I was on cub team today. The cubs are now too big to feed with a bottle anymore. Today will have to be the last day. They are too aggressive while feeding them and scratch and bite us. For now on they will be having only meat. In the morning we will be taking the new cubs away from their Mothers and putting them in with the other cubs. These are the cubs that were born when we arrived. It'll take them 2-3 days before they begin to suck on the bottle. It should be interesting to watch from the very beginning!
We had lots of guests today including a school from Brits. I really enjoyed working with them and Vince, the lion I had was extremely good!
We leave on Monday and it's so hard to believe it's been almost 2 weeks. I will miss this place a lot. It has been quite an education and the interaction with the lions has been amazing! Gill and Willie keep this place in such incredible shape, not an easy task, but they work very hard at it and it shows. The whole family works at it together. It'S a beautiful thing to watch. It's a wonderful experience for anyone who comes here.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Lion cubs get a bath!
Park was awesome yesterday! We had seen rhino, jackal, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, blue wilderbeast, impalas, warthog, brown hyeana, springbok, kudu, and a full moon! We had a picnic lunch by a lake and a really great time!
We arrived back at Ukutula at 7:30/19:30 just in time for dinner.
Went to bed after that.
Today I decided to hang out close to the cubs.
First we fed the cubs and then we bathed them. It was actually harder feeding them their bottles than giving them their baths! It went a whole lot better than I ever could have expected!
We got confirmation on the cause of death of the tiger yesterday as it was an pnemonia.
After lunch we will have to clean the gremlin pen again. I just hope we don't let them all out again. I can't imagine having to collect them all as now it's just Richard, Laura and I.
Seems hard to believe we'll be leaving in 4 more days.
We arrived back at Ukutula at 7:30/19:30 just in time for dinner.
Went to bed after that.
Today I decided to hang out close to the cubs.
First we fed the cubs and then we bathed them. It was actually harder feeding them their bottles than giving them their baths! It went a whole lot better than I ever could have expected!
We got confirmation on the cause of death of the tiger yesterday as it was an pnemonia.
After lunch we will have to clean the gremlin pen again. I just hope we don't let them all out again. I can't imagine having to collect them all as now it's just Richard, Laura and I.
Seems hard to believe we'll be leaving in 4 more days.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sun shines again in Africa!!
Can't believe the rain has finally stopped! It's sooooo nice to finally see the sun again!
Today Gill is taking us to Pilanesberg, a game reserve that is supposed to be like kruger Park.
Yesterday, rained most of the day of course, we had a cow delivered that had died in a ravine giving birth. We fed it directly to the adult lions.
After that we went to the vets place and picked up the dead tiger out of their freezer. The plan is to have it stuffed for the wall. For now it has just been placed in our freezer.
We also picked up the dead chickens.
Late lunch after that. With the rain, there's not a lot going on, so off to edit some more n then a short nap.
Woke up n everyone was at the bar, joined them n then had a late dinner.
We watched "Green Zone" after dinner.
Today Gill is taking us to Pilanesberg, a game reserve that is supposed to be like kruger Park.
Yesterday, rained most of the day of course, we had a cow delivered that had died in a ravine giving birth. We fed it directly to the adult lions.
After that we went to the vets place and picked up the dead tiger out of their freezer. The plan is to have it stuffed for the wall. For now it has just been placed in our freezer.
We also picked up the dead chickens.
Late lunch after that. With the rain, there's not a lot going on, so off to edit some more n then a short nap.
Woke up n everyone was at the bar, joined them n then had a late dinner.
We watched "Green Zone" after dinner.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tiger passes away
I had cub duty today. This included making bottles, an 11:00am proper feeding, and then feedings when guests came which was 4 times today + the one I missed because of consoling the owner of the large tiger who died. (This was the meat feeding)
It was really quite sad. We're not really sure yet what the cause was, but at first was told it was a snake bite. The vet is now performing an autopsy. They really need to know as to not endanger the lions.
It's still raining. Not EVERY minute, but MOST of them. It has rained every day since we've been here but one.
It was finally wash day and thank God cause I have no clean clothes. I didn't bring enough warm clothes, they just didn't make the cut in the end. And then, I brought more shorts that I may never get to wear. Isn't that how it goes?
I think I forgot to tell you that our 5th travel person from our group finally made it out of the UK and arrived here yesterday. Arrangements have been made and he will be able to stay the extra week that he missed.
Richard had interesting day of killing the cow that they went to go fetch, collecting dead chickens, cleaning up old construction material, go to the bakery in Brits and having coffee at a neighbors farm. Busy day in the rain and I think it's wearing on him. We try to take care of him as much as we can.
Laura, my room mate, busies her self with her music and drink concoctions and is preparing for the punch at the bar this evening that the owners son made this afternoon. She really does have a lot of great music!
