MDF Magazine Newsletter Issue 57 December 2018

Where the Big Five meet Sylvester the lion
The Karoo National Park is famous for many
wonderful reasons; however, in 2015 the most
famous reason was the grand escape of Sylvester
the lion.
The story began during the night of 4 June 2015
when a three-year-old lion escaped from the Karoo
National Park, triggering a long and arduous chase
lasting 24 days. This event had the nation watching
and waiting with bated breath and saw the start of a
wild goose chase involving many devoted individuals,
sniffer dogs, helicopters and even a microlight.
By the first week the media had run with the story
and Sylvester was a nationwide sensation, with a
select team of SANParks' trackers and honorary
rangers in hot pursuit of the wanderer. Sylvester
was finally darted on the 24th day of the search,
having travelled approximately 371 km and been
spotted a mere four times. Along the way he had
killed 27 sheep, a kudu and an Nguni cow. Although
Sylvester took his toll on local livestock during his
three-week adventure. it is said that during this time
stock theft in the region dropped to an all-time low!
Before Sylvester’s escape the other male lions in the
Karoo National Park had been making life very difficult
for him, provoking his intention to roam. When
Sylvester, fearing for his life, managed to escape
again from the Park within a matter of months after
his return, SANParks made the decision to move
him to a new home.
And so we leave Karoo National Park and turn our
attention 350 km south east, where lies the Kuzuko
contractual area of Addo Elephant National Park. It
is home to the Big Five and now to one of Africa's
most famous sons, Sylvester the lion.
During the day you can look out over the Karoo
Plains and Zuurberg Mountains, and at night you,
and Sylvester, can look up at a canopy of a million
stars. Perched on top of a hill, Kuzuko is located
in a malaria-free region and provides luxurious
accommodation, fine dining, cheetah encounters,
nature walks, bushman painting exploration and
guided game drives.
Kuzuko has a fully wheelchair accessible
chalet available for disabled visitors, providing
plenty of space, all the required grab rails and a large
roll-in shower. The unit is accessed by a well-lit
paved path from the main lodge building. The lodge
itself has an accessible viewing deck, dining room
and lounge areas with shallow gradient ramps
linking most points.
Although visitors are expected to leave their
vehicles at the park entrance, those using wheelchairs
will be given the opportunity to drive their
personal vehicle to the lodge entrance when
needing to disembark or embark.
The game drive vehicles are not specifically
wheelchair accessible, but the rangers and
staff will do whatever it takes to allow disabled
visitors to enjoy their game drives! We found them
to be extremely willing and helpful and very
considerate when negotiating with the rugged
terrain of the park.