Remember the Dr. Seuss book Oh The Places You'll Go? Being a parent takes you on a wondrous journey, and fortunately for us our journey led us to Roar & Snore at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We got to spend the night with the animals!
Would I have imagined myself sleeping next to elephants twenty years ago? Probably not, but I'm sure glad I did!
For years we have trekked through the San Diego Zoo with my son in tow. My child never grew tired of the zoos array of animals, plants, activities, shows, and playgrounds. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park he ran free, and wandered through Mombasa Lagoon with it's lovely collection of pelicans, storks, shoebills, and ducks, along with migratory bird visitors like herons and egrets. Not too mention the 3,000 additional animals that call the San Diego Zoo Safari Park their home. When I first heard about Roar & Snore I thought the idea was nuts. Who would want to do that I thought in my naivete. That was before two thousand trips to the zoo where I fell in love with the animals and plants one species at a time. I learned, appreciated, and wanted to interact with them. Fast forward to 2019, and here we were off for a night of adventure with exotic wildlife in nearby Escondido !
Glamping vs. Camping
I have to be honest, Roar & Snore is more like glamping than camping. As a busy mom, I didn't have to worry about packing anything except clothes and toiletries. The zoo provided all of our food, the tent, sheets, and lanterns, and the cherry on top was having a brass bed with a queen size mattress, and hard wood floors. We slept better at the Safari Park than we do at home. Also, the campsite is near the restrooms complete with showers. I don't know what my husband and son were thinking, but I felt like Meryl Streep in Out of Africa! I was set for the time of my life.
So What Do You Do @ Roar and Snore?
The Roar and Snore kicks off with an animal presentation. We got to meet a hedgehog named Hasani. The campers sat on logs, and had a chance to interact with this adorable little guy.
Next we were off to The Butterfly Jungle where we walked through a greenhouse filled with thousands of butterflies of all colors and sizes without having to wait on long lines. Butterflies landed on my clothing, and flew right past our heads. Afterward, the zoo hosted a barbeque dinner for the campers overlooking the majestic San Pasqual Valley, and then we checked into our tents. At dusk, we went on a two hour tour through the Safari Park that included more animal interactions with an anteater. The tour guide and zoo staff were informative, kind, and patient. It was another way to learn about animal behavior, and the state of several species in their native habitats and the zoos mission to end extinction. Walking through the zoo at night with a flashlight is a blast for kids who toured the park with childhood excitement that even made adults feel young again.
S'mores and Hot Cocoa La Piece de Resistance!
After the tour it was time for s'mores and hot chocolate by the campfire. Parents and kids indulged in sweets before heading off to bed to dream of animals.
Elephants and Lions as Roommates
What's it like to sleep at the Safari Park? Well they don't call it Roar & Snore for nothing! Personally, I like hearing lions and elephants at night. The occasional roar from a big cat, or heralding trumpet from an African elephant is much more appealing than a car alarm, siren, or jet flying over my home. It was exciting and unifying to hear life! The best part was waking up in the morning, and seeing a family of elephants, mom, dad, and baby in the middle, a heart warming animal connection. The more you learn about each unique species, you see their beauty, intelligence, integrity, and survival instincts. We share genes with these magnificent creatures, and you realize that we inhabit this planet together, and we are all its stewards.
Roar & Snore concludes with a breakfast buffet followed by a morning tram ride just before the park opens to the public. You get to see the zookeepers caring for the animals as they rise and shine with the morning sun. It was nice to have the Safari Park all to ourselves, it was like being at the park for the first time. As we headed out back to our lives, we reminisced about our night at the zoo, and plotted our next visit sooner rather than later!
Don't Miss This Amazing Opportunity to Spend the Night @ The San Diego Zoo Safari Park with Friends and Family!
For More Information Visit: https://www.sdzsafaripark.org/safari/roar-snore-safari
For Reservations Call 619-718-3000
Address: 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido, CA 92027
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