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On the Go

A Walk on the Wild Side

Africa Is Just a Car Ride Away

   Doesn’t it warm your heart when baby demoiselle cranes playfully splash over a pool of water? Or when your kid giggles at a stubborn zebra blocking the road? The best is watching a personable giraffe nibble at your spouse’s hair. Never been to Africa to experience such things, you say? Then pack your bags, get your shots and spend your life savings to sit in the middle of a herd of wild animals. Then again, you could just throw the kids in the car and head to Safari West.
   Santa Rosa’s sprawling 400-acre wildlife preserve is home to more than 400 exotic mammals and birds and provides guests with the unique experience of riding through their habitat and, at times, coming within arm’s-length of these beautiful creatures. Established in 1989 by Peter and Nancy Lang, who live on the grounds, Safari West is not only a serene spot for visitors to enjoy and get educated on hundreds of African species, but it also serves as a breeding ground for the propagation of several endangered animals, some of which are extinct in
the wild.
   While it is true that zebras, giraffes and various other animals may be seen the zoo, make no mistake, this experience is altogether different. I never thought I would describe something as stinky as the white rhino as a “sweetheart,” but when it approached our truck with it’s overgrown nose, and seemingly lethargic gate, I nearly melted. It’s one thing for fencing or glass to separate you from the animals, but when they are right there, it brings out this intangible sense of trust with nature that is just not the same when you’re combing the zoo with cotton candy in one hand and a gift-shop goodie in the other. “The whole experience at Safari West is one of building connections and making discoveries; getting back to basics and enjoying the profound simple pleasures of family and nature that are all too often overlooked,” writes Aphrodite Caserta, director of marketing and communications at Safari West. “If anything is not to be missed, it is that sense of serenity one finds while gazing at a graceful giraffe nuzzling her newborn or the surge of raw adventure while witnessing an energetic herd of wildebeest galloping across the horizon.”
   The safari tour begins with a walk among hundreds of African birds with proper names such as Spoonbill and East African Crowned Crane, but live in my son’s memory respectively as “funny face” and “crazy hair.” The one that blew his mind was the white cockatoo named Gloria, who greeted us with a darling “hi” as soon as we approached. By the look on his face, you would have thought he had discovered Narnia. Of course, my favorite moment during that first leg of the tour was when he turned to our knowledgeable and entertaining guide, Adrian, and rightly informed him, “That’s a flamingo!”
   The second part of the tour is a ride on a vintage Power Wagon. When my 4-year-old heard we were about to climb on board, he let out a joyful yelp so loud he sounded like one of the animals. The trucks are worth noting, as kids love the roofless seat above the cab, which can hold a daring foursome. Be sure that those sitting up there are mature enough to heed the admonition “duck!” when the guide thinks a stray tree branch might be a bit too close. Although my family did not sit at the top, we were happy to come within inches of some of the most  amazing four-legged creatures, like the Cape buffalo and blue wildebeest.
   While my family only came in for the afternoon, guests can stay overnight and reserve spots in various other events and lectures that may be available during their stay, such as a behind-the-scenes look at the animals. The accommodations are called “tents,” but the experience is far from roughing it. Newly renovated, the lovely interior of these raised units contains cushy beds and furniture crafted from salvaged wood. “Peter has designed and built his own line of wood furniture,” says Caserta. “Many pieces of which are now found in Safari West’s tent cabins.” If the heavy imported African canvas walls do not keep it toasty enough, campers can just crank up the heat or turn on the electric blankets provided. The bathrooms are far from anything found at a campsite, with beautiful fixtures and solid wood countertops. So homey are these digs that it is pretty easy to forget that there is a family of gazelles living across the road.
   Although I was told by park personnel not to worry about bug spray, skittish parents like me might want to lather the kids up, particularly in the evening when mosquitoes descend. Also, make all your connections with the outside world before you enter the gate, as this is one of the few places left on the planet with no cell service. If you must Facebook the fact that you saw a Ruppell‘s Griffon vulture hitch a ride on the back of a tortoise (as we did), the Savannah Café which serves safari-ranch style barbecue made from fresh, local ingredients coupled with vintages from the surrounding wine country — does have WiFi. But consider this a prime opportunity to simply live in the moment. It may be a long time before you ever again see eye to eye with an antelope. My advice: Savor it.
   Ask my son which animal was his favorite and he might say the Watusi cow because “Watusi” is just about the funniest word he has ever uttered. Perhaps he would say the bongo in honor of his love for drumming. But while the experience might add up to a series of funny memories for him, I know that someday, he will be old enough to grasp the vastness of the world in which he lives. And what better way to appreciate the diversity of the planet than coming face to face with a great big piece of it just a couple of hours from our home? Until then, however, it is awesome just sharing a laugh with him.  After all, “Watusi” is a pretty darn funny word.

If You Go
Adults, $68; children, 3–12, $30; infants, 1-2, $10. Tour times vary. Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp, 3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa, (800) 616-2695, www.safariwest.com.