Random Thoughts...: African Lion Safari

... in Canada.

I would call the African Lion Safari a special kind of zoo, where animals roam around freely within designated areas. It's the people who come to see them who are caged. Caged in their cars that is. This is a man made safari park, not the natural ones like Yala or the ones we find in Africa, but this does not downgrade it's important mission of education and conservation.

The park is situated in Cambridge Ontario, about 120 km West of Toronto. It's about 1.5 to 2 hour drive, and the journey itself is quite scenic. It takes you through the farmlands of Canada, with green pastures and fields of Corn everywhere you look, homely farmhouses with their manicured lawns and rustic barns. It's quite the opposite from Toronto, and if I were to describe it in one word, i'd say peaceful. Personally, I'm not a fan of big cities, although born and raised in one. Rural farmlands are more to my taste.

Once entering the park, you have two options, either drive in your own vehicle, or take the tour in the buses they have. it's advised that if you take your own vehicle to avoid the Baboon area, because the Baboons think that the cars are for them to play with. The added advantage of the bus is that the guide gives a good explanation on the animals. There are big cats and grazers, and the Lions and the Cheetah's are separated from each other, as well as the herbivores.

In addition to the tour there are four shows. An Elephant bath and a round up, a Parrot show and a birds of prey show. The Elephant shows are nothing new to us. Once you seen Pinnawela, nothing can match that. However for the Canadians, it's a great show. The Parrot and the Birds of Prey shows were great, educational as well as entertaining.

Following are some pics from the animals.