How to Walk with Lions, Bungee jump 111m, Hang on the edge of the most dangerous pool in the world, get in a fight with a Baboon in Zambia and survive.
by Lena
“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up and I was not happy” ~ E. Hemingway ( neither have I .. )
- Visited and made a donation attheLubasi Home for Children in Livingstone.
- If you would like to help these children in any way you can or volunteer, please visit their website –> LUBASI HOME <–
- WALKED WITH AFRICAN LIONS IN THE WILD –> HERE <– Young lions are walked in the bush to encourage survival skills and bush knowledge – essential developments to ensure their eventual release into the wild. They will also have a sponsorship program that will include a GPS tracking system that will allow you as a sponsor the ability to track your sponsored animal when it is released into the wild.
One of the lions ~ Lilly got frisky with me;
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but it was my mistake and I take full responsibility!!… ( you’re supposed to always let them know that it is YOU behind them … I forgot for a moment; stopped brushing my hand through her coat then my hair or my hand touched her ear, so she reminded me with a laud Lion Roar, several inches away from my face, that she is a Wild Animal, after all who acts on Instincts ) we reconciled shortly after and SHE took me on an amazing, once in a life time walk around her kingdom. —
Wild souls, belong in the wild and even though other couple from Colorado, USA who were walking with me, almost pooped their pants, I got even closer to Lions, Simba and Lilly and enjoyed this out of this world experience!
Here, by their side, I felt true peace and my whole being was calm, happy and home.
- I met my soul sister Irina, who’s life story, path, priorities and character are very similar to my own and with whom we were finishing each other sentences.. after only knowing one another for a few days. We bungee jumped on the same day and decided that we are going to explore Morocco in the near future together..
- Baboon at Victoria Falls Park wasthesneakiest creature I’ve ever met!
I had to get in a fight with her, cause she stole my bag… I made an exchange — thrown her a bag of bananas, then she let go of my bag with my money and passport. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. We put on a real show and should have charged everyone who was watching the whole fiasco. Then she climbed on the roof of the near by house and quickly ate all of MY bananas.
I’m sure someone has pictures of this show, since everything in the Park stopped and EVERYONE was watching.
- Went to the Devil’s Pool: The Most Dangerous Pool In The World. It is created each year at the fringes of Victoria Falls, when the dry season reduces water levels to create what has been likened to the ultimate infinity pool.
- It was just me, another guy, Stephen from New Zealand (who’s girlfriend refused to join him on this hot but exiting adventure ) and a guide, who asked me if I can swim when we came to a spot where you HAVE TO swim to get to the Pool. I said ” yes I can “, got in the water and kicked both of their asses with my freestyle technique : ) ( that’s years of training at the “Dinamo ” sport club in Moscow for ya.. )
- I couldn’t believe I was at the edge of the gorgeous Victoria Falls surrounded by stunning nature and colorful rainbows , sounds of thundering waters, about to jump in the most dangerous pool in the world and then hang right on the edge of death with 100 m drop! Wow! What a feeling that was!
If I ever do decide to get married someday ( well, who knows, crazier things have happened ) I want it to be in some place like this one! No napkins with our initials!!, millions of dollars wedding, No Hawaii beach chairs with rose pedals, there will be no Vera Wang or any other couture dress ( I’m getting married, NOT the dress ! ) and all other stupid nonsense that was shoved down our throats with stories like Cinderella, where everyone lived happily ever after! No thanks! I pass on happily ever after! I want a REAL life! Not a fairytale one! It’ll be just him, me ( and anyone else who’s brave enough ) saying ” I do’s or I don’t’ s ” then jumping in the water or something similar to this.. ( you’re more than welcome to steal this idea… live a little ! )
- Wondered around the Victoria Falls park and gazed upon stunning Nature!
