South Africa: Rhino & Lion Reserve

One of the things I love most about coming home, is that I get to share all my favourite childhood experiences with my kids, and as they are getting older I get to expose them to my beautiful country and the wildlife we have here.

My mom loves nature, and animals, and when she has the time to watch TV you will most likely find her watching National Geographic and shows like that. I love that about her, she has always shared that with my growing up, and watching her share it with my kids just makes me so happy and grateful.

She is also a wildlife encyclopedia, and it makes our adventures so much for more fun.

We visited the Rhino & Lion Reserve as test run for our safari at the end of the month, and we had so much fun.

We left way early in the morning and came home way late in the afternoon, so it was a full long day, but we got to see and experience so much. And the beauty of it all.....

One of my favourite things growing up (besides going to the beach house) was going on little safari or game drives or whatever you wanted to call it with my parents.

We always saw and experienced so much.

This time was no different. If you know me well, I have a slight obsession with rhinos, and it breaks my heart that these beautiful animals are endangered like crazy. We were able to see not one but three full grown rhinos with babies - and it was absolutely amazing. My kids are still a little young to fully grasp the fact that they are so lucky to have seen these animals in the wild - at least once in their life, because at the rate that these animals are being killed they might not have another chance.

My breath was taken away, and I was just so happy to have been able to share this with my kids.

There was no shortage of animals and beauty to be seen everywhere - we saw so much.

Orynx, Eland, Blesbok

Sable.

Ostrich.

Zebra.

Waterbuck.

Warthog (or Pumba as my kids like to call them)

Springbok.

Ostrich.

Sable.

Black Wildebees.

European White Stork.

Marabou Stork.

European White Stork.

Tortoise.

Giraffe.

The kids favourite part was their hands on experience in the animal creche. I won't lie, I loved it as well. It was such a great experience to share with them, and for them to realize the beauty of these animals.

The kids were only allowed to interact with the lion cubs - Nate and I have done this on several occasions, so we felt comfortable - also it was during the heat of the day so the lions where sleeping - it was a great introduction for them, since they weren't jumping and super playful.

The kids enjoyed the experience, and I thought it was a neat opportunity for them. I am not here to debate the different views on this experience.

The kids were thrilled that they were able to do this.

I had the chance to interact with a some leopard cubs (a first for me) and I was sold. I am so in love with this little beauty, he was super playful (I am not going to lie, that scared me a little because let's face it, it is a wild animal) but I still enjoyed hanging out and "petting it" - I would do it again. Plus, I have never seen a black leopard before.

Look how cute - I am in love!

Lunch and a play ground, and more exploring to get the wiggles out.

I love her so much!

The predator camps were awesome as well. First of they were HUGE - so if it wasn't feeding time we would probably not have seen anything.

Brown lions.

Wild dogs.

Cheetah.

White Lions.

We went back to the camp, and the snake talk - it was ok - the kids got bored because the lady wasn't super engaging. So Ian found a squirrel instead.