Locked in with Lions

Picture this - you’re in a large, octagon shaped cage and all you can hear is the roar of lions somewhere nearby. You see them start to slowly make their way towards you before they burst into a full out sprint. Instead of stopping at the cage they pounce onto it, surrounding you from all angles. It’s lunch time for these 300 pound animals and you are going to be the one to feed them.

If the thought of this gives you an adrenaline rush, then I have the perfect item to add to your Bucket List - Lion 360. Based out of Monarto Safari Park in Monarto South, Australia, this incredible experience encourages you to “Take the Walk of the Brave”

I hardly needed encouragement when I learned about this opportunity. I checked this experience off my list in August 2018, and it was everything I hoped it would be. For an hour and a half I was able to stand face to face with the Kings of the Jungle. I listened to the sound of their thunderous roar and watched as they wrapped their sharp teeth around the bars of the cage, in anticipation of lunch.

After being introduced to the pride, I was able to feed them from a few feet away using a pair of tongs. They waited, occasionally letting out an impatient roar. As I fed the one that was sitting at the base of the cage, another looked down at me from above, wondering where her food was.

The whole experience lasted about an hour and a half, and was surprisingly affordable - $100 for adults and $85 for children. If you want to take part in the encounter but not the feeding, it’s only $65 for adults and $55 for children. The safety of both the animals and the participants is of the upmost importance, and there are regulations such as the requirement that everyone must be over 10 years of age. There was also a heavily enforced rule that we were to stay a short distance away until it was our turn to feed. And trying to to pet the lions was not allowed (I know because I asked. Twice.)

Given its location, this is certainly not a day trip. It involves a very long flight - leaving from Florida it took us 18 hours. But don’t let that discourage you - there is plenty to do in South Australia and you can easily make a one or week vacation out of this - if not more! (Be sure to keep an eye out for my top tips and tricks for surviving a long flight)

In addition to Lion 360, the park offers several other animal encounters such as a Cheerah Experience, Meerkate Mingle, Girqffe Safari, Meet the Chimps, Rhino Interactive, and Keeper for a Day. If you’re of age, they also offer a Lions and Wines Experience, which boasts the perfect trio - food, wine, and lions.

Bottom line - if you like traveling, mixed with a little adventure, and topped off with some face to face time with a lion, then this needs to go on your Bucket list.

Find out more information about Lion 360 here

TIP: While you’re there, take a boat ride over to Kangaroo Island. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Don’t miss my upcoming post for all the details!