I spent my Father’s Day morning catching up on Fallout 3 -sadly, that’s how current I am with my video gaming, but these days I manage only a few hours a month on the PS3 and that’s pretty much dedicated to playing Rock Band with the kids. While I was busy re-learning the controls and mopping up Swamp Ghouls in Point Lookout, my daughter, Natasha, was having breakfast at the Toronto Zoo after having spent the night at the zoo’s Serengeti Bush Camp with her Girl Guide troop.
Toronto Zoo's Serengeti Bush Camp (Photo by Natasha Moon and/or Julia)
While I don’t envy the troop leaders when they’re trying to load a gaggle of hyper ten year-ish old girls onto a bus for a three hour drive to Toronto, I have to admit that staying over night within the zoo grounds would be pretty cool. While the girls apparently had a bit of rain over the dinner hour (at the Simba Safari Lodge which overlooks the Rhino habitat), it sounds as though they had an awesome time. They got to watch play time with the elephants, had an exclusive Zoomobile tour and were allowed into the giraffe pen for a closeup look as a zookeeper fed the giraffes. There was even a campfire in the evening, then into a tent equipped with cots. Tasha’s only complaint was that between the lions roaring all night and the peacocks screeching, it was a little noisy. I don’t see how even a lion roaring could drown out a troop of Girl Guides, but there you have it.
If you’re in the Toronto area, the zoo makes the Serengeti Bush Camp available from May 22 to September 2 for groups and from July 1 to September 1 for families (at a cost of $80 to $100 per person, depending on age and whether they’re a Zoo Member or not). Considering that the price includes zoo admission, buffet dinner and breakfast as well as accommodations, I’d say it’s a bargain.
Feeding a Giraffe (photo by Natasha Moon and/or Julia)
Tasha asked me to thank Julia for her assistance with photography and her Girl Guide leaders for arranging the trip.
