Backstage Safari: BY ALL MEANS, DO IT!

[TreeOfLife]

Wonderful tour! Our leader was Trina. Extremely knowledgeable and amicable CM.

The tour took us behind Conservation Station for a couple of hours where we met elephants, rhinos and a giraffe up close. We spent plenty of time watching the care takers interact with the animals, asked questions and had the chance to pet Sammy, a wild caught black rhino. We were not even three feet away from "Asanti?" the giraffe who will be transferred to a facility in Utah in the spring and two female elephants keeping each other company. Can't recall their names.

Closer to noon we watched the vets do a physical examination on one of the ducks from the Pocahontas show. We toured the food preparation areas and medical care facilities.

They gave us some snacks and presents for coming on the tour. The best, most valuable ever was a field guide to all the animals and plants in the park! Divided by sections where they are found and with colored pictures! Everything is identified. The next morning I returned just to check off some plants and animals I didn't even know the park had! I became aware of the fact they are updating the guide but it is still a very valuable resource.

They also gave us a handbag with the AK logo made of recycled plastic material, and a collectible pin

Then they took us on a modified Kilimanjaro Safari going over everything we learned that morning.

It really encouraged me to learn more about what goes on at Conservation Station. All the money from the admission to the tour went back to animal care. Definitely worth every penny

A MUST DO TOUR!

 

[ebaynut31]

Ok, you have me so excited about this tour now. I have been thinking about doing it for a few years. I will be going back to Pop Century next November and I will definitely do this now.

Thanks for helping me make my decision!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Before reading your wonderful report, I was planning to do "Wild by Design". Didn't really know anything about the other tour. Now, though, I have a tough decision. ANyone done both?

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Hey guys...how much were these tours and how can we sign up for them?

 

[TreeOfLife]

The Backstage Safari Tour was $65, but a little over $50 with an AP discount. If you have the DC card (good until Dec 31) you get a percentage off as well.

I am so serious, it was well worth every penny! Those of you animal and botany lovers will appreciate having that photo guide identifying everything in that park. I could not find a baobab in Africa but learned the tree had died weeks before I got there... Some portions need to be updated but overall it is an amazing guide and very fun to open up and look up under whatever area you are in and identify the animals, plants and flowers you are looking at...

It is so amazing to learn about the alternatives provided for the animals to prevent boredom. It was so fun to realize that the animals standing closer to viewing areas were looking around for their favorite treats, cleverly concealed around the exhibit! And of course, so good to see them behave naturally rather than spinning in circles and rocking back and forth with caged dementia as some poor victims in zoos do. The enrichment team got my devotion and admiration after that experience.

I am kicking myself in the rear for not doing the Wild by Design too. But live and learn, if it is anything like this one I'll be there head first next time!

And the best of it was that the next time you stop by Conservation Station, you instinctively take much more time to scrutinize everything available! If you browsed rather quickly before, now you feel more a part of it all and will be delighted to spend more time listening to the Tracking Team and their research with cotton-top tamarins, for example. You look at the park in a completely different way afterwards.

Can't say it enough: If you are devoted to the environment and love animals, this tour will be a spiritual experience for you.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have taken both AK tours, and agree, both are wonderful in their own rights. Great tours, well worth the time and money spent. Make sure you get appropriate discounts.

http://allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm