We are definitely getting great value from our San Diego Zoo annual pass. Most of us had these memberships when our children were young. For Lori, it had been years since she had been.
She was in when I said we could go together. Have I mentioned how much I love this Park?
When we pulled into the parking lot, there were at least 5 school buses, filled with loud students. Knowing we wanted to stay ahead of the masses, we quickly headed to the Africa Tram, an exciting expedition, with safari tour vehicles and an amazing diverse animal collection which created a relaxing adventure. The ride path took us around some of the field exhibits, giving us a chance to connect with the animals on a closer level. We were entranced for approximately 25 minutes.
There were many babies throughout the Park. I loved seeing the nesting white pelicans.
I had yet to see the Frequent Flyers Bird Show. We were delighted as birds of various species (and a warthog) showed off their flying talents—with many soaring right over the audience!
And I was thoroughly impressed by the Secretary Bird. Standing over four feet tall, this bird cruises through Africa's tall grass on long legs while looking for a meal. They prefer savannas and open grasslands where they can see around them while strolling. Secretary birds are birds of prey that hunt for food on foot. They can catch and kill snakes, even venomous ones. These clever birds chase their prey and then strike it with their bill or stomp on it until the prey is dead or stunned enough for the bird to swallow. Secretary birds can't pick up food items with their feet, so food is either eaten right away or carried away in the beak. The show demonstrated his many talents. Super cool.
This was the view from our lunch spot.
I was surprised to learn that the new $17.4 million Walkabout Australia just opened this last May. I will continue to tout the “wonders from Down Under” residing in this fascinating 3.6-acre exhibit.
We were mesmerized by the relationship between this mom and her young joey!
When we walked into the Kangaroo area, we were given a list of rules. I then said, "And we can't pet them, right?" The greeter said, "If an animal approaches you, you may pet them but only on their back!" WHAT? Lori totally got to love on a kangaroo. And I got an eight second long video to prove it. So fun.
I'm always delighted by the variety of flowers that continue to appear, each time we visit.
This was the last face we saw before we left the Park. What a fantastic day of friendship, beauty and natural discovery!
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