Ferrer Tames White Lions

Spaniard David Ferrer visited the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site, on the outskirts of Johannesburg on Monday, before beginning his preparations as the second seed for the ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament.

Ferrer and his coach, Javier Piles, set off on a 45-minute safari-style drive through the Highveld (bush) of the 1,200 hectare game reserve, which is typical of the Gauteng province. The pair first visited the black lions’ enclosure, but after 25 minutes of hide-and-seek when none of the animals were spotted, it was time to move on.
Disappointment turned to an adrenaline rush for the World No. 13, when one of three white lions took a disliking to the passing jeep and charged towards the group. “I was very nervous, it was very dangerous,” explained Ferrer, after the jeep sped off. “It was too close to me but I felt safe with the ranger driving the jeep.”

Ferrer and Piles were then able to take some photographs of a pack of cheetahs, who were lazing at the top of the enclosure when the jeep came to a complete standstill.

The trip finished with a visit to the animal crèche where Ferrer was smitten with the baby white lion clubs, who climbed and cuddled up to tennis star. “It was very exciting, I never thought I could stay near to lions,” said Ferrer. “It was an amazing experience. They were so cute climbing all over me.”

However when it came to cuddling up to a tame adult cheetah Ferrer was a little more guarded, approaching the lying cat cautiously before giving it a brief pat on the neck and retreating to safety. “I was a little bit nervous, I had never touched a cheetah before, but it was a good experience,” he commented.

Ferrer reflected on his first visit to South Africa’s biggest city, saying: “I have never been here before. It’s my first time in South Africa, it’s pretty nice. I want to focus [on] the tournament but this opportunity is really gratifying for us to play with the cheetahs and lions”.

Second seed Ferrer will open his campaign, at South Africa’s first ATP World Tour tennis tournament since 1995, against Israel’s Dudi Sela on Tuesday.