Posted by Jemele Hill
SEAVIEW, South Africa -- One thing that continues to endear me to South Africa is that they assume you possess a little bit of common sense -- even though plenty of us don't.
I spent the bulk of Sunday at the Seaview Game & Lion Park, which is about 20 miles west of Port Elizabeth. I was thinking beforehand that I'd get a guide upon arriving, one who would tell me different facts about the animals. I expected severe fencing; cages; and signs warning me not to feed, touch or antagonize the animals.
Eh, not exactly.
For one, it's a self-drive park that covers a vast, hilly landscape. So, whatever knowledge you had before the park about the reserve's animals, that's essentially what you leave with. Although there is fencing and cages, the area is so broad and expansive that the animals are given enormous freedom to roam.
And as I discovered, interact.
The setup is made for you to get close to animals. As you make the drive along a muddy, but well-worn path, animals walk just a few feet away from the vehicle. It's like a self-safari. The interface with the springboks, peacocks, buffaloes and zebras is so completely natural, it can be unnerving. A zebra was so close to our car that I felt as though I could stroke its back. The animals don't get out of your way; you get out of theirs.
As you drive upward, you enter the lion and tiger territory. This you don't drive through, but walk. There's a camping area for overnight guests, and just steps away are caged lions and tigers. The fencing is supposedly electric, but they didn't have it activated on this day. They had just fed the tigers and lions when we arrived. Maybe they thought they were too lazy to make an earnest attempt at us. Still, it was good information to know.
And even as you patrol the cages, there are no guides or park personnel. In no way is it unsafe, but I suppose they figure they don't need any signs telling you what not to do. If you're dumb enough to do something that creates a serious situation between you and one of these animals, you likely deserve whatever you get.
But even with ferocious animals like lions and tigers, they still want you to get personal. So I did. I got in a small cage for 15 minutes with four cub lions, who were absolutely adorable. Mostly, they slept as I petted them. One playfully bit me on the thumb and tried to take a piece of my sneakers, but it was nothing.
I left with all 10 fingers and 10 toes. It was a good day.