AUSTRALIA'S A-TEAM CRICKET STARS RELAX AND UNWIND AT ANTELOPE PARK, ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe - Conservation - Lion and Wildlife Manager Shadowing

Aug 4, 2011

Mitch Starc recounts his experience of walking with the king of beasts

After the four hour journey to Antelope Park from Harare, we were all keen for a feed and some heat, as it was now extremely cold! What better way than with a seat around the open fire with a big plate of meat and veggies in the Zimbabwean outback.
As the night went on, some went off to their shacks to try and warm up their beds and get some sleep. For the six of us that stayed out around the fire, the guitar eventually came out and Jason Krejza played many a tune from Matchbox 20 to John Mayer. He was on fire! The boys even got the Norwegian, English and Australian volunteers in on the music, singing along to some tunes.

As we woke the next morning, one of the shacks got up to the roars of some of the parks 94 lions, for my cabin it was to the view of three elephants going for a dip in the river. We were in for an amazing day and it had only just begun.
Looking after us on our stay at the park was Nathan Webb, who plays a major role in keeping Antelope Park the incredible place it is. Nathan took us on a tour of the living areas and then sat us down to explain the fantastic program, “A.L.E.R.T” (African Lion & Environmental Research Trust) running at Antelope Park. His words were spot on, “Africa wouldn’t be Africa without lions!”
From here we were off for our first activity of the day that saw us watch two groups of six or seven massive male lions being fed. Now this involved a feeding pen and two massive piles of meat. We stood about two metres from the piles of meat and flesh, only a fence separating us. Then the lions were released and came charging towards the meat and effectively us!
The sheer power and energy these massive animals possess was on show right in front of us. These lions would fight each other for the meat and prime position on the pile. The experience was simply amazing and it definitely got the heart pumping. If given the opportunity, I encourage everyone to do it. Sure you can watch it on TV but standing metres from the king of beasts as they charge for their food was amazing to say the least. I’m sure I talk on behalf of all the guys when I say we could have stood there and watched these beautiful animals for ages, but there were plenty of things at Antelope Park that we wanted to do.

For some, they chose to ride elephants, others took the option to have some time to themselves, but for eight of us, the chance to get on the back of a horse and ride through the bush was something I definitely didn’t think I’d be doing in Zimbabwe. Amongst our group we had Phil Hughes and David Warner who were very comfortable on the horse (as they should be, they are the size of a jockey anyway). At the other end of the spectrum, Ben Hilfenhaus and I needed to ride the two biggest horses to ensure our feet weren’t dragging on the ground. As we rode through the bush we saw a herd of wildebeest, some springbok and even spotted a monkey. It was another experience of Zimbabwe not many would get the opportunity to do.
We were half way through an amazing day and still had plenty to do. The peacefulness and serenity of Antelope Park was sure to refresh this bunch of Australian cricketers.
Not many people in the world get the chance to walk a lion through the bush. Now although they were only 9-12 month old cubs, they still had enough power to cause some serious damage and it was quite the experience that the Australia A squad got the chance to walk these two lion cubs through the bush.
Such an amazing, beautiful animal, these two lion cubs played with each other, climbed trees and wandered through the bush as we walk side by side with them. The experience is definitely one I’m sure none of us will ever forget. After all who can say they’ve walked through the bush side by side with the King of Beasts!
We still had one more activity at Antelope Park that night. We had walked with the cubs, now it was time to go hunting with three adolescent lions during the night!
We piled onto the back of two utes and covered ourselves in blankets trying to get warm. As the handlers let three lions out of the pens they moved about the utes like we were part of the pride but they were on the hunt for dinner as we watched. We drove through the bush of Zimbabwe looking for game and watching the lions in action. They would pick up the scent of something then stalk, then lose the scent and continue on. An hour went by before we spotted some game hiding in amongst the trees. Now it was up to the lions to find them also and do what they do best.
Although the lions didn’t catch anything that night, just being out there watching these animals hunt was intense. Again, another experience I will never forget.

To follow in the Australian Ateams footsteps and walk with the lions click HERE for more information