Today we were booked on a coach trip to take us to the Monarto Safari Park which is the largest in Australia and one of the largest in the world. It is a 1,500-hectare open-range sanctuary undertaking a major role nationally and internationally in breeding programs for rare and endangered species. It is the home of South Australia’s first ever southern white rhinoceros and Australia’s largest giraffe herd.
We were asked to meet at 8:15am, however, the bus did not arrive until just short of 9:00am. The trip to the park took an hour and just after 10:30 am we entered the Park in our bus and were taken on a guided tour. Except for one stop where we left the bus, the entire visit was undertaken in the bus.
Whilst this place is unique, the size of the park made it difficult on occasions to see the animals and being in a crowded bus did not help. As fate would have it, we travelled on the right side of the bus and most of the animals were on the left side. That aside, photography through the bus windows was difficult and our opinion is that we have visited far better zoos. It is unique as one of its purposes is to protect the extinction of some animals through breeding and the zoo tries to provide the animals with the same habitat they would find in their native location.
We had a pricy lunch at the park before returning to the caravan park.
After returning, “He” flew the drone to take the pictures that should have been taken yesterday.
Dinner was provided by the Men’s Shed and comprised kransky sausage on a bun with all the trimmings.
Tomorrow, we leave at 6:45am by bus to connect with a ferry to take us to Kangaroo Island.