We got to feed and pet giraffes.
If this doesn't make you want to come visit us, I don't know what will.
Bioparque Estrella is essentially a huge wildlife park that is a little less than 2 hours from our house. Our good friends here, the Leonard family, showed us the ropes of the park as they had been there before. It was a blast to go with friends. We were also blessed with a great temperature day: not roasting hot, but warm enough for the kids to play in the water features.
In short, it was the perfect day.
I'm going to let the pictures tell the story:
(half these pictures are photo credit to the Leonards, who are great photographers!)
First visitor to our jeep: Mr. Ostrich.
Isn't this the most gorgeous setting? (credit: Dustin)
Camel, zebra, water buffalo
Ben and Dustin and our boys getting ready to feed
Zebra time
Donkey (credit: Dustin)
Hippos
The main event: the giraffes
Dustin offered to take pictures, since he had fed the giraffes before, so I got to enjoy the excitement of feeding as well.
This old bull giraffe didn't have the best manners and totally pinned Katie against the rails looking for more food. It was a hilarious moment. (credit: Dustin)
The old bull was so docile that the kids got to pet him a lot. (credit: Dustin)
Seth, Sam (credit: Dustin)
I got to feed a giraffe! (credit: Dustin)
I love this picture of all the kids touching the giraffe horns. (credit: Dustin)
Poor Josh, as the jeep started up to leave, in a last attempt to get some food, Mr. Giraffe spotted Josh's box of food and went for it with vigor. It scared the dickens out of Josh. This series of pictures might be one of the best ever. Thanks Dustin.
The safari takes about 30 minutes, but the park has much more to offer. Next stop: parakeet cage.
These birds were so beautiful...so many variations of color (credit: Dustin)
The workers put food into your hands and the bird would flock to you (credit: Dustin)
Seth
Dustin
Me (credit: Dustin)
The blue ones were my favorite...and I think that they liked me too. (credit: Dustin)
So calm (and hungry) that you could pet them
Aren't they beautiful? (credit: Dustin)
Next, we stopped by a photography area where you can get pictures with exotic animals
Derrick, Seth, Sam, and Kyler with a python (credit: Dustin)
No one else wanted to hold the crocodile, so I did. It was so leathery and weird feeling! (credit: Dustin)
Derrick holding the owl with Seth, Katie, Sam, and Kyler (credit: Dustin)
The whole group (minus Dustin taking the picture) with Kiki the crazy lemur
We still had some animal food leftover from the safari, so we headed to a platform where we could feed more giraffes
I can't get over what cool animals they are!
This one was so hungry that it decided it wanted to eat Derrick's box too
Yum
Check out that tongue!
I love everything about this picture
Giraffes are Ben's favorite animal (credit: Dustin)
Notice Josh keeping his distance (credit: Dustin)
We all grabbed some lunch and then the kids changed into swim clothes to enjoy the afternoon sun and water features.
Mickie, Josh and Jeremiah playing in the splash park
There was a super cool water slide (credit: Katie)
And view from the slide can't be beat
Sam (credit: Katie)
Seth
Ben couldn't resist a good water slide (credit: Katie)
Another cool water feature to play at (Seth running across, Kyler and Sam on the ropes)
Jeremiah and Josh hanging out (credit: Katie)
Our kids just love playing with the Leonard kids (credit: Katie)
Last stop: dinosaur land. So if the park already wasn't cool enough, they also have an entire section of large dinosaur replicas on a jungle-like path.
Watch out for the dinosaurs! (credit: Katie)
If you don't like heights, I wouldn't recommend this wobbly bridge. (credit: Katie)
They almost didn't fit. (credit: Katie)
Seth in a mock dinosaur egg
Watch out for the T-rex (it's head moves and it roars!)
Jurassic Park picture (credit: Katie)
They were a little too big for the jeep. (credit: Katie)
And here we are at the end of a long, but wonderful day. We can't wait to go again...want to come?(credit: Katie)
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