![]() I learned the hard way that snacking in the tent and getting crumbs in the bed attracts fire ants. But we weren't completely insulated from nature. But 10 minutes down the road, we found a barbecue place where we dined sumptuously on pulled pork and spare ribs.īack at camp that night, we nestled into our "tent" - actually a cabin made to look like a tent from the outside, complete with amenities like air conditioning, ceiling fans, running water, hot showers and even hair dryers. We arrived too late for dinner there at the Pavilion, a structure that reminded me of a lodge I stayed at during a real African safari. It was time to head back to the center's Foothills Safari Camp. I photographed them with my digital camera, using a telephoto lens to enlarge and focus on the animals, which made the wire fence invisible in my pictures. Next door to the cheetahs in a separate enclosure lives a maned wolf, which looks like a long-legged fox. Nineteen cheetahs live here, in a large, fenced-in area where they have plenty of room to roam and run 89 cheetahs have been born on site. The center has a breeding program to help preserve endangered animals, especially cheetahs - the animals I was most interested in photographing. Halfway through the two-hour tour, we reached the park's intensive management area, where animals on the endangered species list are cared for. It was very quiet, and animals could be seen grazing in the distance.Īfter the giraffe had its fill, we continued on our tour, passing and photographing gemsbok gazelle and exotic-looking antelopes like sable with their curved horns, greater kudu with their corkscrew antlers, and waterbuck, with their dramatic white markings. I truly felt like I was stepping out into the African plains. But having been to Africa three times myself, I can say that the center offers an experience that, at times, feels like an authentic African safari - especially when you come upon a small herd of zebra or wildebeest, or an ostrich runs by, or you spot several white rhinos resting in the shade. Instead, we were taking a guided tour at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a 1,400-acre former wild game ranch that's just an hour south of Dallas. My family and I were not on an African safari. I photograph the scene, wondering if Marco realizes, at his young age, how lucky he is to be here. With his other hand, Marco pets the animal's face. He holds out his hand, which is filled with feed that we bought at safari headquarters before our adventure began. The tall animal leans down in slow motion and comes face to face with my 12-year-old son, Marco. Now an adult giraffe is only a few feet away. Smiles are everywhere, especially on my wife, Susan's, face. Our vehicle holds 10 people beaming with excitement. ![]() After all, he says, these are wild creatures. Our guide tells us not to make any loud noises or sudden moves. We are at a standstill, whispering among ourselves about the giraffes that are slowly and gracefully approaching. ![]() Sister-facility to Animal Adventure, and just across the road, home to 100s of animals, your self-driven adventure will take you through grassland, scrub brush, and deep forests as you explore and experience geographically designated paddocks: Aussie Eurasia, The Americas, Africa & Giants of Africa.GLEN ROSE, Texas - The sun is low in the cloudless sky, bathing our safari vehicle with beautiful, warm light. ![]() Over 100 acres of self-driven safari park fun! These amazing interactive and educational experiences of the animal-kind, allow our guests to go behind the scenes with our keepers to meet and learn about our amazing ambassador animals! Reservations must be made in advance! Availability, info & rates are on the linked page for each option! Learn More, Buy & Book! The Preserve ![]() Read the reviews! Animal Encounters at Animal Adventure are a "Must-Do"! Rhino, Picnic with Giraffes, Keeper for a Day! Animal Adventure Park & The Preserve (our new drive-through safari park) are open and celebrating our 11th season of operations! Season 11 brings new exhibits, new encounters, and the same friendly and fun guest experience you've supported for the past decade! Be sure to visit our EVENTS page on our site to learn about special offerings, and consider following us on Facebook and our other social media platforms to stay current with park happenings and announcements. ![]()
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