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San Diego Wild Animal Park

Saturday | 12 February 2000 | San Diego: The day began early with Terry dialing frantically to Ticketmaster for Jimmy Buffett tickets in Las Vegas, April 15. (You know, sometimes you must make priorities in your life.) It was finally determined that tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific time, so we headed out to Mark & Debbie's. DT and Mark went on a run – Debbie was getting dressed and Terry was on their computer frantically clicking “reload” until finally buying tickets and life could continue. After the run and showers, we loaded into the BC2 and went out for breakfast before heading up to the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

San Diego Wild Animal Park
Your Happy Travelers!

The park is wonderful! If you have not been – get in the car and drive now. We were guests of Mark and Debbie, as they are members of the San Diego Zoological Society! First, we took the tram ride around the park. It was a cooler day, though mostly sunny and the animals were very active – I could not believe our luck! The tram takes you over the main area of the park, then out into the Asian and African areas. We saw Asian and African elephants and rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, okapi, antelope, wart hogs, ant eaters, cheetahs, lowland gorillas, gibbons, and too many deer-like animals to mention. Birds of every sort, including flamingos, duck, coots, swans, cranes and tropical birds. Reptiles. (Even a dead rat being removed by zoo staff!) Lemurs. Vultures. Taking the tram through the back areas of the park gave us fantastic views of the animals. They have a very successful breeding program for Asian rhinos – three babies in residence at this time. A two-month old baby rhino was running and playing with her mother and brother – very sweet sight.

San Diego Wild Animal Park - Asian Rhino
Asian Rhino with baby

San Diego Wild Animal Park - Lowland Gorilla
Lowland Gorilla

After spending the entire day at the park, we went to a Mexican restaurant and then back to Goldie for some much needed rest! There is a Valentines Day dance at the campground tonight, with a live band… but we are being party poopers (we are pooped) and are staying in, watching the Ducks on satellite. Only bad news today: Colonials lost to LaSalle. Many, many thanks to Mark and Debbie for a wonderful and memorable day – ‘til the morrow…


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