It was really quite sad. We're not really sure yet what the cause was, but at first was told it was a snake bite. The vet is now performing an autopsy. They really need to know as to not endanger the lions.
It's still raining. Not EVERY minute, but MOST of them. It has rained every day since we've been here but one.
It was finally wash day and thank God cause I have no clean clothes. I didn't bring enough warm clothes, they just didn't make the cut in the end. And then, I brought more shorts that I may never get to wear. Isn't that how it goes?
I think I forgot to tell you that our 5th travel person from our group finally made it out of the UK and arrived here yesterday. Arrangements have been made and he will be able to stay the extra week that he missed.
Richard had interesting day of killing the cow that they went to go fetch, collecting dead chickens, cleaning up old construction material, go to the bakery in Brits and having coffee at a neighbors farm. Busy day in the rain and I think it's wearing on him. We try to take care of him as much as we can.
Laura, my room mate, busies her self with her music and drink concoctions and is preparing for the punch at the bar this evening that the owners son made this afternoon. She really does have a lot of great music!
Sunday with the lions....
Yesterday was an off day. It was nice not to have to be anywhere, although I was on kitchen duty again. I don't mind as everyone here really pitches in n helps out, so it not that much work.
I did go for another lion walk, only this time with 9 toddlers! There were 3 of us that went. It was amazing! I LOVE walking with lions! It's just so freeing!!!
Played with the tigers some and they are calming down a lot too.
Ate too much food as it gets better n better n we also had tea n cake because it was Sunday, in the afternoon.
Hung out in the room editing the rest of my free time n in the evening.
Got a rash on my chest during the night on Saturday night and one on my face Sunday night. Changed all bedding today and sprayed under bed. They think it could be a spider bite.
Richard is feeling better now as he had a slight cold it seems. He scored Ginger wine while in town on Saturday n it seems tpo have worked!
I did go for another lion walk, only this time with 9 toddlers! There were 3 of us that went. It was amazing! I LOVE walking with lions! It's just so freeing!!!
Played with the tigers some and they are calming down a lot too.
Ate too much food as it gets better n better n we also had tea n cake because it was Sunday, in the afternoon.
Hung out in the room editing the rest of my free time n in the evening.
Got a rash on my chest during the night on Saturday night and one on my face Sunday night. Changed all bedding today and sprayed under bed. They think it could be a spider bite.
Richard is feeling better now as he had a slight cold it seems. He scored Ginger wine while in town on Saturday n it seems tpo have worked!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Rain Day
(Saturday, 24, April, 2010)
It has been raining since yesterday afternoon so they decided to let us have the day off pretty much. I'm on kitchen n ranger duty today. I don't mind the kitchen duty at all, but thank God we didn't have to go fetch any dead animals. I would have done it, but riding in the back of the pickup truck n getting across some of the cow pens in the rain would have been rough, not to mention dragging those dead cows by hand in all that mud.
Richard, our relentless 72 year old man from Australia and has more energy than a lot of people I know, had cub duty again, so he had to tend to the cubs n I think he had 2 cub interactions with guests.
This morning after breakfast, when it was decided it wouldn't be a work day, 12 of us piled into the Land Rover n caught a ride to town (Brits). Just a lil' one horse town, but it was nice to go there. We were there for about an hour n then returned.
Had an awesome lunch, (as the food keeps getting better n better as each day passes!) Then returned to our room with a hot cup of tea n took a nap. Sweet!
I woke up, edited a lil' as this is going to be completely overwhelming, then went n played with the cubs as I do with most spare time. I've become quite attached to these animals.
Dinner, then back here to do this to keep you all updated on this amazing adventure I've been on!
It has been raining since yesterday afternoon so they decided to let us have the day off pretty much. I'm on kitchen n ranger duty today. I don't mind the kitchen duty at all, but thank God we didn't have to go fetch any dead animals. I would have done it, but riding in the back of the pickup truck n getting across some of the cow pens in the rain would have been rough, not to mention dragging those dead cows by hand in all that mud.
Richard, our relentless 72 year old man from Australia and has more energy than a lot of people I know, had cub duty again, so he had to tend to the cubs n I think he had 2 cub interactions with guests.
This morning after breakfast, when it was decided it wouldn't be a work day, 12 of us piled into the Land Rover n caught a ride to town (Brits). Just a lil' one horse town, but it was nice to go there. We were there for about an hour n then returned.
Had an awesome lunch, (as the food keeps getting better n better as each day passes!) Then returned to our room with a hot cup of tea n took a nap. Sweet!
I woke up, edited a lil' as this is going to be completely overwhelming, then went n played with the cubs as I do with most spare time. I've become quite attached to these animals.
