Dolphins & Angels

Our little group of five was due to see the white lions on the fifth day of the Sacred Journey in the afternoon. We went out to Kaapse Hoop that day which turned out to be a really long drive there and we were only due to leave at around 3pm. This would have meant that we would not be able to see the lions in our slotted time.

I felt quite disappointed as each group had come back with some incredible feedback and you could see how the White lions had touched each person very deeply. My feelings during the day varied from anger, sadness and then to resentment but then the most amazing thing of all happened to me …. I let go of any expectations of seeing them. It wasn’t just a mental letting go that would help me feel better but it was a true letting go.

We eventually left Kaapse Hoop at around 4pm and on the bus back we were told that we were going to be the first group that was allowed into the 300 hectare enclosure at night as this was when the lions hunted and ideally Jason did not like to disturb them.

The feeling of excitement and relief was palpable in our group and when we reached Kubu at 8pm we scoffed our food down and we were ready for our journey. We were recommended by Mike to use the Gold Pomander to draw the lions towards us and we felt that it was really important to use the Lady Nada quintessence too so that they could feel the unconditional love from us.

Andy took us outside to Linda’s property and we waited for Jason Turner to take us in the Landrover to our wonderful experience. We used the pomander and quintessence in the dark under the African night sky which was filled with stars.

When Jason arrived he explained that he was able to track the lions as there was a solar powered collar on Marah and another on Letaba and depending where they were in the 300 hectares he would be able to see a reading on his handset. The further away they were would be two or three and the closer they were would give him a six or seven reading.

He established that they were near the river bed which was there favourite hunting place and so we made our way there where we received a seven reading. He didn’t want to crowd them so we waited in a clearing with the lights switched off. It was completely dark and it was amazing to think about the lion’s eyesight that they were able to hunt in the dark.

The pride was not coming any closer although we still had a seven reading and Jason decided to do some bundu bashing to find them. It is really difficult to explain the feeling that you have inside you when you have only heard beeping on a handset to suddenly have them appear in front of you in a clearing without any fences between you.

They were close to the perimeter fence they had the scent of wildebeest the night before and of course Regeus was lying down comfortably while the rest of the pride looked quite alert. Jason used a red bulb to view them so my experience of the lions were more as a dull red rather than a white but their beauty was able to shine through any possible way that you could view them!

Marah was scratching against a tree and apparently this was a territorial movement. Jason commented that they were in typical hunting mode and one of the girls said that it felt like the lions were just ignoring us.

The lions are used to the Landrover and to Jason but of course they could sense the different people in each group. Jason said the fact that they were ignoring us was because they felt comfortable with us and they were accepting of us otherwise they would disappear and they can be very hard to sight if they choose to be.

A few minutes after he said that they did disappear and I honestly thought that we wouldn’t see them again. We asked Jason many questions about their hunting and feeding patterns and I was under the impression that because they had not been in their enclosure for very long that they were only eating warthog and porcupine.

Imagine my surprise when he said that they had been successfully hunting and eating wildebeest for some time now. Even Regeus, the lazy hunter had managed to take down a wildebeest all by himself and of course he chose to eat it himself too.

Jason decided that we would try and find the lions again as they had not returned and we came upon them in a clearing where they were very alert for hunting. They kept walking further and we felt like the fifth lion of the pride as we slowly followed Regeus.

Marah came back and circled the jeep and she was only a few inches away from us. We felt no danger and Jason said not to make any sudden movements. In fact Jason still had his window open. She was so quiet when we passed and her sense of grace and beauty was such an honour to sense. A little later Zihra chose to circle the jeep after her mother too and this was also such a wonderful feeling.

After trailing behind the lions, Marah decided that it was time to double back and go into the bush to pursue their quarry. Zihra had been hiding in the bushes and decided to jump out at Letaba and Regeus - how wonderful to see the playfulness in something as serious as hunting.

So we got to see each of their faces in close proximity too and words cannot express the beauty and dignity that was portrayed in each of their faces! After two hours in the bush Jason asked if we were happy to head back and give the lions the space to carry on hunting. We couldn’t see how this experience could have been more special and we agreed that it was time to go.

On the way out we saw a little fleet footed Duiker, the eyes of the wildebeest hiding behind bushes and some other buck.

This experience is one that I will treasure for the rest of my life, particularly that this is not open to the public and it really was a very special occasion that we were able to spend these moments out in time with them.