blessed to live among such extraordinary creatures. Creatures that need to be protected and cared for as much as we need to protect and care for each other. Be kind to all who share this beautiful earth with us and let us build a future that we can be proud of!
Till next time.
For more information on the Lion and Safari Park go to: https://lionandsafaripark.com/