Dinner, then back here to do this to keep you all updated on this amazing adventure I've been on!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Lion Cub Duty
Friday our team was on cub duty. This work entails making baby bottles in the morning n hand feeding the lil' cubs. It, like every other was an amazing experience! We then missed breakfast, but we didn't go completley hungry though as Melissa n Laura made us toast + we had a few other scraps that were left. All in all, it was worth it as we won't be bottle feeding that same schedule anymore because they are getting too big. The only bottle feeding now will be 8:00am n when we have guests for cub interaction. Lunch was pretty good actually n good thing we ate before our next chore of taking the meat n dead chickens out of the freezer to thaw for the next feedings. Fowl is foul. In the afternoon we had guests to monitor. I love the looks on their faces! Even though I can't understand what they're saying, their expressions say it all.
We cleaned the gremlins pen, which at one point about 20 lions got loose, (not my fault, by the way)but, shortly after, surprisingly, they all came back. These are medium size lions.
At 16:00 hours Jill, one of the owners, took us to see the newest additions to the cub club! They were born the day before n the day of our arrival. They were so small n cute! Mommy of one of them almost came through the enclosure at me. A lil' scary at times, but, I tried not to let on(!)
Then off to feed the chickens n meat to the cheetahs n bigger lion cubs, n we also introduced larger pieces of meat to the littlest cubs. They took to it very well.
Then dinner n called it an early night.
Oh, and lots of rain.
We cleaned the gremlins pen, which at one point about 20 lions got loose, (not my fault, by the way)but, shortly after, surprisingly, they all came back. These are medium size lions.
At 16:00 hours Jill, one of the owners, took us to see the newest additions to the cub club! They were born the day before n the day of our arrival. They were so small n cute! Mommy of one of them almost came through the enclosure at me. A lil' scary at times, but, I tried not to let on(!)
Then off to feed the chickens n meat to the cheetahs n bigger lion cubs, n we also introduced larger pieces of meat to the littlest cubs. They took to it very well.
Then dinner n called it an early night.
Oh, and lots of rain.
A Day at Ukutula
Cell wouldn't work last night so...Yesterday...we began the day fetching another dead cow, then on to the dead chickens. Those cow are extremely heavy, but those chickens smell so foul that I'll take a dead cow over the chickens any day. The ride in the back of the truck wasn't so bad yesterday as it was dry at least, even if it does smell bad from cleaning out the lions cages. Played with the tigers again till lunch. Laura went to town with other volunteers, n brought us back some supplies for our room for when we miss our next meal. Richard went n delivered the cow we fetched to the lions.
We had lunch, which was not bad n our team had kitchen duty yesterday so we haD to clean up n set up for dinner. We played the waiting game for a bit n around 17:00 we went for a walk with lions in the bush down to the watering hole so they could go for a swim. It was a beautiful thing!
Back for dinner after that n then onto the bar for a proper send off for the Germans that just left about an hour ago. We played the Adams Family Game, (can,t tell you how though, it's a secret.) n then they had wanted me to see the Genie.(Long story)
Retired after that n actually had a good nights sleep.
We had lunch, which was not bad n our team had kitchen duty yesterday so we haD to clean up n set up for dinner. We played the waiting game for a bit n around 17:00 we went for a walk with lions in the bush down to the watering hole so they could go for a swim. It was a beautiful thing!
Back for dinner after that n then onto the bar for a proper send off for the Germans that just left about an hour ago. We played the Adams Family Game, (can,t tell you how though, it's a secret.) n then they had wanted me to see the Genie.(Long story)
Retired after that n actually had a good nights sleep.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Our 1st Work day with the lions!
Ok...so excuse me if I seem short sometimes as I'm doing this on my blackberry n it's not that easy. I pd for toggle to laptop, but they forgot to tell me it didn't work in gsm (?) mode.
Today...8:00am, (SA time)had breakfast n went straight 2 work cleaning out the lions pens, then off to get rid of the goodies we collected, old poo n bones n such, to the bone yard. This is still on the property as the property is approx. 800 acres, n is a hugh hole in which they dump everything n burn it. While some of us do this, the rangers n some others play bone baseball. It was a hoot! Can't wait to sho you pic's! Then we collected sand, Then off to fetch dead cows 4 the lions. These were at other farms around the area. We brought them back to Ukutula, (the place where I m) n came to lunch, late, needless to say, I now get what they mean you have to eat when u can around here.
After lunch, straight off to feed the teenage lions n the bigger ones. WHEW! We were exhausted. I then played with the baby bengal tigers. Yes, they tore me up, but, I survived. They are much rougher than the lions They let go after that so off to regroup n take a much needed nap. Thank God I woke up in time for dinner. WE have a food plan though as we are going to get a ride out of the bush sometime soon, go to town, n get supplies to keep in our room for just such an emergency. We do understand why everyone is so skinny now! Hey, I could always stand to loose a few lbs so I'll survive.
