©Adrian Boyer

by Gwen O’Neill

I know people who have been on safari in Africa, and that experience has always been high on my future travels wish list. Imagine my delight when a friend gifted me with a safari trip for nine people.

At noon on our safari day, we arrived at the Safari West Wildlife Preserve in Santa Rosa and climbed aboard a 1950s Dodge power wagon outfitted for tours. The 2.5-hour drive took us through rugged terrain, at times creating a feeling of being in the wilds of Africa. We saw Baby Jiggs, a reticulated giraffe, who was born in June 2008; at birth, he was six feet tall and weighed 130 pounds.

L to R: Terry Plank, Brent Parry, Gwen O’Neill, Cheryl Gomes, Pat McNutt, Carole Tillotson. ©Adrian Boyer

Robert Silvia, the only teen in our group, said, “The best part was when we passed the giraffes’ fence. One of the big ones came right up to us and actually touched my shoulder with his nose. It was so cool.”

The variety of animals was amazing. We saw a pair of southern white rhinos who are expecting a baby, two species of zebra, and quite a few different antelopes — including the smallest, the blue duiker, which is only 12 to 14 inches tall. The impressive Ankole-Watusi cattle are one of the oldest cattle breeds that originated in Africa. They have huge, dramatic horns that grow up to 60 inches long with a base diameter of 6 inches.

©Adrian Boyer

After the vehicle tour there are many other areas to visit. You can take a walking tour through the 15,000-square-foot aviary filled with birds from around the world. A popular spot to stop is the cheetah run. The cheetahs were resting as we passed their enclosure but we imagined what it would be like to see them actually tearing around the fences. Cheetahs are called the greyhounds of the cat family.

We spent a longer time watching the ring-tailed lemur playing like 4-year-olds than we spent watching any other animals. They jumped from branch to branch and were definitely having a lot of fun.

©Adrian Boyer

Terry Plank said, “It is such a unique experience to be able to see live animals in a more natural setting. Living as we do in more urban environments, we lose touch with the bigger reality that humans are just part of the natural world and not the summit of creation that everything exists to support. I rejoiced and grieved the day we visited: rejoiced at being with friends and knowing that there are some who are trying to preserve wild animals, and grieved that our species is destroying the animals in the wild faster than we can cope with the loss of so many.”

Safari West is a wildlife preserve that is propagating endangered species on its 400 acres; it is currently home for about 600 exotic mammals and birds. The preserve is attempting to raise awareness of these exotic animals by creating this opportunity to see them in their natural habitat. Safari West offers rustic lodging in safari tents that are imported from Africa.

Tour guide Adrian Boyer.

Adrian Boyer was our tour guide. Boyer has traveled the world as a professional photographer; for 10 years he owned and operated a photo concession for World Explorer Cruises and Semester-at-Sea before starting the photo concession at Safari West in 2003. In addition to animals and photography he is also passionate about music, appearing in local productions of opera and musical theater.

Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp can be reached at 800-616-2695, or visit Safari West’s exceptional Web site at www.safariwest.com. Admission to the preserve is by reservation only.

For more photos see our Safari Photographs page.