Once again Maz pulls a corker of a surprise, not wanting to tell the kids sooner as it leads to a bombardment of constant questions and sometimes paranoia.
We are not really into the idea of exploiting wild animals in any way so was a little dubious about walking with Lions and how this was even a thing. After lots of questions asked we had a much better understanding of the set-up which eased our scepticism. Basically, due to the depleting numbers through hunting, Lions are breed in South Africa to repopulate areas of certain countries.

The lions we are told are taken out of captivity placed into the sanctuary that is funded by the walking with lions tours and then released into the wild at the age of 4 as it would be too dangerous to walk with them. We are still dubious, this is still Africa and what we are being told doesn't 100% add up, we are shown cubs recently born and older lions still in cages in the sanctuary, I could have it all wrong but something in my stomach doesn't feel right. What are true is that the guides have formed an amazing bond with the lions and they treat them as part of the pride being with them from cubs, but not to be mistaken these lions are wild and don't lose their natural instinct to hunt and kill. We were given strict instructions by the 8 Lion handlers with us, we were given long sticks to put extend to the lion's mouth if they turn to face us so they can play by biting the stick, the lions see the stick as an extension of the arm. The head guide draws lines in the sand and lines us up in front of where the lions are meeting us, 4 young female cubs from two families. We are instructed to look the lions. We are given a demonstration on how to touch them in the same downward stroke as they are being licked and to give them a good smack on their hind, not to touch their ears, top of head, paws and tails when they are sitting but to touch tails when walking behind was fine.

Bombarded with info Luca is first up staying behind the sand line walks down behind them and slowly sits down with them, totally mesmerising experience as we all take our turn. One thing we didn't expect was the overwhelming stench of the lions close up.
Next we head off with the cubs leading the way, walking right behind them grabbing hold of their tails.

We spent time at Victoria Falls welcoming the cool spray and taking in the beauty of the falls, it is certainly a place that one does not tire. Scottish explorer David Livingstone may have named the falls after his reigning queen in 1855, but the Kalolo-Lozi people had their own name for it — Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders." Due to the billowing clouds of mist that rise up and drench everything and everyone in its reach when the river is in flood the mist can rise over up to 400 meters and can be seen over 30 Km.
It was great to hear the kids talking about their memories of the falls from 2016.

Now the kids are older Maz arranged to have High Tea at The Livingston Hotel with zebra, giraffe, impala roaming the grounds, a very exclusive place with beautiful surroundings. We felt totally out of place as we sat on the veranda on the most comfortable sofas with a stunning view over the Zambezi River. It was worth it, the High Tea was delicious and the selection of tea's were really good I would say it's the best cuppa I've ever had and Maz who is not a tea drinker even said it was good.After a few hours experiencing the high life it's back down to good old camping life.