Lion Cubs, Maliba Lodge, and Kome Caves

Lion Cubs at Templehoff, South Africa:

Templehoff is a game farm where they raise animals that are typically only found in the wild. But they are best known for their baby cubs! We were lucky and got to see 7 week old cubs. They were so cute! 

They were sooooo cute! Kind of like cats, but their heads were so big compared to their body and they growled!

Meet Shomba, Thala, and Zeina - 7 week old lion cubs. For some reason they kept on running away from AB. They could sense the fear. Interestingly there was 2 year old kid who also came to see the cubs - so cute to watch them interact!

Apparently the cubs have to be taken away from the parents otherwise the father would kill them. That's what the male lion in a pride does to rid of potential future rivals.

3 year old lions - too big to play with.

The lions are eyeing the 2 year old kid... (that's why they are not looking at the camera)

They had a white lion! It sure had a temper.  

They also had some other wild animals such as servals, caracals, jackals, wild dogs, vervet monkeys, baboons, springbok, and others.

They had two beautiful caracals that you can pet. I believe this is Savannah.

I caught AB trying to steal some ostrich eggs!

Interesting fact: it takes them 6 cows each week to feed all the animals on the farm. 

Although the animals were in captivity, it was an interesting experience. At the end of the day, we were amazed how inexpensive it was - R180 ($12) for the both of us including lunch! 

Maliba Lodge at Tsehlanyane National Park, Lesotho:

If you ever say Tsehlanyane to anyone, people would probably give you a weird, confused look. But if you say you are headed to Maliba lodge, everyone would give you an envious look - and that's because it's Lesotho's only five star hotel.  We didn't actually stay in the hotel, given it's steep cost (it is five stars after all), but instead we decided to do some camping. First camping experience with AB! 

Here's the five star Maliba Lodge

Lunch time at the lodge. I can get used to this.

We got there early afternoon, so we decided to do a nice easy 3 hr hike called the upper and lower trails. There was a small amount of elevation at the beginning, then it's a nice easy hike to the Black Pools.  On the way back, we got to walk along the river and do some small river crossings. 

Looking back at Maliba Lodge

AB worried about the hike

Just kidding!

We were fortunate to find it in such green shape!

Selfie at the Black Pools!

AB contemplating about the purpose of life

Gotta take a dip if there's water!  OOOOoooo so cold!

Though we didn't stay at the lodge, we decided to eat a nice hot meal there.  Little did we know that it turned out to be such a delicious meal with 3 courses.  

Duck appetizer

Mango ice palate cleanser

Poached hake with couscous.

Vanilla panna cotta with passion fruit sauce.

After eating like a king, we went back to camping.  What a big contrast!

Camping in the mountains

Despite appearances, I was actually starting a fire.

Kome Caves, Lesotho:

On the way back, I showed AB some interesting caves:

Hiking down to the caves. Such a big contrast to when I came in the winter when it was all brown.

Kome Caves and its inhabitants.

For more details on the caves, check out Kome Caves.