This wasn’t a full-grown lion, thankfully. It was a five-month-old cub, but that didn’t stop my heart from racing. The moment they placed it in my arms, I realized just how powerful even a baby lion can be.

I visited VMT Garden and Zoo in Wuse 2, Abuja, and it turned out to be one of the most interesting experiences I’ve had in the city.

Here’s how it works:

-Entrance fee: ₦2,500 (this includes a tour guide who takes you around the zoo)

-Carry the baby lion: ₦5,000

-Carry the snake: ₦5,000

One thing that fascinated me was watching how they brought the cub out.

Before they could remove it from the enclosure, they had to distract its parents first. They brought meat and what looked like an animal skeleton to keep the adult lions occupied while the cub was taken out.

Apparently, a lot of people visited when the cubs were just one or two months old. They’re now five months old, much bigger than before, but once you’re holding one, you quickly realize it’s still very much a baby. It plays, squirms, and even wants to cuddle like one.

The lion wasn’t the only attraction.

During the tour, we also saw:

-A 92-year-old tortoise

-Monkeys

-Ostriches

-Porcupines

-Snakes

-And several other animals

Overall, I had a really good time, and if you’re looking for something different to do in Abuja, I’d definitely recommend adding VMT Garden and Zoo to your list.

The only question is… would you actually pay ₦5,000 to carry a baby lion, or would you admire it safely from behind the fence? 😂