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The self-led walk through the lion park takes you along the front fences of their large enclosures; sometimes walking along "corridors" with enclosures on either side, sometimes walking the perimeter of a large open space (great for kids to run around - there's also a small jungle gym, have a picnic, etc). Benches are dotted throughout.
We arrived around 3pm, which is apparently the right time to go, as many of the lion's were becoming more active and heading nearer to the fences. Because the enclosures are mostly covered in vegetation, when the lions are lying down away from the fence, you wouldn't even know they were there! The males were also becoming quite vocal at that time of day, and we got to hear many of them roar.
It took us not quite 90min minutes to see everything (walking slowly, stopping to look, stopping to sit, without stopping to picnic or anything like that).
Friendly staff are around in certain areas and can answer questions. Each enclosure has a board with information about the circumstances from which the lions were rescued.
The fact that you aren't guaranteed to see the inhabitants of each enclosure makes it that much more exciting when you get to a fence with a lion sitting right up at it.
The Chimp Haven has two large enclosures only, with one fence to walk along and observe them; and a large caged enclosure with monkeys in it. Viewing this section (which is down a path away from the Lion Park entrance) only took us...
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A fantastic experience enjoyed at the Drakenstein Lion Park today. We will definitely be back! To be up close and personal and to be able to view these majestic animals at such near range was such an incredible privilege and one that I will never forget. The animals looked very happy in their enclosures which were clean and neatly maintained and the animals themselves looked healthy and well cared for. The actual park was clean and neat and there was plenty picnic spots with umbrellas for shade. All the staff were polite, friendly and willing to answer any questions we may have had. A special shout out to Carlos who heads up the chimpanzee centre. Carlos, your love, passion and interest in the chimps did not go unnoticed. You provided us with such interesting information about the chimps and your love for the animals shone through. They clearly love and adore you. To the gentleman in the forest green t-shirt who was also assisting at the chimpanzee centre, thank you for answering our many questions as well. Your patience was noticed and appreciated. Well done guys, it was lovely to see such majestic animals and such dedicated staff. Even the groundsmen were polite and friendly and got on with their tasks for the day. Please all support this wonderful initiative, we don't have many like this to enjoy in Cape Town. Let's keep supporting...
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Highly informative experience. I would recommend everyone who ever comes to SA to make a visit (Monday, Wednesday and Friday during feeding time at 16:00 especially).
As a child I visited a lion farm where I was told that the lions are bred in order to be released into the wild. I thought I was going somewhere similar now with my fiance in order to play with some lion cubs. It turns out that those places breed the lions for a barbaric practice called canned hunting where some psychopaths pay huge loads of money in order to murder these majestic creatures in an enclosed space. The lions bred in captivity have no means of surviving in the wild as they are unable to hunt and no wild lion would adopt an unknown to them cub.
This sanctuary gives lions (and a tiger and caracal) bred in captivity a chance to live the rest of their lives in the most closest to luxurious way as possible. They have beautifully kept enclosures with beautiful views and very devoted caretakers. I am both devastated by the cruelty of people, and at the same time, this place genuinely gives hope for the human race.
Please make sure to add this place to your itinerary on your trip to SA, and avoid any lion farm...
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