White Lions and Bushmen Painting safari side trip.

This day trip includes 3 of the most frequently requested items for visitors to South Africa. This trip starts out with visiting the local White Lion Breeding Project where you will encounter the "King" of the predators, the African Lion. Next we will spend some time in the nearby city of Lephalale (formerly Ellisras) where you will be able to see some of the local stores and people and where we will take a break for lunch. Following this we will head back to the bush for a visit to an area that contains ancient Bushman paintings.

White Lion Breeding Project

There have been centuries of rumors concerning the mysterious white lions that have been circulating South Africa. Legend said the white fur represented the good to be found in all creature. Strong claims of sightings began to surface in the 1920's and scattered reports continued until 1975 when a litter containing two white cubs were seen adjacent to Kruger National Park. The white lions coat is a distinct disadvantage in nature as it is highly visible and their location is easily spotted by predators. Many times the white lion cubs are killed or abandoned by their own pride. Reproduction in the wild is very limited as the darkness of a lion's mane is the most attractive feature to females. White manes are not very attractive which lowers the chances of white lions reproducing.

White lions are not albino. They have pigmentation which shows particularly in the eyes, paw pads and in the lips. The cause of their unusual coloration is a recessive gene which results in the white appearance. Today no white lions exist in the wild but thanks to breeding projects such as this the white lion may be saved from extinction.

Guided drives in their natural habitat allow you to encounter both the white and brown lions. These drives are led by an experienced guide who will help you know better these wonderful predators. This 1½ hour experience is conducted in an open air and very comfortable vehicle where you will have stunning views of the scenery, bush and the lions themselves.

For more information on the city of Lephalale, please visit this web site: http://www.lephalale.com/

Bushman Paintings

Bushman Painting Location

Ancient Bushman paintings like these can be seen in many parts of South Africa. The Bushman, or San, are thought to have been the first modern human inhabitants of southern Africa. Only a few thousand survive today, living mostly in the desert regions. Other than a series of striking rock paintings, the Bushmen left few traces of their early culture. These ancient paintings tell the story of their Stone Age culture, rituals, spiritual beliefs along with particular emphasis on hunting and the animals around them.

For the Bushman, rock paintings were just representations of life; they were also repositories of it. The art is believed to be painted by Bushman Shamans or priests. Shamans are believed to have accessed the spirit world through altered states of consciousness and used supernatural power to heal the sick, control animals and to make rain. It is possible many of the paintings were inspired by visions experienced during these trances and then depicted on the rocks so that others could share and draw inspiration form them. When Shamans painted an Eland, they didn't just pay homage to a sacred animal but they also harnessed its essence. They put piant to rock and opened portals to the spirit world.

The cost for this trip is included in your side trip daily rate (see our daily rates page).