A few weeks ago a friend of mine told me about a great zoo in Niagara where people can feed the giraffes. Imagine that? We go to zoos from time to time and quite enjoy ourselves, but you know how it is. In the daytime, many animals sleep or they like to hide in their little houses away from the crowds. It's a rare experience to be able to get up close and actually feed or touch animals at a zoo!
So this past weekend we drove all the way to Niagara with friend Mandy, to check out their zoo, with high hopes of feeding some giraffes. Of course, it was off season so a few things were shut down but there was still plenty to see. And it wasn't crowded at all. I always prefer to visit zoos off-season since our trip to the National Zoo in Washington, DC--less heat, less crowds.
The kids, who both slept on the way there and the way back, had a really, really great time. They got to feed and pet and hug the goats that were eagerly climbing all over the fence and each other to get some attention. Magdalene got herself a fistful of goat hair. Gabriel chased the chickens around the barn. They saw all sorts of large and small magnificent birds of every colour, the favorite being the interactive budgie exhibit where we got to feed the budgies, who, if you were so fortunate, might even land on your hand for a treat. Of course, we weren't so lucky, but likely the very unpredictable and grabby nature of toddler and baby hands and feet were a major deterrent!
We, of course, saw the hippos and rhinos, and lions, and cheetahs, the Kangeroo, zebras and warthogs. And got a chance to feed a number of different animals and see them up close. But definitely the highlight of our day was feeding those giraffe. In fact, we likely spent a good hour or more watching and feeding the duo of long-legged, long-necked, gangly-looking giraffe with big fat black tongues. The zoo had machines full of special giraffe food for visitors, which we just had to do. Their long necks would descend down toward us, while breathing their stinky hot breath. Out would come those big silly black tongues that would wrap right around your hand and pull it right into their mouth to swoop up every morsel. Definitely weird! Gabriel couldn't get enough. If I let him, he would have starting clawing at the weeds near the fence to feed the giraffes. Those giraffes were happy enough to let us feed them, but they certainly didn't want to be petted. However, that didn't stop Magdalene, the only one of us who managed to touch one of the giraffes on the head. Lucky girl! We were all pretty smitten and I think I now have a special place in my heart for giraffes.
Visiting the zoo, even off-season, could have been crazy with these two pretty active kids, but I was so lucky to have Mandy along with us. She just loves these children so much! And I kind of think that they like her an awful lot too. They sure do look awfully good on her!
Before we left, we picked up a little lion and a giraffe which have been sleeping in the children's beds since their trip to the zoo. It's funny to look over these pictures again and again as I put this blog together and I can't help remarking how big they are getting. Maggie was actually awake most of the zoo trip and taking in all the creatures. She was hanging onto the fences and trying to pet the animals. And with her really becoming an active interested baby all of these trips just got a whole lot more fun.
Still planning on hitting up the Toronto zoo this year, before the snow flies. (Gosh, did I just say that..... )? Any tips?
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