National Bridge Safari Park

June 19, 2011. My mom and I took the boys to the Virginia Safari Park located near National Bridge and wow, what an experience. Definitely one I will go back to again. The park, which opened in the spring of 2000, is a huge drive through adventure set on 180 acres, filled with all sorts of wild, exotic animals. Park rules dictate that folks must stay in their vehicle (which is a good rule considering the types of animals you encounter), but all visitors are encouraged to feed the animals with the specialty grain provided. The experience of having a huge bull elk, ostrich, emu, bison, or camel only inches away, feeding from your bucket, is virtually impossible to describe.

Upon first driving into the park, Lincoln was on Nana's lap and Berkeley was on my lap. We were immediately confronted by a watusi cattle (with horns spanning 10 feet from tip to tip) followed by an equally enormous scotch highland cow (4 feet at the shoulder and weighing between 900-1200 lbs. The cow stuck her entire head in the driver's side window and surprised me so much I screamed. So much for leading by example. Lincoln and Berkeley literally jumped off of our laps to escape. Lincoln was terrified, crying and crying for me to take him home. He tried to climb into Berkeley's car seat (still rear facing bucket seat) to hide. In between tears, Lincoln began adamantly saying, "Take me home away from these awful, awful animals." I felt terrible that I had set the wrong tone from the start, but couldn't help but laugh at his drama. Meanwhile, Berkeley was statue like and quiet, hiding his head in my body.

After much convincing and reassuring measures, Lincoln and Berkeley switched attitudes, and the very next thing Lincoln said was, "Come here little fella. Over here little fella." We had a great time and spent nearly three hours driving super slow, stopping frequently, and feeding all sorts of animals.

Lincoln seen below crying in between shrieking, "Awful animals, awful, awful animals."

Berkeley seen below hiding his head.

This Eland below stole my bucket. I held on tight, but it jerked it from my hand with ease.

Berkeley and I are checking out a fallow deer, or more likely the deer is checking us out.

Majestic elk relaxing in the woods.

Warning: Camels steal buckets and eat them.

Camel toe!!!

Huge bison comes over for a visit.

Lincoln had to go and there was no way we were breaking the rules to get out of our car. This approach worked just fine.

What an experience. Lincoln got to touch a baby zebra, just two weeks old. I have never even seen a baby zebra, much less get close enough to touch one. Truly the highlight of the adventure for me.

Llama llama where is mama? Little llama I'm right here, mama llama loves you dear.

Lincoln practicing his flamingo moves.

Lincoln showing off to a Bengal tiger.

So the baby zebra was the highlight of my trip, but the mating turtles were the highlight of Lincoln's trip. Did you know that when turtles do it, they are actually quite loud. In addition to the sound of the shells banging up against each other, the male turtle (obviously the fella on top) makes a humphing sound, no kidding and moves in time. Lincoln was fascinated. He wanted to know what they were doing of course. I say, "Lincoln they are mating." Lincoln says, "What is mating." I turn to mom in a whisper, "what am I supposed to say?" My mom says, "The turtles are making a baby." Lincoln thought that was so cool, but didn't understand why when the male finished, we couldn't hang around and wait for the baby to appear. His very vivid and action-packed replay of the story later that evening for Jeremy was better than seeing the real thing.

Berkeley was hiding again, but this time he was not afraid, just super tired.