South Africa is a nature-lovers paradise, renowned for its safari lodges with sightings of the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Ranked sixth in the world for biodiversity, the country boasts over 100 000 species of plants and animals, making it a sought-after destination for the discerning traveller.
Visiting the Lions
Lion and Safari Park
The lion park is an established tourist destination, well-loved by locals and foreigners alike, which became a popular experience over the last 50 years.
Having moved to the Cradle of Humankind in July 2016, this must-see, world-class facility offers guests a memorable experience. The park has a wealth of exciting activities such as animal interactions, guided game drives and self-drives. You are guaranteed to get super-close to some of Africa’s favourite animals.
Experience Hand-feeding
Guests also have the opportunity to engage in the experience of hand-feeding a selection of animals including giraffes, ostriches and various other antelope species that roam freely on the 600-hectare property and frequently visit the wetlands in front of the restaurant.
The lion park is home to a vast selection of indigenous species such as Lion (Brown and White), Cheetah, Hyena (Spotted and Striped), Leopard (including black leopard), Wild Dogs, Sable antelope, Kudu and Nyala, to mention only a few.
Guided Tours
Guests can enjoy a variety of different guided tours. The trained guides turn every tour into an informative and educational trip as they share interesting facts. Tour options include 1 Hour Guided Safari, 2 Hour Guided Safari, Sunset Drives (with predator feeding), Private Exclusive tours and the Alex Tour. The 2-hour Safari is the flagship tour which includes snacks and drinks on the bank of the Crocodile river. The famous animal trainer, Alex Larenty, promises to provide a fun-filled experience as he interacts with fully-grown lions on the Alex Tour.
Photographic Centre
The park’s photographic centre will capture your memories with a great range of printing options such as photo books, mugs, keyrings, puzzles and more. There is also a store with a vast selection of unique hand-crafted curios, jewellery and clothing, which make great gifts for those back home.
Walking Among Elephants
Gentle Giants of Africa
Get up close and personal with the gentle giants of Africa at the elephant sanctuary near Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West province. This haven and “halfway house” for African elephants offers fully guided interactive elephant educational programmes covering elephant habits, dynamics, behavior and anatomy.
The main focus of the sanctuary is to educate visitors about all aspects of elephants and elephant husbandry, with the vision to release elephants into an environment where they can be more independent. Visitors have the opportunity to touch, feed and walk trunk-in-hand with experienced guides.
Elephant Well-being and Welfare
Elephant sanctuary staff work with the resident African elephants to ensure their well-being and welfare. The elephants are exercised and stimulated daily and training provides emotional and mental stimulation. The reward system utilised is based on trust and positive reinforcement and forms bonds between humans and elephants.
The sanctuary abides by the standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care and housing, and the principles of the five freedoms of animal welfare prescribed by the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria Code of Ethics.
African Bush Game Safari
The Experience of a Lifetime
Experience the thrill of an African bush safari & game drive! Kingdom Tours gives local and international visitors the experience of a lifetime at a top-rated safari lodge.
You are spoiled for choice with 5 guided game drives per day during the summer months and 4 during the winter months (times vary according to season). These game drives offer the best lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah and hippo sightings imaginable.
Various Animal Sightings
Other species one can expect to see are Giraffe, Eland, Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest (Gnu), Red Hartebeest, Tsessebe, Waterbuck, Warthog, Black-backed Jackal, Crocodile, Ostrich, Aardwolf, Aardvark, Brown Hyena, Caracal, Serval, Porcupine, Genet (small-spotted and large-spotted) and the occasional Leopard. The safari vehicles traverse over 8,000 hectares of indigenous bush vegetation, increasing the chances of good animal sightings.
What to Take With?
It is advisable to take warm clothing along even in summer. Blankets and hot water bottles are provided in winter. Do not forget hats, sun protection, binoculars and cameras.