- Said goodbye to a wonderful lady in town, from whom I always bought my bananas while I was in Livingstone. She is a mute and with a newly born, everyday on the same place by the road. I came there to buy last bananas, take her picture and give her dollars for my bananas that I won’t be able to buy tomorrow… I wanted to remember her… However our slippery and aging minds sometimes forget, but I didn’t want mine to ever forget HER… that’s why I took this picture. I tried to explain to her ( with my hands ) that it was my last day and that I’m flying home. She looked at me with sad eyes, then smiled, took my hand and squeezed it hard and placed her other hand over it. I said goodbye to her and her tiny baby, turned around and made my last walk to my hotel … that’s when I felt hot and salty tears running down my cheeks.
Africa really does change you.. if you let it…
Hi Elena, thanks for your likes about by Gambia blog posts.
Interesting story on Zambia with fine photos.
The Guinea baboons in the Gambia did not come as close as that baboon in Zambia :)
: )) Baboons are all over that park in Livingstone and this particular one, paid 0 attention to me, until she heard my bag with bananas… I wanted to thank her with 1 banana for being so cool as to let me take her pics.. however she decided that 1 wasn’t enough .. : ))
Simply amazing!
You are actually LIVING Life. I think rest of us are just passing it!!!! ;)
: ))
yeah I agree. great pictures and you are a brave soul indeed !
Thanks for the recommendation, loved this post! :)
That is amazing. Wow. You have inspired me. And now I miss my home in South Africa…Good luck and look forward to your future travel entries.
what an amazing post and journey!I’ve always wanted to go to Kenya on a safari journey… you’re bursting with life, it always makes me happy to see people making the best of life.
Thank you for your comment! I encourage you to go.. you will love Kenya!
love & light
el
This post in incredible. I am loving your adventures! I am so happy you came across my blog and liked it, because now I am addicted to yours.
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
el
Lions for you; elephants for me. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I really enjoyed your adventures. I’m going to Zambia in June to South Luangwa and will post pictures from there sometime later in the year. Zambia is a new country for me and I’m really excited about going there.
Cheryl I wish you an amazing journey! I’m sure they’re gonna be some stunning shots!
let there always be a road..
el
wow. great post. fantastic adventure.
could not believe!
Ha ha, I know Vic Falls and Livingstone well. Kudos on making a donation to the Lubasi House…so many tourists never leave the falls area to venture into town. I didn’t do the bungee jumping…the Australian girl’s fall and survival bound to happen sooner or later. But I did swim in the Devil’s Pool, the swim of a lifetime! Wow.
Did you go on safari to Chobe in Botswana? It’s a great daytrip out of Livingstone. Animal for animal, the best game park in southern Africa, I think.
Cheers,
M.G.
So glad you enjoyed this post! It really was a trip of a lifetime! However, I specifically didn’t want to go to Botswana, because it’s the most touristy place in Africa.. everyone goes there!
I went to one of the new 7th wonders of the world .. Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya..( my favorite safari in Africa ) saw Big 5 and then some, danced with Masai warriors and traveled by several crazy Kenyan Matatus..
it doesn’t get more authentic then that! I have met a lot people from Australia, Germany, Canada, UK and Russia in Kenya.. but 0 travelers from America..
It’s amazing that you got to the top of Kili. I’m doing that next time I’m there! : )
Yes, I’ve heard about that girl.. however I also hear a lot of people die from skiing, driving and surfing every year.. that’s the risk we all take..
Let there always be a road,
el
Thank you!
The world is open and waiting for you .. always.
love & light
el
You are one adventurous lady, it’s great to see that. I love your quote “I choose to collect memories instead of things”, what a terrific outlook on life.
Bill
Wow! What an adventure! It’s also my dream to travel to South Africa and see a real safari! Just looking at these pictures makes me want to fly now! (Though I’m afraid of animals and heights plus I don’t know how to swim, I want to try!)
Reading your post makes my feet itching for some travel :)
Looks awesome! Gosh, I get scared I’m gonna get scratched when I pet a cat…and look at you with those lions! Brave girl!
thank you. funny you said “brave girl”.. I published a post today by the name of “dancing with fear” : ))
You’re very brave to have walked with lions and to have laid on the edge of Victoria Falls, I went to Victoria Falls last year and almost made it to the edge but didn’t quite make it.
You are living the live I dream of – thank you.
live your dream!
Working on it. Every. Day.
