My Wildlife Travel!

I was just reminiscing few of my past travels and what amazes me is how much I have enjoyed being around wildlife. I have loved the experience of going to Wildlife Safaris and getting so close to the Wildlife that you almost start feeling a connection with the innocent animals out there. Here are some of my travel experiences where I got opportunity to get real close with the wildlife and really enjoyed it.

Zebras, Natural Bridge Wild Life Ranch –

A wildlife safari in San Antonio, Texas, Natural Bridge Wildlife ranch allows you to ride in car along the 250 acre forest area which has many different species of animals that get really close to you. I really enjoyed feeding the zebras, they surrounded our car so closely and it was such an great experience. I called them the “Marty” from Madagascar.

Giraffes, Timbavati Wild Life Park – Located in Wisconsin Dells, Timbavati Wild Life Park offers Safari Train which takes you around the wild life and stops occasionally where you can get closer to the animals. The best part was feeding the Giraffes who had such a long tongue which made me nervous at times.

Dolphins, Discovery Cove – Swimming with the Dolphins in Discovery cove was an unforgettable experience. The dolphins are one of the friendliest animals and their expressions are just so adorable. You also get to kiss the dolphin at the end which is one great kiss to remember forever.

Horse Back Riding, Texas – Bandera, Texas is the Cowboy Capital of the world and horse riding in Bandera is one of its own kind. The cowboy horse rider drives you a mile to the horse stables in a vintage van. Riding the horses through the forest trails that go uphill, downhill, narrow creeks and streams of water is a very enjoyable experience. Put on your cowboy hats and boots to absolutely relish the ride. We spotted wild deer and birds on your way to the ranch too.

Birds, Discovery Cove – Another amazing experience in Discovery coves was feeding the birds in the aviary. The birds would fly and sit on your arms, shoulders to eat the food. There were just so many different kind of colorful birds and it was a delight to get so close to them. There were peacocks and owls which were a little scary to feed but the little ones were just so lovable.

Baby Alligator, Everglades National Park –During my recent visit to the Everglades National Park, we enjoyed watching the Alligator show. The show was about a brief introduction about the Alligators followed by the audience getting to hold the alligator baby which was intimidating yet a very joyful experience.

I so wish to go to South Africa next to experience wildlife safari there. Do you love wildlife? Have you had any exceptional experiences with the wild? Is it in your bucket list? Do share, I would love to read.

Trekking the Rocky Mountain National Park!

After the day of camping at the Winding River Resort, we headed towards the Rocky Mountain National Park to explore the winding trails that led to breathtaking waterfalls, lakes and rivers. We started with the Adams Falls trail which was short steep uphill trail. We were very lucky to spot a Moose on our short way up the hilly terrain. The locals there told us that Moose is a really aggressive animal and very protective as a mother so all of us were very careful while watching the Moose enjoy in its natural habitat. We finally reached the Adam Falls which was beautiful and all worth the uphill hike.

After our hike, we relaxed and lounged by the magnificent Grand Lake which is the largest lake in Colorado at an elevation of 8000 feet. We geared up for our next trail after relishing the delicious Mexican lunch at the Grand Lake Downtown. Our next trail was full of wild yellow/white flowers and huge lush pine trees which led to the massive Colorado River flowing under the bridges. The weather was sunny and I enjoyed this trail the most.

We ended our day driving ten miles through the Rocky Mountains surrounded by alpine meadows, forests and creeks. By the end of the day we spotted about six Moose, ten Elks and so many deer and horses grazing grass in the lush meadows. It was so amazing to see the wildlife in the national park and not tied up in zoos. However one thing that we missed was the Mountain View from the Trail Ridge road which leads to the highest peaks of Rocky Mountain National park. It was closed due to the recent snow storm in Colorado and we had to make our way back after reaching up there. Have you recently hiked National Park. Which one is your favorite? I would love to know!

Camping by the Colorado River!

The state of Colorado located up in the mountains is very scenic and breathtaking. I have always wanted to camp in a cozy little tent by the river in the midst of mountains and finally got to do it in Colorado. Since the weather has been so unpredictable lately, we decided to camp in a little log cabin bordering the Colorado river. The cabin was a part of the Winding River Resort campground located few miles from Rocky Mountain National Park right by the Grand Lake. The cabin was a little chilly during the night when we snuggled into our blankets to keep ourselves bundled up and warm.

Waking up in the morning in the midst of mother nature surrounded by peaks, creeks and wildlife was like a dream come true. We went for an early morning walk and I was very excited to see the horse stables, vegetable farms and hear the river water gushing through the creeks. We also enjoyed breakfast in the picnic table right next to our log cabin by the fire pit that kept us warm during the chilly morning. During our stay in the campground, we did not have phone signals and it felt so good to be out of the digital world and so close to mother nature for once. I could easily imagine how it would have been to live in the early ages and how much more intimate and close people must have been to each other in those ages. I was lucky to experience it in today’s world of digital chaos. I will recommend this trip to all those adventure seekers who want some peaceful time to themselves away from city life.