The Lion Park, Johannesburg – The Lion Park In Pictures

About 45 minutes drive from the centre of Johannesburg, the Lion Park was first opened in 1967 by the Chipperfield Circus family. Animal wrangler, Alex Larenty, has been there from the start. He grew up with the circus and his mother was the first manager of the park, only the third lion park in the world to open. (The first was at Longleat in England; the second in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was also his mother's project).

At 208 ha (514 acres), Alex describes the safari park as the 'McDonalds of the bush' - the easy fast way of getting people right up close to animals. If city folk couldn't get to the parks, they would bring the animals to the city. Purists might say that this is little more than a glorified zoo but it really does get you up close and give you a chance to see some species that are rarely seen at all in the wild. Because of this - and because it's so accessible from the city - it's become one of South Africa's top attractions.

Practical details
Address: Cnr Malibongwe & R114 Lanseria Johannesburg
Tel: +27 (0)11 691 9904/5
Web:The Lion Park
Open: Mon-Fri 08.30-17.00, Sat-Sun 08.30-17.00 (May-Aug), 08.30-18.00 (Sept-Apr)

The Lion Park, Johannesburg – The Lion Park In Pictures

The star attractions are the lion cubs. Small groups of carefully supervised tourists are allowed into the enclosure with the cubs to pet and play with some of the younger lion cubs. It is a magic moment.

The Lion Park, Johannesburg – The Lion Park In Pictures

Even at the tender age of four months old, the cubs have massive paws and are already practicing snarling. A hyena howl in the distance and these cuddly kittens were lined up beside the fence squeaking and coughing in indignation, even though they won’t be able to produce a full-throated roar for another three years. By the time they are six months old they are too fierce to interact with tourists safely.

The Lion Park, Johannesburg – The Lion Park In Pictures

There are 65 lions at the park altogether, both yellow and white. First found as a genetic mutation in the Kruger Park’s Timbavati region, there are only two prides of white lions left in the wild but they are a popular attraction in safari parks and zoos across the world. Other than their pale champagne-coloured coat, they are no different to normal lions. And like most cats, lions spend up to 18 hours a day asleep!

This old white male lion is one of the oldest and biggest in the park. If he looks as if he is bored by the camera, he probably is. As well as being a tourist attraction, the Lion Park is regularly used for filming everything from ads to pop videos, wildlife documentaries and feature films and most of these lions have starred along the way.

As well as lions, the park has many other animals from these fabulous cheetahs to rare African wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes and ostriches which you can hand feed, and a variety of antelope, wildebeest and zebra. You can wander round the enclosures close to the main centre at your leisure, and self-drive or do a guided game drive through the lion enclosures. If you are really keen, you can even have a working holiday as a volunteer at the park, getting a chance to work with the animals.