When the alarm went off at 7 am on Sunday morning, I thought someone had lost their marbles, but Bart insisted that I get up and and get showered while he went downstairs and made us breakfast of bacon, toast and scrambled eggs. I was told to dress for comfort and maybe some lunch out.
So about an hour after the alarm went off I was clean, fed and ready for whatever was in store for me. We drove to my mum and dad's house where they were ready for us, still no word of what was going on. I was driving so a clue came when I was instructed to head in the direction of Wobourn.
I had told Bart that one of my dreams was to hug a tiger before I was 40. I was 40 on Thursday so I figured that I was off to do something to do with big cats - and I was (this all happened a week ago I have been slow to blog).
The 'carnivore breakfast' was what was in store for me. We arrived at Woburn a couple of hours before opening time. We were met by a lovely young lady (sadly I forget her name.) She was told even at this stage not to tell me what was in store. So we all bundled into her Land Rover and set off into the safari park, all alone except for the keepers and the animals. As you can imagine I was very excited.
We had to have a safety briefing so at last all was revealed. I was going to visit the lion compound first before they were let out for the day, then we would go to the tiger compound where I would meet their keeper and get the chance to feed them their breakfast. I can't tell you how excited I was. So for starters, we got to meet Europe's largest pride of lions nose to nose and one by one. Then we would get to meet and feed two Siberian tigers before a full tour in the 4 x 4 of the North American Black Bears and the Wolves in their enclosure. All of this was completely off-road so we could get really up-close and personal.
The tigers were definitely the stars of the show. We first drove into the compound where the two Siberian tigers (the largest cats in the world) were still in their 'bedrooms', we met the nice keeper (again forgot his name - just to much going on in my head to pay attention to humans.) Then we drove out into the large enclosed compound where the tigers had been restricted for the past couple of weeks as they had been getting into mischief hunting bunnies. I was instructed to get out of the jeep and grab an arm full of venison and place it anywhere I fancied. Those of you that have been to Woburn will know that it has an extensive deer park. Any road kill is used to feed the big cats.
Then quickly back in the jeep while the tigers where let out. I can't tell you how exciting it was to have two massive cats running towards you (I guess they had seen me putting out breakfast) we were still parked right in between the two large hunks of deer meat so we had a great view of them both as they found the meat and ran of just like excited dogs with a bone to their favorite spot to eat. We sat and took pictures and just enjoyed the whole experience for quite some time, while by this stage the park had opened and cars were lining up on the other side of the fence to get a glimpse of what we were sitting in the middle of.
Then off to see the lions again, this time they were out in the park, again we were off road so we got right into all the action. This included a very stinky dear carcass that was left over from the feeding the day before. (The big cats get fed every three days just in case you are interested.)
After the final tour we were dropped off back at the main reception area where we had a cooked breakfast waiting for us, just in time as dad was on the verge of a hypo. All fed and watered, we took ourselves for a walk and visited some of the smaller animals - lemurs, marmosets, penguins, sea lions and more.
I really had a great morning, so thanks to Bart. I don't know how you managed to keep it quiet, and thanks to mum and dad for joining us and making the whole thing a great fun morning. I will remember it always, it was a great birthday present.
Sorry the pictures are out of sink I mite go back later and fix them.
So about an hour after the alarm went off I was clean, fed and ready for whatever was in store for me. We drove to my mum and dad's house where they were ready for us, still no word of what was going on. I was driving so a clue came when I was instructed to head in the direction of Wobourn.
I had told Bart that one of my dreams was to hug a tiger before I was 40. I was 40 on Thursday so I figured that I was off to do something to do with big cats - and I was (this all happened a week ago I have been slow to blog).
The 'carnivore breakfast' was what was in store for me. We arrived at Woburn a couple of hours before opening time. We were met by a lovely young lady (sadly I forget her name.) She was told even at this stage not to tell me what was in store. So we all bundled into her Land Rover and set off into the safari park, all alone except for the keepers and the animals. As you can imagine I was very excited.
We had to have a safety briefing so at last all was revealed. I was going to visit the lion compound first before they were let out for the day, then we would go to the tiger compound where I would meet their keeper and get the chance to feed them their breakfast. I can't tell you how excited I was. So for starters, we got to meet Europe's largest pride of lions nose to nose and one by one. Then we would get to meet and feed two Siberian tigers before a full tour in the 4 x 4 of the North American Black Bears and the Wolves in their enclosure. All of this was completely off-road so we could get really up-close and personal.
The tigers were definitely the stars of the show. We first drove into the compound where the two Siberian tigers (the largest cats in the world) were still in their 'bedrooms', we met the nice keeper (again forgot his name - just to much going on in my head to pay attention to humans.) Then we drove out into the large enclosed compound where the tigers had been restricted for the past couple of weeks as they had been getting into mischief hunting bunnies. I was instructed to get out of the jeep and grab an arm full of venison and place it anywhere I fancied. Those of you that have been to Woburn will know that it has an extensive deer park. Any road kill is used to feed the big cats.
Then quickly back in the jeep while the tigers where let out. I can't tell you how exciting it was to have two massive cats running towards you (I guess they had seen me putting out breakfast) we were still parked right in between the two large hunks of deer meat so we had a great view of them both as they found the meat and ran of just like excited dogs with a bone to their favorite spot to eat. We sat and took pictures and just enjoyed the whole experience for quite some time, while by this stage the park had opened and cars were lining up on the other side of the fence to get a glimpse of what we were sitting in the middle of.
Then off to see the lions again, this time they were out in the park, again we were off road so we got right into all the action. This included a very stinky dear carcass that was left over from the feeding the day before. (The big cats get fed every three days just in case you are interested.)
After the final tour we were dropped off back at the main reception area where we had a cooked breakfast waiting for us, just in time as dad was on the verge of a hypo. All fed and watered, we took ourselves for a walk and visited some of the smaller animals - lemurs, marmosets, penguins, sea lions and more.
I really had a great morning, so thanks to Bart. I don't know how you managed to keep it quiet, and thanks to mum and dad for joining us and making the whole thing a great fun morning. I will remember it always, it was a great birthday present.
Sorry the pictures are out of sink I mite go back later and fix them.
What a face he is the leader of the pack
This is the young pretender
Top Dog, as it were
This is me placing breakfast at the foot of a tree. Honest that is me.
4 comments:
That is absolutely unbelievable. What an amazing gift. You're a lucky man, Tony.
I know
I guess I have three years to save up for Bart's turn, any ideas?
It was a great thing to do.
No ideas, dude. Charles and I turn 40 in 3 years, too. Let's all go to Hong Kong or something.
Or we could take a week in NZ. Love it there, and you would, too.
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