BORN FREE

A family of elephants were so excited to reach the river. You could feel their excitement and anxiety to get in and drink.  Drinking thro their mighty long trunks, you can sense their pleaure as they submerge their enormous bodies into the cool water. Pushing, shoving and playing around with their trunks, resting the heavy appendix on another's back.  Such an enormous honour to be able to sit by them, albeit in a safari jeep .

Once or twice they came right up close to us and then walked on by. We could see into their eyes.  So amazing.

THEN our luck was in. In the late afternoon drive we finally found 3 lionesses & sat with the mother and her two teenage Cubs.   Sitting in the jeep as the sun is setting and feeling this mother and two cubs beginning to stir and getting ready to go hunting - magic moments and they are Born Free

We love being out in the bush in open jeeps you just can't beat it. Early mornings with the mist rising and late nights as the sun sets and the animals start stirring to go and hunt.  We're bounced around for hours before we finally find these wonderful beasts.

Obviously you are not guaranteed to see anything - go to Longleat if that's what you want.  But your bodies are shaken to the core and luckily the roof of the jeep is fabric as I came out of my seat a few times.  Our ranger is quite a character - Luka and he loves to get up close to the animals which is great

A visit to Born Free in Shamwiri to see lions and leopards they have saved from circuses and from being caged.  Animals that due to inactivity and poor health have lost their teeth, so have to be fed by humans.  Fantastic foundation. I

Brutus. an enormous lion was my favourite. You just wanted to cuddle him.

Back to brunch underthe trees

Not bad eh!!!! Just love it