Being as we're so infrequently in SoCal, we let our Annual San Diego Wildlife Alliance passes lapse. Thankfully, my wonderful Karen invited me to join her for our own little Safari.

My wish list was a simple one: meet the new gorillas, ogle the baby giraffes, and dine overlooking the African Plains. Needless-to-say, my wishes were fulfilled and then some.Meet Paul Donn. "He’s large, in charge, and the hair on his back is silver-gray. There’s someone new at Gorilla Forest. Paul Donn, a 36-year-old silverback, recently joined the family group at the Safari Park. He’s their first silverback since the passing of longtime leader Winston last year, and everyone is excited to see how he will carry on his generational heartwarming legacy."
Paul Donn’s arrival is a full-circle moment as he was born there in 1989, and his mom, Kami, remains a beloved part of the Safari Park troop today. In fact, he is one of only two males who were accepted into this gorilla family by gentle leader Winston, despite being unrelated to him. This was an unusual act of acceptance, as typically a silverback will not allow another male gorilla in his family group that is not his offspring. By welcoming Paul Donn, Winston cemented a bond that helped shape the dynamics of the troop. What fun!

Oh man. Don't you have days like this?
How fun to see two baby Masai giraffes together having just been publicly introduced by the park in mid-September. These calves have formed a close bond, creating their own little crèche under the watchful eyes of the adult giraffes. According to the San Diego Zoo, as giraffe calves grow older, their mothers often leave the calves together in a "nursery" group. One mother stays to babysit while the others go out to eat and socialize.
Matope ("mud"),  is the older of the two and it a boy.
Subeera is an adorable female baby whose name means "patience is rewarded" in Swahili. We were told there were complications with her delivery. How sweet is she!
Lunch was at the scenic Watering Hole restaurant whose view makes it that much more special.
I never looked into the building's history but WOW. The architect was Hubbell & Hubbell Architects, a firm co-founded by the late James Hubbell (an architect I've mentioned a few times on this blog). The rustic, 4,000-square-foot structure, completed in 2016, features a thatched roof, refurbished lanterns, and a large faux baobab tree that houses the bar itself.
The timing was perfect for us to join the preview tour to Elephant Valley. I do love elephants.

Once it opens next year, we will be able to "Step into a world where you can roam freely with the largest land animals on Earth. Experience what it feels like to coexist with them. To become one with the herd. To be more than just a passive witness to these incredible creatures. Here, you'll walk beside them. Together, on common ground. Because it takes standing by them for you to truly be inspired to stand with them. And become a part of a movement that helps protect them for generations to come. This is Elephant Valley. A space that will bring us together like never before. A place where together, we roam."



The rest of our day was spent meandering and marveling... two of my favorite things.





One never knows what one will discover here. This little guy was just sitting in the shade when we happened by. Servals are small, slender cats with long legs, a short tail, and large ears, nicknamed "giraffe cat". They have the largest ears of any cat for their size. He was pretty dang adorable.