Think white lion and we think Timbavati, because the white lions have been said to be indigenous to the South Africa’s Timbavati region. However, the earliest recorded sighting there was in 1938. Later, in the 1970s, the white lions were brought to greater public awareness when Chris McBride published his book The White Lions of Timbavati.
In the Eastern Cape, Pumba Private Game Reserve has been home to a flourishing pride of White Lions since 2006. The white lion rehabilitation project is one of Pumba’s key biodiversity projects, and attracts many interested guests from different parts of the world.
Pumba introduced a new White Lioness to the pride late in 2009 to enrich the gene pool. She was held for three months in a rehabilitation boma, where she acclimatized to her new environment and got to know members of her new pride incrementally through the fence of her enclosure. The carefully managed and monitored acclimatization process finally culminated in her release into the reserve to join the white Pumba pride. Despite a hair-raising set-to with the dominant male, the new lioness was accepted into the pride at Pumba.
In Africa the white lion is regarded by tribal elders as the most sacred animal on the continent, embodying the essence of African wisdom.
Pumba Private Game Reserve occupies a pristine tract of bushveld in the Eastern Cape – a prime safari destination free of malaria and supporting all of the Big Five. Pumba has two five-star luxury lodges to choose between: Water Lodge set on Lake Cariega, and Bush Lodge overlooking a flood plain. Both are gorgeously luxurious. A safari at Pumba is likely to reveal all of the Big Five, as well as giraffe, cheetah, warthog, hyena, wild dog and more. Stargazing, bass fishing, birding and health spa treatments are also part of the Pumba experience. More about Pumba.
Mail our Getaway Consultants for more info, or call us 0860 102 907 (local) +27 11 803 8669 (international).
