This morning we went to the Lion Park, around a 1-hour drive outside of Jo-burg. We had told the hostel employees yesterday that we were interested in going there, so they set up the trip for us, which meant we wouldn't need to get a taxi, and one other hostel guest, Gerardo from San Jose, California, joined us. The drive there was interesting because we got to see different parts of the city, including the little aluminum shack cities were some of the citizens live.
The price we paid at the hostel would have allowed us to drive around the park in the hostel van with our driver, but we decided to upgrade and ride in the open safari truck, giving us a much better view of the wildlife. This park is a cross between a safari and a zoo. The animals live in a natural habitat with a lot of open space, but some of them are still kept behind cages. We started by driving around and seeing zebras, antelopes, wildebeasts, and ostriches. Then we moved on to the hyenas and cheetahs. Then we got to the part of the tour that we really came for--the lions. They keep the lions in 4 different prides, separated into their own camps. However, the lions are not kept behind cages, which means they can walk right up to your car if they want to, and they did. This was probably one of the most amazing animal experiences we've ever had, and it will only get better when we do a real safari next week.
After the tour, we got to go into a separate part of the park where we were allowed to pet lion cubs and feed giraffes. I don't think you can get that experience in an American zoo. I think the lion cubs were a little annoyed by all the people interrupting their nap time, but the giraffes were more than happy to eat out of our hands.
We got back to the hostel after the lion park, and jubilantly found Doug's luggage waiting in the front office. Then we took a walk to eat lunch at a place called Mike's Kitchen, around 4 blocks from the hostel. This was a great family-type restaurant with traditional South African cuisine. Dena got a rump steak with biltong and avocado, and Doug got barbeque ribs with a draft beer. Again, we can't believe how great the prices are here. Including the two coffees we got after lunch, our total bill was 280 Rand with tip--$40 TOTAL. This restaurant is considered a fancy restaurant, and this meal would have cost us at least $60 in California.
We walked back to the hostel, stopping at a park to watch some locals playing soccer. When we arrived at the hostel, a group of Argentinians were BBQing and and dancing in the courtyard. The party has begun! Tonight, we will meet up with our new friends to ride over to Soccer City Stadium for the Final Match of the World Cup. We are not actually attending the game, but our plan is to walk around, shop for souvenirs, and find a local sports bar to watch the game. We'll give you an update when we return.
Looks like you are having a great time!
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