Lion Park, Gauteng

This is our last day in Johannesburg and we went to the Lion Park this morning. This little critter is six months old and the size of a dining room table, by the way, but I was stroking him - that is, before he bit me. No blood shed, mind you, but enough not to delay me too much before moving on to view the escaping baby Meerkats and feed the Giraffes - huge, black, sandpaper-rough tongues curled round our hands to slurp off dried grass pellets, much like the ones the 'fat boys' enjoy.

A short visit to Montecasino, a leisure and casino complex built in the style of a Tuscan Village in Sandton. A strange phenomenon to be inside a man-made outdoor town. Many midday avid gamblers were concentrating on spending their hard-earned Rands at the plethora of fruit machines and gaming tables.

Lunch outside in the sunshine and then off to OR Tambo airport for the flight home. Much excitement and jamboree as the South African Olympic Team were leaving for The Games in London. TV cameras, lights, singing, action! Resisted a final purchase of a Zebra skin or Tanzanite ring and safely on board the airbus for the first leg of the journey home.