South Africa Lion Cub Experience

The project starts on the first and third Thursday of every month

Day 1 – Arrive into Johannesburg International Airport (airport code JNB)
Today you will be met at the airport and taken directly to the park in greater Johannesburg. You’ll need to arrive in before 4pm so that you have time to go food shopping for all your supplies needed for your stay. The journey from the airport to the park should take around 45 minutes.

The orientation next morning at around 8.30am will take you through what it’s going to be like at your project, do’s and don’ts, how to stay safe and it’s your prime opportunity to ask any burning questions that you haven’t yet had answered. We've got a team leader stationed at the park so you'll never be far away from someone to help. After the orientation you’ll get stuck into your project!

If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into Johannesburg before 4pm then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation, give us a call for more information.

Day 2 – Mind those claws!
Your first day will be all about settling in and getting to know how things work. You’ll take time to get to know the staff at the park, figure out the rota and start learning your duties. You’ll learn how to prepare food for the baby animals in the nursery, as well as in the evening for the larger cubs. You will also help clean out cub enclosures in the mornings; share shifts at the giraffe feeding station, the gate to the game drive and at the entrance to cub world.

Day 3 to 13 - Getting stuck in
As you start to get the hang of your duties you can spend time learning about South Africa from the park staff; expect to learn lots about the animals you are working with as well as how the park is run. You’ll get to wear a staff t-shirt (provided on arrival) and interact with the lions and the visitors to the park – the best of both worlds!

The more you put in, the more you’ll get out of this experience!

Day 14 – Safari time (safari may be run on different day!)

Your stretch at the park finishes today, but there’s no time to be glum because you’re moving on for a well earned Safari! Today you will visit the Chameleon Craft Market, the biggest craft center in Africa; a great place to pick up some African handicrafts and to test your haggling skills! After the market, you will drive through rural South Africa to Pilanesburg National Centre where you will enjoy a picnic and afternoon safari looking for the Big 5 in the wild. If you’re lucky you might even glimpse the hippos taking their late afternoon bath!

Day 15 – Your last day
For those staying for 2 weeks, your programme will sadly come to an end today. Having said goodbye to all your new friends and packed your bag full of souvenirs you’ll travel back to the airport.  

For those staying 3 weeks you will return to the park after your Safari in Pilanesburg National Centre and continue with your project work for a further week working alongside these wonderful animals and really getting the most out of your time at the project

After 3 wonderful weeks, your time at the park comes to an end and it will be time to say goodbye to your new found friends before travelling back to the airport.