Day 57 - Thursday 23 February - Off to the Zoo

DAY 57

THURSDAY

23 February 2017 –  Game 3 Semi-Final decider - Adelaide  98 v Illawarra  106.

Perth Wildcats Grand Final opponents will be Illawarra

Monarto

A better night’s sleep was had with no scraping trees on the roof thank goodness. I was awake and up first for a change, ready to get the day started. Paul wasn’t long after me and by 9.45am we were on the road, heading for Monarto and the free-range zoo.

The zoo is out in the Adelaide Hills about an hour from McLaren Vale on what was once farming land. It is a large expanse but only part of it is used for exhibits with the rest off limits to visitors.

Once through the gatehouse where you pay your $35 each to enter, you wind your way further into the park to the visitors’ centre where you leave your car and begin your journey.

We checked out the very cute meerkat colony before hopping on the zu-loop bus that winds its way through the park, stopping at various spots. The bus driver stops when there are photo opportunities or if the animals are wandering in front of the vehicle. A guide on the bus tells you all about the animals you are seeing along the way as well. We had Mongolian wild horses, American bison and various antelope and deer all out in view.

We passed the black rhino wallowing in his mud hole before entering the “African Plains”. Here giraffe, zebra, ostrich and another antlered animal roam free there were photos galore taken before we continued on to the white rhino enclosure for a keeper talk.

We headed off the mini bus and up to an enclosed rotunda where one of the keepers brought in a white rhino to show off and chat about. The rhino was happy receiving some extra chaff while he was discussed. I was able to reach out and touch him on the rump, picking off some of the hardened clay.

The talk lasted around 10min and then it was back in the bus and on to the next stop. On the route we passed the Hyaennas and painted dogs who were finding shelter from the sun under logs and trees. We then entered the lions’ enclosure, passing through three sliding fences, which slammed shut behind you as you passed, very Get Smart like. 

The lionesses were all out basking in the sun, lying amongst the long grass and within the shade of the trees. It was incredible how close you could get to them. We completed the circuit of their enclosure and were then dropped at a viewing platform where a keeper talk took place. This time the talk was on the painted dogs. They had scurried down to the building upon seeing all the spectators obviously aware that people meant food and sure enough they were rewarded with ostrich eggs. They smashed into bits when they hit the ground and the dogs happily licked up the contents.

We then shifted to the other side of the building for the talk on the lions Again many of them came meandering through the grass when they spied the visitors. Once in close they were thrown a turkey leg each that they chomped on happily while we listened to the info. The noise of the big cats warding each other off over their food was quite incredible.

Back on the bus again we did a return loop to the visitors’ centre where we stopped to have lunch next to the meerkats. We returned all our unnecessary items to the car and then got out for a walk. We stopped in to check on the yellow-footed rock wallaby that was on the brink of extinction but the zoo is helping to repopulate. We saw a beautiful wren like bird but with a red belly flitting amongst the trees.

We crossed the road and checked out he chimpanzee enclosure where there was an infant annoying his family and an older chimp playing hide and seek under a blanket with mum. They were so funny to watch.

We then continued our walk, this time back to the “waterhole” where the Tasmanian Devils are housed, but were not out today and on to the platform for the keeper talk about the giraffes. The giraffes were up nice and close eating branches of some eucalypt. Unfortunately, the first giraffe born at Monarto died this morning. Paul and I figured the lions would eat well tomorrow.

We joined a group on the bus heading to the cheetahs. We had a bit of a wait once we were there, which was a bit of a bore but once started the hand raised four year old cheetah emerged from her sleeping spot under the trees and came to say hello. She was long and sleek and was purring when she was given a piece of meat for her troubles. She promptly took it and sat on a platform with her back to us. 

Paul and I then decided to walk back to the visitors’ centre rather than wait for the bus. It took about 30min, passing some stray emus along the way. The walk was relatively easy and before we knew it we were back in the car and winding our way back through the hills and into McLaren Vale.

We arrived home at 5pm, enough time to sit and unwind for a bit before changing and heading out to Martyn and Cheryl’s for dinner. They had had their water tanks put in and we were able to sit outside and enjoy the nice evening for a bit, as we chatted and Martyn cooked up the BBQ.

We returned inside to eat and continue to chat. All the while I was keeping an eye on the Adelaide v Illawarra score line, as it would determine what we would be doing tomorrow. I really wanted Adelaide to win so we could see the cats play here on Sunday, but it wasn’t to be. The result is good for the Wildcats as they get home court advantage during the five game grand final series.

With that decided and the night ticking on we said our goodbyes, taking home-grown tomatoes with us and we made our way back to the par for the last time. It wasn’t long after we were in bed and out for the night.