Canned lion hunting is one of those topics that get my blood boiling.
When I was little, I remember visiting a lion park in the old Transvaal, where I had the opportunity to bottle-feed two lion cubs. We were fed the line that the lions were bred for "conservation" - which we swallowed, hook, line and sinker.
If we had known that those cubs were destined to be shot by some rich foreigner who would no doubt take aim from an airconditioned Landy, we would have thought twice before forking over the cash to play with lion cubs that had been forcibly separated from their mothers.
What is being done now to prevent these beasts from suffering this ignoble fate?
A few years ago, I visited the Drakenstein Lion Park in Paarl.
This park is unlike the one that I visited years ago, in that the lions who find refuge here have been saved from the assorted canned lion hunting establishments.
Since releasing them into the wild is not an option, they have been given a home to live out the rest of their lives.
A few weeks ago, Liezel Bohdanowicz and her mother, Gloria, spent the night at Drakenstein Lion Park. They told me about their experience.
Liezel has been fascinated by cats, large and small, since childhood. After finally seeing a lion at a big five game reserve, she said, "When they were scouting, I joined the game rangers on their trips to track the animals.
"It was then that I saw the sheer power of a lion, looked one in the eye and realised how small a species we really are.
"Soon afterward, I heard many stories about canned hunting in other parts of the country, which made me try to do something about it, however small."
Her interest in raising awareness of the abuse lions suffered was sparked by an article she read about a lioness hunted in an enclosure. The cubs were on the other side of the fence when she was shot.
Liezel came away with good impressions of the Drakenstein Lion Park.
She said, "The passion for providing the lions with a safe environment to live out their days is shared by all staff.
"The lions are in superb health. They look contented and seem playful - a sign that they are stimulated and their spirits have not been broken by the abuse they experienced elsewhere.
"Drakenstein Lion Park is also involved in the 'rehoming' of lions in distress, locally and overseas."
What about sleeping over at the park? Liezel said the rates for accommodation were reasonable - R550 a person, sharing, a night - with two staff on duty to take care of the guests.
This includes a braai at the lapa next to the tents and breakfast.
"Lions are only four or five metres away from you as you sleep."
Three two-man tents are available.
"It was truly luxurious and surprisingly warm on a cold night. At dinner, we were entertained by the game ranger and camp assistant.
"Tea or coffee is brought to your tent at 7.30am. Breakfast is served at the main building from 8am."
I have always been curious about what it would be like with so many lions around while trying to go to sleep.
Surely going to bed with the sound of lions roaring must elicit some sort of primal response?
Liezel said, "It was exhilarating, scary, paranoid, fun, exciting, petrifying and absolutely amazing - all those emotions in one. The camp is protected by a secure electric fence. The lions know not to get close and you are safe.
"This, however, does not stop the adrenalin pumping when you are woken up by lions roaring at all hours and sounding like they are an arm's length away.
"When you wake up the next morning - if you were brave enough to fall asleep - you have a sense of happy surrealism while you drink your tea on the camper chair in front of your tent and watch the lions walk by.
"Don't forget to say hello and goodbye to the two crows at the entrance to the park. You will be pleasantly surprised by the response."
The park is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, but is closed on December 25. Feeding times are 4pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Admission is R40 for adults and R20 for children. Group rates are available on request for prebooked groups.
For further information, visit www.lionrescue.org.za