Time for Church?

So it’s Sunday in Jozi… and after a bit of breakfast and wrestling with the Bullworker (gotta keep exercising whilst my foot is crock), I decide to hit one of the local ‘tourist’ spots / locals weekend breaks.

A few minutes cross referencing the big binder that the relocation company left me, along with my newly purchased maps and atlases, and CoPilot on my HTC Wildfire, and I think I have the correct Lion Park programmed in. (only in South Africa would there be a risk of programming in the _wrong_ lion park as a destination!)

I’m out by 09.30, and it’s a grey and not wildly inspiring day.  Road are quiet, except for what seems like every 2nd road junction, where the local ‘skalums’ are flogging todays newspapers (actually quite useful), fake shades (potentially useful), and various car type gadgets, some of which even I don’t recognise.  Keeping windows closed, and resolutely staring ahead, seems to be the best cause of action. 

It only takes about 30 mins to get out to the Lion Park – 115Rand (about a tenner), and I’m in.  I decide to ignore the ‘shortcut to lion camp’ signs, in an attempt to build up some anticipation, and am rewarded by finding a Long-tailed Widowbird.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t particularly close, but impressed to both spot him whilst driving, _and_ be able to find him in the bird book afterwards.

On to the ‘camps’ – first up, the hyaenas – clearly a warm up act, who didn’t dissapoint (probably as they’d just been fed, and were somewhat territorial – the alpha male was nearest the fence, and didn’t appreciate having his lunch disturbed by anyone).

Next up, a pair of cheetah – some nice photos ‘eye to eye’ (through the fence), and then off to see the lions.  It wasn’t immediately clear where the enclosure started or finished, as there were several sets of gates, none of which seemed to be keeping the lions _out_ of anywhere, as much as to keep the different tribes separate.

It was getting close to weekly feeding time, and the sense of anticipations amongst the lions was matched by that of the customers.  The cats were on the whole more disciplined than the guests – they mostly kept away from the entrances, and moved on when they were shouted at  – unlike some of the cars, who would stop the first time they got close, which was usually by the entrance.   The lone guard had to wave his stick and shout…. the lions seemed unperturbed.

One couple, who had parked up their shiny Toyota pickup, with what they thought was a good view of the forthcoming feeding session, were a little shocked as one of the lionesses leapt into the back for a rummage.  The initial shock soon turned to amusement and a great camera opportunity, until the cat got her claws into the liner in the bottom of the flatbed… doubtless there are some irreperable claw marks in the material now.  

A couple of other cars got some special attention – I had noticed the ‘customers advised to remove spare tyre covers’ sign on the way in… one well decorated SUV quickly regretted his decision, as he was chased through the camp by one of the young males.

Home, via one of the larger malls… slight timewarp, and somewhat reminiscent of Fairlane mall in Detroit.  Picked up a few more essentials (including a decent showerhead to replace the rather paltry one in the flat), and, hopefully more usefully, a card and flyer from a dive shop.  The satnav behaved itself all day, which was appreciated, and I was home in time to see both the end of the Moto GP at Valencia, the start of the NY Marathon, _and_ catch the Grand Prix.  Now all I need to do is sort the _atrocious_ picture quality of local satellite TV – have been _very_ spoilt by Freesat, especially Freesat HD, back home.