Lion Zoo

Usually on Fridays, the older kids (2+ years old) go to the Ghion for playing.  While we were there, they got to go to the Lion Zoo instead.

Imagine a van packed full of nannies, parents and a bunch of kids.  The kids were joyously singing songs on the way there.  When we arrived, the clerk told us it would cost us 120 birr to be allowed to bring a video camera in!  Yikes.  I think regular cameras may have had a "user fee" also, but I didn't find out about that before we went in.

The Lion Zoo houses 10 pairs of lions, I think, in a roundabout enclosure.  Each pair is in a segregated section of it.  All of the kids held hands and walked to the lions. 

I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly a bit more than I saw.  One lion actually got up from his nap and started roaring.  That was the highlight.  For an additional fee, you can be escorted in between the 2 enclosures to have your photo taken with a lion.  I passed on that.

After the Lion viewing, we all went over to the play area.  I think that was the best part for the kids.  They had a homemade sort of merry-go-round.  It looked like cast-off kids' yard vehicles bolted onto a merry-go-round base.  At least 10% of the vehicles had safety belts to hold the kids on. I think the motor may have been wired for a lower voltage/current because once the merry-go-round turned on, it REALLY WENT FAST.  No, that's not just the Safety Manager in me speaking.  A few of the kids looked like they were going to throw up.  Well, not my son…I think because he was the youngest one there (only given special permission to go because he was leaving, I think), he was oblivious to what was going on and just enjoyed the ride and almost steered the steering wheel right off the car.

The small playground also had swings, climbing/monkey bars, and 2 slides.  The 2 slides were connected by a rope/2×8 wood plank bridge.  The bridge was not secured into position on the bottom and there were gaps between the end of the plank and the slide platforms.   Definitely not a set up for those wussy American kids and their litigious parents!  Once the kids got across the bridge, they had fun.

Some of the nannies and Tesfaye were really having fun swinging and sliding. 

 

I hung out by the monkey bars.  Why?  Because I found great pleasure in encouraging the kids to climb to the top and watch them hang expectantly/fearfully for many SECONDS until I finally grabbed their waists and lowered them safely to the ground.  Then, once I got inside the monkey bar enclosure, I couldn't really escape until one more kid had a turn…and then one more kid…and then one more kid.

 

I also have no idea how the nannies kept track of all of the kids.  It seemed chaotic a lot of the time, but then instantly became orderly.  And, I am 98% confident that we returned with all of the kids we started out with. 

I wish I could post photos of the other kids laughing and having fun, but you'll have to settle for just my kiddo's mug!