The Giraffe Manor, in the 'bucket list' of any animal lover
Adrenaline, tenderness, emotion, impression. if you are one in love with animals you will understand me Being able to experience first-hand that contact with the wild life and knowing their behavior always makes travel experiences even more shocking.
For all these reasons, in each new place I visit, I look for the best options to get closer to the native fauna in one way responsible and respectful.
Today we take a trip from ** Africa to Mexico ,** passing through ** Thailand and Australia ,** hand in hand with some of the most special creatures in the world to further enrich our passion for travel
You can finally hug an elephant!
**WALK WITH THE LIONS: CASELA WORLD OF ADVENTURES (MAURITIUS ISLAND) **
They say that God created the cat so that man could pet the lion, but if I tell you that we can pet the king of the jungle , how are you?
In the park Casela World of Adventures , a space open dedicated to wild animals, propose what they define as walk with the lions , a one-hour walk that is done with a couple of big cats (tigers, lions or cheetahs), and in which you interact with them and observe them in full freedom.
The experience takes place in a large area separate from the safari-park itself, with small rivers and lots of vegetation. The groups are reduced to about ten people, and it is necessary to have more than 15 years and measure at least 1.5 meters to join. The reason for these restrictions is none other than to prevent the kings of the savannah from seeing us as "possible prey" smaller or weaker than them.
Once the keepers explain the safety rules, you can see, in the distance, a couple of felines approaching, to finally finish roaming freely among us. From that moment on, the emotion is maximum and the adventure begins.
The Lions climb trees, jump, play, interact and are fed by those responsible. During this time, it is possible to caress them (always under the instructions of the supervisors), walk beside them and even take photos with them lying on the grass.
**AN ELEPHANT IN MY ROOM: MFUWE LODGE (LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA) **
From late October to mid-December, in the Mfuwe Lodge They receive a very special visitor who walks through the different rooms of the hotel with total confidence and security.
Is about a family of elephants that carries three generations coming to this place to eat the fruits of the trees of wild mango that is in the whole enclosure.
These gigantic friends shamelessly cross the outdoor reception from the hotel, enter at will in the 18 chalets-rooms located in front of the lagoons of the South Luangwa National Park, and let themselves be seen with their heavy but charming movements throughout the area.
To complete the experience, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, cheetahs and many other wild animals have become regular visitors to the place, so it is common to see them up close every day when they come to quench your thirst to the swamps.
**HAVE BREAKFAST WITH GIRAFFE: GIRAFFE MANOR (NAIROBI, KENYA) **
Giraffe Manor It is another of the few hotels in the world that allows you to share a stay with some of the most majestic species in Africa.
In this case, it is giraffes , who, elegant, haughty and discreet walk through the facilities of this charming accommodation with 12 exclusive rooms . They also do not hesitate look out the windows to gossip what goes on inside the house or try to savor a small bite from the dining room tables.
The snapshots are quite a spectacle, and few are those who manage to refuse to share a little piece of your breakfast with them, to go out to the garden to feed them, to caress them or to hug their long and soft necks.
In addition, in the 56 hectares of native forest that surround this site, curious families of warthogs , elusive antelopes and endless birds who also visit the hotel gardens.
**HOPE FOR ELEPHANTS: ELEPHANT NATURE PARK (CHIANG MAI, THAILAND) **
Once again, the protagonists are the elephants, with whom we go to the north of Thailand, specifically to Chiang Mai, where it is Elephant Nature Park .
East shelter of pachyderms has a story that deserves to be told: its founder, Sangduen 'Lek' Chailert, created in 1996 this enclosure dedicated to the care and recovery of the species, whose specimens, in more than 80% of cases, arrive after having suffered ** mistreatment and traumatic experiences .** Here he seeks to give his enormous friends the dignity that deserve.
In addition, Lek has been dedicated for more than 20 years to raise awareness to the Thai population of the damage that many of the tourist activities do to the elephants: ride on them, use hooks and chains to tame them and use them on different attractions, etc.
Of all the visit options offered by the park, Hope for Elephants is the most special. It is a day trip through the forest, accompanying the pachyderms on a ride in complete freedom during which you learn to care for them.
Prepare their food, walk hand in hand/trunk, smear them with mud or bathe with them in the river playing with containers to throw water are some of the most special moments that can be experienced thanks to this experience in which to create a unforgettable bond with these admirable and sensitive animals.
**HUG A KOALA: LONE PINE KOALA SANCTUARY (BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA) **
I can assure you that there is nothing more tender than hugging a koala, and the best place to do it is undoubtedly ** Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ,** an enclosure dedicated solely and exclusively to caring for these animals so sleepyheads who live at ease along the perimeter.
Considered one of the top ten zoos in the world, this is home to more than 130 healthy and happy koalas cared for by a committed team in love with them.
Its objective is to bring visitors closer to the life of these furry little ones, connect emotionally with nature and learn to protect wildlife.
Also, at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary you can feed kangaroos and wallabies enjoy a show birds Raptors or attend a show sheepdogs.
The visit is completed by getting to know up close species as striking as platypuses, wombats, dingoes or cassowaries, in addition to a lot of birds and reptiles that roam free throughout the park.
**SWIMMING WITH TURTLES (AKUMAL, MEXICO)**
On the other side of the Pacific, we reached Akumal, in Mexico, one of the places more beautiful of the world for diving surrounded by turtles of the green and loggerhead species.
However, since 2016 this activity is having serious restrictions due to the excessive influx of bathers who, on many occasions, do not comply with the rules implanted to respect the marine fauna.
It is great news that organizations like CONAP (National Council of Protected Areas), PROFEPA (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection) and SEMAR (Secretariat of the Navy) implement these protection measures for turtles by implementing two closed periods per year (February and September), one day a week (Mondays) closed to visitors, and one maximum of 12 people per day per company dedicated to this activity.
The lucky ones who, from now on, can enjoy diving or snorkeling in these turquoise waters, must never forget some rules that guarantee the welfare of animals.
Thus, a minimum distance of at least three meters when approaching these marine species, so try touching them is totally prohibited ; must walk away them when they come out to breathe, to avoid stressing them, and don't follow them up close for more than a minute, as this little 'chase' can stress them out too. They are the same pretty at a safe distance and letting them swim calmly. let's do for take care.