At this point I did something that I failed to do during my first visit back in 2011 and it was well worth the 3 bucks. I took the train ride. The "train" without tracks pulls you along stopping frequently and takes you to a behind the scenes area of the zoo where additional members of the hoof-stock are kept along with a handful of other members. You also get glimpses of animals that are not even on display like a handful of Yellow-backed Duikers, and some Addra Gazelle. The zoo is so committed to taking on animals, that they do so like a farm would without a cohesive plan for the display of the animals. It's really like some freaking EGG awaiting the right conditions to "hatch" into something even more amazing than it is allowing itself to be. I believe that whole place is privately owned and that's probably part of the rub. To maintain complete control of their vision they eschew outside support that might in anyway come with expectations that are not in their control. And I could be completely wrong about this, but it's just the sense I get; however, that doesn't deter from the fact that the train ride was a great value and opportunity to see more beautiful animals up close.
One of the best aspects of the Train ride is the "Engineer". On this trip she was very knowledgeable and used the PA system on the trail to share a lot of very interesting information. I made sure to not simply thank her at the end of the tour, but to tell how much her knowledge had enhanced my experience. She seemed both delighted and shocked by my compliment.
The trip begins with a journey past another small lake on the property.
We stopped at a gate that had to be opened by our guide and while she was negotiating this act I glanced over and spied this Egyptian Goose. She looked like she was both nesting and a little guilty--like a goose on the lamb. I smiled at her and let her little secret rest for someone else to expose.
Barely inside the large space and the two female Common Ostriches (a mother/daughter duo) attempt to effect an escape of their own. Again the guide had to abandon the train and coax them away from the open gate.
Another look at the Nyala herd with the dark furred Buck at the far left.
Nearby another nature male Greater Kudu, off in this space like some back-up quarterback awaiting his turn to lead the "team"!
There were three elegant Scimitar-horned Oryx. This animals are extinct in the wild and only exist in zoos and a few game parks. There survival as a species is in grave jeopardy. I've scene them at another zoo in Kansas City, Missouri.
Greater Eland, a herd of about 11 if I got the count right and my memory serves well.
There were four calves among the herd.
And the bull was quite impressive. The dynamic of a heard reminded me of the solo Common Eland I saw at the Denver Zoo this past summer. Such a sad looking animal. And the Denver Zoo has a lot of amazing features with animals that are well kept. But you just can't replace the sense animals get from being with their own kind. Especially bovine species used to communal existence.
Waterbucks! Again 8 of them led by an Alpha male bull.
Finally Thomson's Gazelle, a group of 7 in total. The guide said that are referred to as "Tommies".
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