In the garden, playing and enjoying some affection, Timba might seem like an oversized pet cat, but he’s far from typical.
Weighing around 265 pounds (120 kg), this white lion has a bond with his owner that’s truly remarkable.
Timba, now a year and a half old, was adopted by Annel Snyman from South Africa’s Waterberg region when he was just a tiny cub.
Since then, the 31-year-old has shared nearly everything with her unusual companion. Timba has become part of her daily life in ways that most wouldn’t expect from a lion.
Annel, who runs a guesthouse, has experience raising various animals. Over the years, she has cared for various species, from serval kittens to a cheetah cub, five lions, a white lion, and even a leopard. However, Timba is her most unique pet, surprising many neighbors.
“My neighbors are always curious about Timba,” Annel says. “I often see them slow down as they pass by, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.”
She laughs, “There have been some funny moments—especially when people weren’t sure who would cuddle with me on the couch, Timba or them.”
Life with a lion, of course, isn’t always straightforward. “It can be challenging to get through normal routines,” she admits. “But it’s normal for me.”
Timba has quite an appetite, eating around 9 pounds (4 kg) of meat every day. Despite his massive size, he still tries to curl up next to Annel on the couch, though he’s long outgrown snuggling in her bed like he did when he was a cub. “It usually ends with me on one couch, Timba on my lap, and anyone else on the other couch—or sometimes outside, looking a bit uneasy.”
Annel recalls Timba’s sneaky habit of sliding between her and anyone sitting beside her. “He’s mastered the art of subtly working his way onto the couch between me and the other person,” she says. “If every father had a lion to keep boys away from their daughters, that would solve many problems!”
These days, Annel is in a relationship, and Timba has fully accepted her partner as part of the family.
Annel’s journey with animals began six years ago when she and her family opened Loebies Guestfarm.
To make the guesthouse more appealing, she started adopting farm animals. This soon led to her hand-raising wild cats after she was approached by someone in the game industry in 2009.
Since then, she has raised numerous animals, including six serval kittens, a cheetah cub, five lions, and a leopard.
“The first lions I cared for were incredibly spoiled,” she admits. “They had free rein of the house, slept on the bed, lounged on the couches, and even joined me for swims in the dam.”
Raising these wild animals became a form of therapy for Annel, and she eventually pursued it full-time.
After getting the necessary permits from the Department of Nature Conservation, she began caring for African cats more permanently.
Reflecting on her unique path, Annel says, “For most people, this lifestyle seems extraordinary, but it’s become a part of who I am. It can be hard to manage day-to-day tasks, but I’ve adapted, and this is my normal.”
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