Today...8:00am, (SA time)had breakfast n went straight 2 work cleaning out the lions pens, then off to get rid of the goodies we collected, old poo n bones n such, to the bone yard. This is still on the property as the property is approx. 800 acres, n is a hugh hole in which they dump everything n burn it. While some of us do this, the rangers n some others play bone baseball. It was a hoot! Can't wait to sho you pic's! Then we collected sand, Then off to fetch dead cows 4 the lions. These were at other farms around the area. We brought them back to Ukutula, (the place where I m) n came to lunch, late, needless to say, I now get what they mean you have to eat when u can around here.
After lunch, straight off to feed the teenage lions n the bigger ones. WHEW! We were exhausted. I then played with the baby bengal tigers. Yes, they tore me up, but, I survived. They are much rougher than the lions They let go after that so off to regroup n take a much needed nap. Thank God I woke up in time for dinner. WE have a food plan though as we are going to get a ride out of the bush sometime soon, go to town, n get supplies to keep in our room for just such an emergency. We do understand why everyone is so skinny now! Hey, I could always stand to loose a few lbs so I'll survive.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Lion Cubs!
I can't begin to explain the feeling of being with these baby lions and cheetahs.
This is truly one of the most fascinating moments of my life! Even with the lil' babies attacking you, you can't help but to love them. Tomorrow we work with the rangers. There were 3 new cubs born between yesterday and today, 2 brown cubs and 1 white one. Another surprise was the delivery of 2 7 week old bengal tigers! I must sat they're a lil' more rough than the lions though.
This is truly one of the most fascinating moments of my life! Even with the lil' babies attacking you, you can't help but to love them. Tomorrow we work with the rangers. There were 3 new cubs born between yesterday and today, 2 brown cubs and 1 white one. Another surprise was the delivery of 2 7 week old bengal tigers! I must sat they're a lil' more rough than the lions though.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Union Building
I'm @ the Union Building now. Very cool to be walking where Nelson Mandella has walked.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
I'm in Atlanta, GA airport right now awaiting my next flight. I've got an almost 5 hour layover, taking off at 19:45 & will be on the plane for the next 15 1/2 hours after that going straight to South Africa.
Sad news, it does'nt look like my friends Bob, from Dublin, Ireland, & Anton from the UK will be able to meet on time & possibly, not even at all. The volcaneo in Iceland has an ash cloud that is covering most of the UK at this time & shows no sign of blowing over anytime soon. BUT, we're still keeping our fingers crossed & hopefully they will make it to the project. They will be missed.
Sad news, it does'nt look like my friends Bob, from Dublin, Ireland, & Anton from the UK will be able to meet on time & possibly, not even at all. The volcaneo in Iceland has an ash cloud that is covering most of the UK at this time & shows no sign of blowing over anytime soon. BUT, we're still keeping our fingers crossed & hopefully they will make it to the project. They will be missed.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Farm Daze...
Began my day with breakfast at "Howell's", great food & excellent company! My daughter, Crista, & grand daughter, Myla took me out before I leave them for awhile.
Stopped by my friend Tracey's house after that. I needed to drop something off & wondered if we could do one of our walks together. Tracey lives on a farm with horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, & kids. Today she decided I needed to help with the farm animals before we did anything as it would be a great experience for me before I left for Africa to take care of baby white lions. Does she really think I needed the experience??!! Really though, it was great fun! (plus I do love riding them :-) ...)
Later, Michelle came to help me pack the camera case. This was a very calming experience for me! She also suggested I take a photo of it all in the end so when they rip it apart at the airport, I'll have a clue as to how to put it all back together again. Good idea.
Tonight, time with grandson, Mark, & in the morning, Myla for the day then I'll pick up grandson, Mason for the rest of the afternoon.
In the evening, dinner with the inlaws.
Friday.....I pull it ALL together!
Stopped by my friend Tracey's house after that. I needed to drop something off & wondered if we could do one of our walks together. Tracey lives on a farm with horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, & kids. Today she decided I needed to help with the farm animals before we did anything as it would be a great experience for me before I left for Africa to take care of baby white lions. Does she really think I needed the experience??!! Really though, it was great fun! (plus I do love riding them :-) ...)
Later, Michelle came to help me pack the camera case. This was a very calming experience for me! She also suggested I take a photo of it all in the end so when they rip it apart at the airport, I'll have a clue as to how to put it all back together again. Good idea.
Tonight, time with grandson, Mark, & in the morning, Myla for the day then I'll pick up grandson, Mason for the rest of the afternoon.
In the evening, dinner with the inlaws.
Friday.....I pull it ALL together!
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