San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Our second last full day saw us hiring a car and heading out to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Nothing like eight lanes of traffic in either direction, all going 115kph, first thing in the morning to get your heart going.

 

Nic's directions got us there in quick time. No mass murder in the car is always a great start to the day. Now prepare yourself for an onslaught of animal photos, you've been warned....

 

 A great photo this one.

 

 My plan was to do the 'safari' first thing before the day got too hot and the animals all headed for cover. It ended up being a good plan as we saw plenty of animals in the free range enclosure. Not quite Africa but close enough for this family at the end of long holiday.

 

 I don't remember seeing any coconut trees in the Masi Mara but these giraffes seemed to like licking them.

 

 Waiting for something to die.....

 

 A black rhino bred in the safari.

 

 Unfortunately the white rhino's story is a little bleaker. There are only seven left worldwide and this is one of the two females. She is too old to breed and there have been problems with the other female so that, I guess, is that.

 

 Yet another critter that whos head would look great in my bar.

 

Ostrich eggs just out in the open. You'd be game to go near them.

 

 After the safari we hit the enclosures within the park. Zoos have come a long way from big animals in little concrete cages. I'm a fan of warthogs, don't ask me why, I just am.

 

 It was hot, so time to partially 'nude up' and cool off.

 

 The breeding program here is working really well and has contributed significantly to saving many species of animals.

 

 Nearly a perfectly framed elephant.

 

 Mumma gorilla was having a rest from the heat. The baby boy was a little mischevious though and go the occasional clip behind the ears. 'See it still works'

 

 Feeding the lorikeets.

 

Done it plenty of times before, but it's still good fun.

 

 An armadillo.

 

This is first one I'd ever seen. Quite intriguing.

 It's all covered here including a playground near the lunch joint. Great planning.

 

 Not quite buddy, not quite.

 

 Yet another petting zoo. Kept the kids entertained for half an hour.

 

After doing it at the zoo three days earlier Indi was an old hand at this caper.

 

 

The Safari Park was about an hour from the hotel so when we finished up about 3pm we had a bit of time left in the day. Off the San Diego Naval Base Exchange to spend so 'island cash' we went. You've got to spend money to save money.......