July 4 – Friday
Out of bed very early this morning (5.15am) for the early morning walk behind the scenes at the Western Plains Zoo. It also just happened to be 0o as well! We arrived at the zoo in the dark and were put into groups with a volunteer guide who spent the next 2 hours walking us around the working parts of the zoo, as well as pointing out some of the animal enclosures. As all the animals are put into sleeping quarters (many of which are heated) at night, we were able to see some of them, like the rhinos, up close. I learnt today that for some unknown reason, white rhinos are very territorial and possessive of their dung heaps. I don’t know why, because they absolutely STINK!!! It was extremely cold, with a heavy frost. Certainly a morning for the down jackets, gloves and hats, which unfortunately made for some very serious hat hair for the remainder of the day. The walk concluded about 9.00am, so it was back home for another breakfast and some housework before heading back.
The second visit was a “normal” visit and we opted to drive our car around the zoo, instead of hiring bikes or electric buggies. Even though the speed limit was 10 kmh, and we did stop and do a lot of walking, we found that people on bikes (not only the children) could be a real health hazard. The zoo is set out with very large enclosures for the animals, showing them in what is very similar to their natural habitat. The zoo also have a safari lodge with luxury tented accommodation for those who want the full African safari experience.
Out of bed very early this morning (5.15am) for the early morning walk behind the scenes at the Western Plains Zoo. It also just happened to be 0o as well! We arrived at the zoo in the dark and were put into groups with a volunteer guide who spent the next 2 hours walking us around the working parts of the zoo, as well as pointing out some of the animal enclosures. As all the animals are put into sleeping quarters (many of which are heated) at night, we were able to see some of them, like the rhinos, up close. I learnt today that for some unknown reason, white rhinos are very territorial and possessive of their dung heaps. I don’t know why, because they absolutely STINK!!! It was extremely cold, with a heavy frost. Certainly a morning for the down jackets, gloves and hats, which unfortunately made for some very serious hat hair for the remainder of the day. The walk concluded about 9.00am, so it was back home for another breakfast and some housework before heading back.
The second visit was a “normal” visit and we opted to drive our car around the zoo, instead of hiring bikes or electric buggies. Even though the speed limit was 10 kmh, and we did stop and do a lot of walking, we found that people on bikes (not only the children) could be a real health hazard. The zoo is set out with very large enclosures for the animals, showing them in what is very similar to their natural habitat. The zoo also have a safari lodge with luxury tented accommodation for those who want the full African safari experience.
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