Last night we enjoyed a bonfire in the fire pit by our truck and a few drinks. I held to my new years resolution of not drinking African Vodka as it stripped some people's intestines this morning I knew I had made the right decision. It was Rory's birthday so it was nice to have a little sing song along to his guitar playing and even some roasted marshmallows! Thank goodness it was just Nick who came and begrudgingly allowed us some marshmallows off the truck - which might I add we have carried for 12 weeks from Egypt!

This morning's activity was horse riding. There were 8 of us and we were all beginners. I had a horse called Sahara Song, Song for short. She seemed lively but I liked her spirit. We headed out and were expecting a ride of about 1 hour in the game reserve. We got a 2 hour ride in the game reserve and saw zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest, guinea fowl and a big snake! Thankfully these are polo horses and so did not scare easily. They didn't even blink at the snake. We did a little trotting, which for a non-rider was pretty exhilarating. Our guide "Lucky" was around us, but basically happy for us to do what we like. All was going well until Song decided to stretch her legs. We walked most of the ride, apart from a few splattering's of short trots - which is normal for a beginner ride. We were about half way through the ride when Mike's and my horse decided to do a little trot, well that is what I thought was happening. As Song sped up and broke left, I realised that this was not what I had in mind and my horse had just bolted!!

Now in our briefing we were told that if the horse bolts, don't panic, count to ten and Lucky will be there and the horse will stop. Now I can confirm that I did not feel graceful and so as the horse gathered speed I remembered to look forward, pull firmly on the reins and well I may have just had one hand holding the front of the saddle (essential in my ability to stay on the horse!). I also remembered not to scream, so instead said, whoo, whoa - to no avail! So I counted to ten and kept holding on whilst thinking - why can't I hear Lucky's horse? We cantered across an open area and headed for some Acacia trees. Now these trees have very large thorns and I started thinking that if we went through I would be shredded and would probably fall off. Song was pretty tall and the thought of falling did not appeal. I was also concerned that if she stopped too quick that I could fly over head and I also did not fancy that. Still wondering where in the world Lucky was. Song finally decided that she could not break through the trees and we stopped. We turned and I considering going back out into the clearing but decided that Lucky could come find me as I did not fancy her going full bolt back to the group.

After a much longer count than 10 Lucky finally arrived. First question - Are you ok? Second question - What did you do? Me: Fine and nothing, she just ran! He praised my riding even though I am sure I looked like a wild lady bouncing on the back of the horse holding on for dear life! Lucky decided that we should swap horses, as Song has never bolted before. As soon as he was on, he admitted that I was right; she just wanted to run. I counted my lucky stars to be off. Unfortunately Mirabel's saddle was for someone a tad taller and so when we trotted my feet came out of the stirrups when I gripped my legs. I however put up with it and stood on my tiptoes in the stirrups in the knowledge that I was unlikely to canter again - phew. Lucky confirms that if you can stay on when a horse bolts you will not fall off ever again. So I think I might take up horse riding as a new hobby.

After the excitement of this morning, was not sure that my afternoon could beat it! At midday we went to the Lion feeding. Basically we watched 8 lions in 2 groups of 4 eat some not so nice smelling meat. The keepers set the meat up about 50cm from the fence which we were stood behind, once we were in position they let the lions into the enclosure through the top corner and they came running full pelt at the meat/us and jumped on the meat and started licking and eating. They were very possessive and the dominant male would jump in the middle and then try to bite any other lion that got too close. They also continuously growled and sounded liked a V8 engine for the whole time we were watching. I got videos on my camera to capture the noise which is very difficult to explain. It was really rather exhilarating and very cool to witness. Thankfully the fence held and none of us became the lunch!

At 4pm I decided to walk with the lions again - the younger cubs who are just 15 months old. The good thing about going on the afternoon walk was that it was just me and the guides. There were about 7 volunteer's who tagged along, but I was the paying customer and so they all just walked ahead and left me with the handlers and lions - which was amazing. One of the handlers even took my camera and took a video of me walking with the lions - which the park charged USD25 for, however as it was my own camera - free!! Result! Had a great walk of 1.5 hours where I got to hold the Lions tails, pat them and generally just do what I wanted. They were about half the size of yesterdays which meant that the handlers were less nervous. Although you still couldn't get too close or intimate with them as they are still wild animals.

Home from my walk and had 20 minutes to scoff dinner before heading off for the Night Encounter. The Night Encounter is when they take the Lions out to find game for them to kill and eat. You are not guaranteed a kill, but the 2 Lions that were going out have killed pretty regularly recently. We were in the back of a utility type vehicle that has been modified to have 3 bench seats across the back - open roof and no sides as such, however you sit the height of the top of the back and so were well above any game. We set off an collected the Lions. We had 2 handlers in the back of our car and the other car had another 2 handlers. The Lions having been raised in somewhat captivity are used to humans and see the cars as part of their pride and their handlers. The handlers can whistle to the Lions and they will basically follow. We drove for about 2.5 hours and both trucks used red spotlights to assist in spotting game.

Thing we were told:

- - it is 50/50 on leading and sometimes we would just follow where the Lions wanted to go

- - likely that their would be a kill, but can't be guaranteed

- - must stay quiet and not encourage the Lions as that could put them off a chase

Things we were not told:

- - actually it is more like the handlers leading the Lions to where they want to go by whistling to them

- - We would only drive on the roads, apart from if they attempt a kill and then we may leave the road

- - The handlers would spot game, even when the Lions were lagging behind so by the time they caught up the light had scared the game and it was no longer a viable target

- - That due to rain, there would be very limited game about

We set out at 6.30pm and it was known that if a kill had not happened by 9pm that we would call it a night at that point as the Lions would get too tired and it was useless trying to get a tired Lion to make a kill - they are essentially a very lazy animal, even though they are the King of the Jungle. We did have them make a small chase, but nothing resulted and we whistled the Lions back into line and made them follow again. When we were heading back we had the most excitement of the night when the spotlights caught a horse in them and the Lions got excited! I have never seen the handlers move so fast, they jumped off the back of the cars and put themselves between the Lions and the horse. The horse sensed trouble and literally scaled the fence back into it's stable whilst the handlers yelled at the Lions, shook their sticks and drove them towards their cage -which thankfully for the handlers was very close by. My rural upbringing kicked in and I wondered why we could not sacrifice the horse for some excitement, after all the Lions have to eat. Laura was in total agreement with me, however Rochelle thought that would be mean, no the cute horse! Ummm, excuse me, you were willing to watch the Lion eat an Impala, zebra, etc, but oh no, not a horse! Please! I did however understand that the horse has other purposes and the ability to earn income through rides and Polo so could understand their desire to protect it. If you were wondering - no the horse should not have been out and had escaped from it's stable. So there were not Lion kills tonight, but an interesting night non the less.