It’s been an incredibly pressurised three weeks with too much to do and too little time to do it in.
You know, a regular week in the news production business.
Thankfully last week ended with nice three day weekend as reward for all our hard work and my boyfriend had had the foresight to suggest a weekend getaway about a month ago.
So come Saturday we found ourselves booked into what turned out to be one of the best boutique hotels I have ever stayed in – both here and abroad, tucked away just a few meters from Croc City and the Lion Park.The Lion Park was where I found my bliss, but not to diminish the happiness found by himself, let’s just say Croc City was a hit.
Croc City was a great start to the weekend with the morning spent viewing the snakes and listening to our guide regale us with tales of the various snakes and the harm their venom has done to snake handlers around the world.
Then it was on to viewing the crocodiles – from the three-year-old juveniles to the 60-year-old grumpy old men.
The boyfriend then, like a little boy on the night before Christmas, took to the flyover which sees guests, decked out in a sturdy harness, flying through the air over the adult crocs while they slumbered in the sun.
This was his bliss. Mine was to be found in another activity.
While he was flying over the croc, they lay motionless and I must admit to a second of doubt that there was any real danger from these lazy critters.
However, as our guide assured us, they lazy disposition is deceiving.
“They move at 20km an hour, about the speed humans run. They’ll get you!” he said with one of the hugest grins I have ever seen, almost like he was hoping someone would put the theory to the test.
Yes, Croc City was great, but my weekend was made, when we visited the Lion Park, by the site of the cutest and funniest lions I have ever seen.
The first were to be found in the cub interaction pens, while Mr Funny himself was innocently eating his lunch in one of the larger camps housing a pride of White Lions.
The weekend had been great so far but when I stepped into the cub interaction pens, I found my bliss.
Yes, I smiled like a lunatic as I got to pet both yellow and white lion cubs, a true joy and a wonderful antidote for hard work.
The white cub had had enough of all the people staring at him and having their way with him.
He was ready to play and was determined to engage the nearest visitor as he sat up on his hind legs and used his teeth and huge paws to bat at the nearest crouching person, with juicy shoulder exposed.
It was cute! I know he’ll grow into a ferocious predictor but for now, he is just cute and cuddly and I was enjoying all his antics.
These babies really are the cutest things on four legs, and yet their pride and the magnificent specimens they will grow into is evident even at this young age.
I was in heaven.
After a mere two minutes, however, the staff tossed us out to give others a chance to play with these bundles of fabulousness and, I assume, to eventually give the babies a rest from all the prying hands reaching out to touch them.
With me on cloud nine, we proceeded to the car for the drive into the park where we would watch the lions being fed at noon.
The park officials are extremely well organised and get all drivers parked neatly in a circle around the feeding areas to ensure the best view for every visitor.
With the lions within 2m of my car I watched as the pride tucked into a lunch of horse and cow, sharing the meal and enjoying the sun.
In awe of these amazing animals, I still hadn’t seen the day’s comic moment… A white lion with a comb-over.
There are no words to describe the joy, and mirth, I felt as I watched him devour his lunch while his mane blew in the breeze giving him the look of a 40 something man trying to hide his bald spot as all the hair was swept over his head to lie over his left ear.
Yes this was the first lion comb-over I have ever seen so I’m sharing it with you because it’s certainly not something you’re likely to see every day.
What this weekend showed me is that we really do have amazing things in close proximity, things we as Gautengers hardly ever think about or take the trouble to enjoy.
Things we really should be doing because this province may not have the sea or the mountain but we have wonderful experiences just waiting to be grabbed with both hands, if only we’d take the trouble to seek them out and take advantage of the beauty our country so effortlessly provides for us.
Hardly an hour away I found the relaxation and happiness I was in dire need of, relaxation that will see me through the busy weeks ahead and memories that will remind me that when the going gets tough, the tough take advantage of the beauty we have access to so close to home.
