One True King

There is a place in South Africa where you can walk amongst the lions.

It is called GG Conservation.

The lions there have been rescued from one place or another. Some have been raised there. All have a unique story.

They live in captivity, in very large, very well done enclosures.

I went there because of the unique opportunity to get close…VERY close to these magnificent creatures.

The fact that this would not be a true “in the wild” experience weighed on me a bit. 

I wondered.

Arriving to the place, just outside Harrismith, an elderly gentleman met me at “The Lion House”, where I would be staying for the next few days. It was located smack dab in the middle of the property and surrounded on all sides…by lions.

GG Conservation was the dream, and now the reality, of the man who met me, Pat Shannon.

He is as energetic and endearing a human being as I have ever met. 

His life story is something of the movies. His voice, easily the rival of David Attenborough. His love of these lions and they for him, is extraordinary to witness.

I drew all aces.

The folks that normally keep an eye on visitors and show them about were on break, which meant it was just me and Pat.

He quickly sensed a fellow kindred spirit and someone he could trust to do what he was told when he was told. Because of that, access was granted that otherwise, no way in hell, I would ever get.

Sun would set soon.

“Throw those bags in the house, grab your camera and jump in the pickup. The sun is setting soon and if lucky we’ll get a great shot of Alex and Tonga.”

The electric fence doors opened and closed behind us, first one set, then another.

Pat was taking me straight into the enclosure.

Not 20 minutes removed from my arrival and I was now looking at two of the most beautiful male lions of my life.

“Get out.”

He stopped the pickup and repeated himself, as I was not completely confident in the situation.

The two were bedded at the edge of the tall grass, mountains behind them. The sun, unfortunately, was a bit too low for the perfect snap.

Nonetheless, I wanted to try so I slowly let myself out. Pat was speaking to the lions the entire time. My heart was pounding into the South African soil as I was now lying down, camera trained on these two lions, no more than 50 meters away.

This would be my first experience at GG Conservation. Didn’t get the shot, but damn, what a start.

For the remainder of my stay, I’d have the Lion House all to myself.

Like I said, I drew aces on this trip.

As the sun set, lions began to roar in all directions, some so close I could feel the vibration through the walls.

It would continue through the night and into the morning.

I have never felt so alive.

The next morning Pat met me well before light and off we went to one of his favorite spots for the sunrise.  The property is
magnificent and HUGE, perhaps 1000 acres or more, and it teams with abundant African wildlife.

His voice narrated the tour beautifully, and as the sun rose I watched Africa wake up. The colors, views and sounds, intoxicating.

We’d return just after first light and Pat cut me loose to walk amongst the property. It was there, not 100 meters from the house, that the roar, a seeming, “Who the heck are you and do you know who the heck I am?” filled the air and snapped my head to the right. Trotting towards me was a lion so regal, so BIG, his mane looking like he just left the hairdresser. I was mesmerized.

The light?

Perfect.

I was already in the dirt, camera at the ready.

The terrain could not have been better. He was slightly higher than me, making him appear, if possible, even more imposing.

50 meters, 40, 30, 20, 10…

My camera blazed like a machine gun ripping off frames as fast as it was able. I would not have been surprised had it been smoking.

ROAR!!!!!!

Fence or no fence between us, it was terrifying. Were it not for the barrier, I have no doubts the outcome.

His name, “Smokey”.

To me, he is “The One True King”