Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/05/05/cheney-brothers-houses/
Fellow poet, Miriam Hurdle, and I visited Dan at his bar last Saturday. We had a great time talking about our poetry and its inspiration. If you missed it, you can read it here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/04/30/miriam-robbie-visit-the-bar-socs/
Last week, I told you about our visit to the Ukutula Conservation Centre and I shared some pictures from the lodge and a few of the rescue animals. Today, I am sharing pictures of our visit to the research centre and watching lions from a small deck in the middle of the veld.
We passed through this protective gate and entered Lion World.
First, we visited the cubs:
Meet the lion cubs here:
Meet the dads. You don’t want to be up close to the moms – they are the hunters.
Have you ever seen a lion swimming?
You can watch one here:
Have you ever seen a lion in a tree?
You can watch one here:
I wrote another 99-syllable animal poem. It has absolutely nothing to do with lions.
Handbags and shoes
Stagnant, muddy water
Obscures it’s presence
Are those rocks? Look closer; see the baleful eyes
Unmoving it wallows
Waiting patiently
Thirst overwhelming sense
Monkey bounds forward
A single snapping crunch; the crocodile sinks
Its prize will slowly rot
beneath the surface
An unnatural hunter
Squeezes the trigger
Deadly gun terminates the cycle of life
The man smiles toothily
He sees bags and shoes
roberta-writes.com 
I love them lions. Excellent 99 syllable poem and croc photo.
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Thank you 😊
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It’s great to see more of the photos of your trip, Robbie! The lions are gorgeous. I love you poem. You and I have so much fun at Dan’s bar 🙂
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Thanks, Miriam, indeed we did.
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I think guns are pretty unfair for hunting. But, that’s where we are.
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Yes, and the animals have no chance
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A beautiful post Robbie 💜🎉
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Willow
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I did 💜
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It took me a moment to get “Handbags and Shoes,” but I got it in the end! The lions’ grumbling is very full-bodied. I’m wondering if the white lion is an albino or a regular species varition.
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Hi Liz, I’m glad you understood the poem. People do say I write in riddles 😉. The white lion is natural, like blonde people.
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How interesting! I had no idea there are white lions.
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I’m glad you went through that door, Robbie. I loved the videos and your poem brings attention to a sad fact of life that I wish we could find a way to stop. As for not messing with the mothers – I think that might be a universal rule. Thanks again for you support.
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My pleasure, Dan. I’ll finish my doors poem over the weekend for next week. It is incredibly sad how humans treat animals.
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What a great experience and so important as well!
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Hi John, it is important. If you come to SA, you should have this experience. It is incredible!
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We have it on our plans for 2024 and I will be asking you for all of the things I need to see – and support!
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Yay!
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Great presentation, Robbie — the words, photos, and videos. Magnificent creatures! And an excellent, sobering poem.
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Thank you, Dave. I’m glad you enjoyed this post and appreciated the poem 🤗
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The cubs’ paws and maws are so big already!
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They were adorable. I did get scraped because cats love me and I play with them 🥰
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Those cubs are so lovely a beautiful post and images, Robbie …x
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Thank you 🥰
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What an experience! Really enjoyed reading about them – and your poem. I’m not crazy about alligators but they shouldn’t be slaughtered for shoes!
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We have crocodiles here and they are more unpredictable than alligators, but they are still amazing and a part of our natural world.
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Lucky you Robbie! That Lion swimming looked like it was after something? Is that a albino Lioness at the base of the tree?
Loved the video Robbie! Maybe shoot horizontally as the aspect ration is far better for viewing.
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I am so glad you visited, Wayne. I knew you’d like these videos. White lions are natural and they have blue eyes. Albinos are different as they have pink eyes. Albinos don’t live long in the wild.
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Ps I am filming landscape now but this was before our conversation.
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I didn’t know that, how odd. It must have been breath taking to be so close to them Robbie!
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I am more relaxed with brown lions than white ones, Wayne. The white ones are more aggressive.
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interesting………Brown, no frown……while White causes fright!
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😊
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Wow! That was impressive, Robbie. I can’t help thinking that I would not have made it!
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I’m delighted you enjoyed this post, Mike. Being this close to lions isn’t for everyone.
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What an experience! Thanks for sharing. I’m not sure that the circle of life is supposed to include shoes…(k)
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Of course not 😉
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I’m glad you enjoyed the lions.
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I very much enjoyed your eye opening video and your poem about the unnatural end of the natural circle, Roberta! Many thanks
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Hi Martina, I am so pleased you appreciated the poem. We had a most wonderful time viewing the lions. They must, of course, be treated with the respect due to any wild creature at all times.
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:):)
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This is terrific! I LOVE the shot of the lion in the tree. It is playful and happy. Your poem is disturbing (and that is a good thing). Thank you for sharing this adventure. I would have loved playing with these kitties!!
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HI Annette, you would love the cubs and, like me, you probably would have been scratched because they love you so much and start treating you like a sister cub.
