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Lion Camp

How to view Owl Vision: It's easy! Simply hold your mouse button down while scrolling over the image, moving it left, right, up or down. You're now able to get a panoramic view of the exhibit area! Click on the "+" or "-" buttons at the bottom of the frame to zoom in or out. QuickTime plug-in is required. Click here to download for free

Look into those
lion eyes

You're nose to nose with a lion, literally! Those big, golden eyes are staring at you with fixed and piercing intensity, the solid head and enormous paws more than hinting at the power of the animal you're facing. Is this it—are you lunch? No, you're just experiencing the amazing close encounters of the Wild Animal Park's Lion Camp!

There is a thick glass window between you and the lions, but when you're standing there and one comes charging up to the rocks only inches away, you might just forget that for a moment. Lion Camp is designed to bring you right into the world of African lions, and to bring them into yours, in all their golden glory.

At one end of Lion Camp is a group of rocks and boulders where the lions can climb and lounge. This is also one place where you can come right up to the big cats, separated only by large glass panels from top to bottom. A second area of the exhibit is an open, grassy plain that starts at the top of a hill and slopes gently downward. Our lion pride likes to stalk, pounce, and wrestle with each other here. And some acacia trees in this area have become great perching places for the females.

A third area where people and lions can again come eye to eye is the researchers' tent, where you might get a taste of what it would be like to have lions prowling through your camp in Africa. Children especially get a kick out of this, since they are on the same ground level with the cats, separated only by a panel of glass.

In addition to bringing lions and people together, Lion Camp is designed to tell the lion's story. You'll find information about the challenges that this species is facing in Africa and what we can all do to ensure the survival of this beautiful animal. Lions have the power to mesmerize, fascinate, and delight us. It's hard to imagine a world without them—and we wouldn't want to.

Fun facts

• 
  Boulders against the glass viewing window can be heated in cold weather or cooled with a breeze when it's hot, a comfort for the lions that encourages them to stay close to visitors.
• The lions living in Lion Camp were raised around people and are quite curious about the humans that come to visit.
• The Wild Animal Park's behavior staff has taught the lions to reach up against the glass or show their paws, for example, so they can be visually checked for any physical problems. This is a fun game for the lions!
• The adult residents of Lion Camp came from The Farm Inn Zoo, a nature reserve in South Africa. They are part of the Wildlife Trust that is involved in conservation efforts for lions, cheetahs, and African wild dogs in their area.