There’s only one thing you can say to all this, ‘Wow!’ I hope you enjoyed reading mine as much as I enjoyed yours. The photos are brilliant, I really liked the waterfall ones in black and white.
Hi Steven! I’m glad you liked this entry : ) I really enjoyed reading yours!
These photos are so incredible! I had no idea you could go anywhere and play that closely with big cats. What an amazing experience!
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos! I think it’s remarkable that you can speak Arabic.. is it a hard language to learn? I can only speak 2 fluently, but hoping to a get 1 or 2 more under my belt : ) I had no idea about the Lion Walk until I researched all the things about Zambia on Internet, and by accident came across “walking with Lions” .. so very happy I did!
Keep creating & keep following your heart,
el
Great shots, spent 7 years in Zambia, all of my daughters did the jump…did you realize that was the same jump in which the line broke recently? (the jumper was fine except a broken collar bone) The only adventure I would reccomend adding is a gallopping ride through the bush on a horse.
Thank you! I know! I was looking at the news and my boyfriend emailed me saying ” wait a second, wasn’t this the jump you did 3 months ago! ” i said no.. : ) but yes, it was this exact jump .. the rope was really worn out even when I jumped.. that’s the first thing that my boyfriend saw and said that if he was there with me, he would never have let me do the jump.. But even news like that won’t stop me from jumping the highest jump that is located in South Africa .. it’s twice the height ..
Thank you very much for the suggestion! Will be sure to do that, next time I’m in Zambia!
Love & Light to you and your family!
EL
i love it when people like you travel to africa, enjoy it and tell the world about it! i was born in south africa and pretty much lived there my whole life, i find it sad that we get all this bad publicity and when people hear that i am from there, they automatically ask questions like, are you poor? how many times have you been robbed? is it safe? THANK YO SO MUCH FOR SEEING THE BEAUTY! i love my counrty and will always call it home! (even if i havent been there in a while)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! What a compliment! It’s really hard NOT to see the Beauty that is Africa! : ) I’m going back this March – April to Morocco & Egypt .. Never been there before. Perceptions are dangerous!! I get the same thing when I say I’m from Russia .. ” oh, do u have bears driving buses?! ” lol or “Are you a mail order bride & you got your green card through marriage ? ” lol ! And the last but not least ” Do you always drink Vodka & drunk all the time ?! ” .. and my answer to the last question would be “Of course I drink! I like YOU better when I drink! ” : ) So don’t be sad about “stupid” PR.. People who want to see the truth about culture and people will seek it & find it no matter how perverted the public opinion is..
all my love to you,
EL
This is so cool! I will have to go there! Lions and waterfalls are my fave things :)
I did the same walk with Lions in Zambia, amazing experience! Best of luck on your travels.
I know, it was amazing! : ) and likewise!
Awesome photos of the Falls. I’ve heard about swimming in the pool on the edge but never done it. It looks insane!
Thank u! You should do it.. it’s one hell of a jump : ) Even just standing on top of it all is otherworldly!
thanks for stopping by!
From a crazy fellow artist-writer-photographer to another, thank you for dropping in on my world, and letting me peek at yours. Hugs!
haha! Crazy people should stick together! ; )) Hugs right back at ya!
EL
Wonderful photo walking behind the two lions.
It was an experience of a lifetime!
Thanks for reading!
Great stories, who took the pics? Did you get any tips on how to walk the lions? Is there a website for the lion park where you can help with getting them used to living free again?
All Pics of people & nature are taken by me.. and the ones taken of me are taken by locals and sometimes by my boyfriend if we’re traveling together. If you actually read through the post on Zambia I give all the details about walking with Lions and even posted a direct link to their website where they give you all information and even explain how you can volunteer your time and help with animals.
EL
Amazing pictures and touching stories. What an adventure!
Thank you Jenny! It’s nice that we share same passion — Traveling : )
Love, love, love the Victoria Falls ‘action’ shots! What a great life experience. WOW!
Thank you! Glad you liked them. Agree, it was one of the best experiences of my life! Just to be able to stand there.. was already worth the whole trip..