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Love the tour and the poem! Thanks for sharing, Robbie 💕🙂
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I am delighted you enjoyed this post, Harmony.
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I was with you until “toothily”.🤣
It’s a tragedy that we have to place our planetary brothers and sisters in protective custody to save them.
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HI Phil, it is a great tragedy and I feel it very much. But, I am grateful for these places. It is not only crocs that smile toothily [grin].
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What an incredible trip, Robbie. My youngest grandson is crazy about lions, and he would have loved seeing all of this. Thank you for sharing and I love the clever poem!
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Thank you, Jan, I really appreciate your comment about the poem. Hugs. I have some other lion videos on my channel if he is interested.
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Super post, Robbie. Whilst I’m not so sentimental about crocs, I don’t approve of any kind of commercial hunting. Having said that, I have eaten crocodile a couple of times here. Rather that than a pretty bokkie.
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I have never eaten either. I was a vegetarian for many years and started eating commercial meat when I had my sons. I am considering reverting back to vegetarianism to put my money where my mouth is so to speak.
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SA’s not an easy place to be a vegetarian!
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I love the pictures, videos, and poem sto go along with them. What an amazing visit you had.
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Hi Denise, sometimes I feel blessed to live in Africa. Of course, there are other times when I don’t [smile], like when all the lights go off for hours.
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What an incredible trip, Robbie. I love your photos and the video clip. Your poem is powerful and thought-provoking. Well done! 💗
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Thank you, Gwen, it was a great adventure.
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Hi Robbie – I really enjoyed these pictures. Those cubs look so cuddly but I don’t think I’d want to get too close. Was there a fence between you and them? Looks like you had a fantastic trip!
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Hi Barbara, we were on a little wooden deck which you can see in the one picture. That was with the dads. The cubs we were playing with, so cute.
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I have enjoyed following your amazing adventures via your Instagram and Youtube channel, Robbie. Spectacular photography and unforgettable moments. I loved meeting up with you and Miriam and Dan’s place!!! So much fun!
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HI Rebecca, I am delighted you enjoyed the pictures and videos. It was a most educational and enjoyable trip. Have a lovely Sunday.
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I love looking at lions and tigers. At the Isle of Wight Zoo there is a white lion that sits majestically on top of a rock. He’s magnificent!
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I am sure, all lions are magnificent.
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Those cubs are so cute, Robbie.
Your poem is very sad. There are too many hunters with dollar signs in their eyes illegally taking wildlife – a crocodile in your poem, but lions too.
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Hi Norah, thank you, it is sad. Rhinos, lions, elephants, they are all in danger of being poached.
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Terrible. 😢
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Those cubs look like they have mischief in mind.
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HI Craig, they are adorable and so cute. They are mischievous and all tumble in a pile.
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I love all the photos, Robbie, but those cubs are so adorable. The lions, too, are beautiful creatures, and I’ve never seen a lion swim. 🙂 Your poem is profound and tugged at the heart.
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HI Lauren, I’ve never seen a lion swimming before either and I didn’t know they climbed trees. There goes my future escape plans [smile]. I am pleased you appreciated the poem.
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Wonderful photos of the beautiful lions, Robbie. And the cubs are cute. They don’t look very ferocious in the clip. Lol. Just wait. Your poem is such a stark look at the reality of man’s callousness toward nature’s creatures. Everything is expendable if killing will make money. Wonderfully written and sad.
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HI Diana, thank you for your lovely comment about my poem. I am very pleased you appreciated it’s meaning so well. The lions do look relaxed and comfortable, but I am very aware they are wild animals and need to be treated with respect.
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That’s for sure with those big cats! True of all wild animals, even the squirrels begging for walnuts outside my window. 😀
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The lions are beautiful, but so dangerous in the wild. When I was staying at the Kilimanjaro Safari Lodge in Kenya, one of the ladies who worked there was killed by lions one evening as she walked home. They had a collection for her family. All they found was her shoes, and parts of a bloddstained dress.
Best wishes, Pete.
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HI Pete, apologies you comment was in spam! Lions in the wild can be dangerous. Elephants are more likely to kill humans though, they are unpredictable and sometimes turn on their handlers and game rangers.
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Fabulous Robbie.. stunning photography and poetry… what an experience..♥
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Hi Sally, thank you, it was amazing. A wonderful experience.
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I can imagine.. I am sure the boys loved it.. xx
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Beautiful pictures, Robbie! And I love your poem. 🙂
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Thank you, Yvette.
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing, Michael.
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Yes, a very beautiful posting, and also a great poem. But reading this in sight of the lions, i would become anxious to the maximum. Lol It’s similar like with Wayne’s wonderful photos of bears. They are looking so wonderful, and sometimes you think you see a smile in her face. But we dont know either they are seen us as friends, of have they just in mind how to prepare the next dinner. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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HI Michael, I am delighted you enjoyed this post. Wild animals are never our friends and they act on instinct. They can be trained but are not tame.
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Love the poem Robbie and beautiful pictures of nature. ❤
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Thank you, Debby. I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures.
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