The Serengeti is calling and I must go. Not the real Serengeti of course. I’ve got an 11-year-old in tow, a limited budget and a fear of flying during COVID. So instead, we trekked to the next best thing, Safari West in Santa Rosa, for a “Photo Safari” to sharpen our senses during a mother-daughter weekend getaway.
Our first venture to this wildlife park was some five years ago, a cherished jaunt that I remember well. But when I realized that Daphne had little or no recall of that visit — not even hand-feeding giraffes in the barn! — I knew it was high time to heed the call of the wild once more. (I also wondered just where the time had gone and whether the next five years of her childhood would breeze by as quickly.)
All that pondering put me in a very carpe diem state of mind, so we came prepared to soak up the wonders of the expedition, rain or shine. On day one, we slathered on sunscreen and held onto our sun hats, outwitting October’s heat as our guided three-hour jeep tour snaked and bumped through 400 acres filled with 90 species of wild animals from cheetahs to wildebeest. On day two, we had to break out the winter coats and blankets to get a gander at the ring-tailed lemurs and rowdy rhinos. No matter. The vagaries of the weather only heightened our sense of adventure.
All the while, our trusty guide Nate Woodward helped us find the perfect shots of a dazzle of zebras, a tower of giraffes and one absolutely adorable, napping baby zebra. Daphne was also particularly fond of the delicate-footed impalas as they darted daintily through the oak trees.
Woodward helped us not only track down the tricky impalas but also find the best light, angles and compositions to crystallize these unforgettable encounters with wildlife. He also took pains to discuss conservation and ecology, two subjects my kiddo is obsessed with.
Meanwhile, mommy was hoping to snap some classic photos that I could frame and hang on the walls at home or send as cards to capture this moment in time. But in the rush of leaving the house, I forgot to make sure Daphne packed her own camera. That meant she wanted to borrow mine. All. The. Time.
This greatly interfered with my lofty photographic ambitions. Fortunately, it didn’t take too long for me to realize that Daphne’s intense joy at learning about nature photography was the real trophy here. Letting her immerse herself in the thrill of the expedition and Woodward’s photo wisdom was far more important than my thwarted greeting card plans.
So I just basked in the moment, steeped myself in the majesty of the scenery, the rolling golden hills dotted with oak, and soaked up Woodward’s advice for shutterbugs. His mantra: When shooting outside, it’s always better to underexpose than overexpose.
He also advised us to look for tableaux that are naturally rich in sculptural detail, such as antelope horns overlapping and zebra stripes seeming to zigzag as a herd moves. He suggested we frame shots to heighten the sense of depth, looking for green leaves in the foreground and rippling waves on the lake behind the animal.
The park’s photo safari usually goes out twice a day, once in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, when the light takes on a magical glow. That way everyone can get an Instagram-worthy shot of a zebra mother watching over her sleeping baby or a gawky toddler giraffe bouncing about on spindly legs.
As with all the safaris here, the golden rule remains that you can’t pet the animals — but they can pet you.
The giraffes, especially, will practically nuzzle you, if you happen to be carrying acacia leaves, their favorite snack. There was also one very curious ostrich who apparently wanted to climb aboard the jeep and sit next to me.
(That said, it’s best to stay alert around the formidable Cape buffalo. If you drop your camera in their vicinity, it may take a while to get it back. The buffalos are by far the most dangerous animal in the preserve, and they are easily riled up.)
After your jeep expedition, you can explore the base camp, where you might find a pretty row of sleeping porcupines or an industrious Abyssinian ground hornbill collecting a colorful pile of leaves suitable for an autumnal centerpiece.
You can also arrange a private encounter with an animal you most admire. Personally, I could spend all day with the giraffes. We watched for a long time as two feisty giraffes played tug-of-war with a stick.
Later, we had the immense pleasure of feeding acacia leaves to some of these long-necked beauties. Mostly I tried to snap the cutest possible shot of Daphne feeding them — still trying to score that holiday card shot — but she had such trouble holding on to the acacia branches, she kept squiggling right out of the frame.
I learned how she felt when I gave it a whirl. Giraffes may look like gentle giants, but these mammals are as strong as they are tall, and they pull hard. It’s all you can do to stay on your feet.
I should mention that some of them also drool a lot. We’re talking waterfall. Next time I’m wearing my rain slicker.
Of course, caring for endangered species is a lot trickier than it looks. The staff at Safari West are constantly toiling behind the scenes to help the animals thrive. During our visit, the caracal, a medium-sized wild cat, was off exhibit because the animal keepers were hoping to coax the new mom to breastfeed her new kitten.
There is so much to learn about these fascinating creatures, it’s hard to tear oneself away. So we didn’t. We spent the night in one of the refuge’s 30 luxury glamping tents, imported from Botswana, where you can rough it in high style, the sounds of the savanna, jungle or outback clearly audible.
Daphne was so electrified by the experience that she had a hard time getting to sleep. More than once, she ducked out of bed to stand on the porch and listen to the wacky chuckling of the kookaburra. I decided the special nature of this experience warranted waiving the usual get-enough-sleep rule.
Parents, however, might want to bring along some earplugs to muffle the noises of all the nocturnal creatures. Your little ones will surely wake you with the sun for a chance to watch the animals getting fed.
On that score, don’t miss the fluffy little fennec foxes with their humongous ears. They may look like extras from “Gremlins,” but they are so friendly, they let their keeper rub their little bellies after they eat. I’m not sure who squealed with delight louder, Daphne or me.
If You Go
Safari West offers group safaris ($45 to $128 per person), photo safaris ($1,100 for up to eight people) and overnight ($310) options by reservation only. Find the park at 3115 Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa. Find more details at www.safariwest.com.
Source: www.mercurynews.com