So, it's my girlfriend's 21st birthday in precisely a week, and she wants to do something ‘special’ to celebrate. I had pondered the question of her birthday since Christmas, knowing it was a landmark and considering what present would be best suited for the occasion. But now with a week to go, no romantic meal booked, and the question of how to make the day special ringing through my brain, panic began to set in.
As a male, my first suggestion consisted of a shopping trip and lunch, and predictably my proposal was rejected. With every night that passed and morning that followed the question became increasingly difficult to answer. Using the internet for my studies soon became subsidiary to punching random hopes into search engines and scouring endless web pages for ideas. My nicotine habit seemed to have hit an all time high, my yellowing fingers tapping away, pursuing the World Wide Web in hope.
Minute by minute, second by second judgement day grew closer. A bus journey into town was my final cry of desperation, visiting an abundance of fully booked restaurants; perhaps the whole town was having a birthday treat. Was there a power cut nine month's before my girlfriend's birth? On the bus home my sweaty hands nervously fondled my ticket, smearing the print with my yellow and blue fingers. The biggest biggest birthday so far, and I have to plan a special celebration. Being notably stressed, my housemates enquired what was wrong and soon they were enlisted to help. One lived in Worcestershire and recalling a vague conversation, with a few clicks of a mouse and a phone call, my fever began to calm and my nicotine addiction began to lift. I managed to keep the surprise secret until we began to hit the signposts en route; West Midland Safari Park (WMSP). Yes different, yes a risk, but it was the best idea I had come across and so I put my faith in their hands and was not disappointed.
First experience of safari
Well signposted, the journey was effortless. On arrival we joined the short queue of cars and paid at the kiosk for our tickets turning down the offer of buying seeds to feed the animals. Straight over the grills I awaited my first experience on a safari. The excursion was as exciting for me as my girlfriend in the passenger seat. “What’s the difference between a safari and a zoo?” she naively asked. The question stroke a chord with my childhood. Summer after summer during my pre-teen years, I would timidly ask my mother if we could go on a safari. Every year she would answer unsympathetically, “Oh no, not one of those zoos you have to drive about while the monkeys trample all over your car, pulling off the window wipers and crapping on the windscreen. We can go to the zoo instead Peter. How would you like that?”
Psychologically scarred
If I had the vocabulary I have now, and with hindsight, I wouldn’t have been so polite in accepting the alternative. In fact, it didn’t register how cruel my mother was until a few years later when my brothers wouldn’t let my mother take them to secondary school in the clapped out ancient brown and rusting Austin Alegro. With paintwork the colour of monkey crap anyway I‘m sure it wouldn‘t have made a difference! I have never spoke of my deprived childhood before, but I already feel talking openly helps. I’m sure you appreciate the turmoil caused by my mothers refusal to take me to the safari; years of suppressed anger with effects on my daily life beyond comprehension. The moral of the story, how much does it cost to buy some wind screen wipers a new? Not as much as it does to psychologically scar your child with the zoo! So now you realise why a twenty-one year old is getting so excited about his first trip to the safari.
Cage the cars
As we entered the rain began to fall and I feared the animals would be heading for cover. Driving past some horned mammals I didn’t recognise, the two lanes proved efficient, allowing me to overtake a stationary car showing an interest. The size of the park supported my earlier claim that safari parks were by far superior to zoos. After passing the brindled gnu and ankole cattle we joined a short queue of cars and waited for the gate to open ahead. When the signal light changed from red to green we entered into a cage and the gate closed behind us, reminiscent of the security measures in ‘Jurassic Park.’ It struck me that unlike a zoo, safety in a safari was controlled by caging the visiting cars, not the resident animals.
When the next signal turned to green we entered the dangerous animal enclosure. A Bengal Tiger sat elegantly on a raised grass bank gnawing on a stripped bone. Onwards, we passed some Tasmanian Bennett Wallaby, followed by a pack of African Wild Dogs sheltering from the rain in a convenient bunker. Although the dogs were discouraged by the rain, each safety cage we penetrated brought a surge of excitement of what animal lay ahead. We stopped to observe the roaming lions as the rain ceased and the sun emerged from behind the dispersing clouds. It was glorious to watch the pride as they played in the beaming sun.
Descendents of Tombi
Suddenly a jeep zoomed past us on the grass in an effort to deter a rebel lion from entering the open safety cage behind us. The effort was a success and driving on we were privileged to encounter the pure African White Lion. The guide book stipulates there are only four in England, and two of the White Lions at WMSP are direct decedents of the endangered ‘Tombi’ from Africa. Here the safari really came to life, the lion strutting elegantly around its territory. The drive around the park was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip. Watch out for the two headed Rhino (see photo), and we were glad not to have purchased seeds when a car had problems pulling off with an animals head stuck in the drivers window.
Beware of the more mischievous animals. Although they do not pose sufficient danger to warrant a safety cage, the Emu and Ostrich can provide entertainment to the driver when they can control the passenger’s electric window. Winding down the window to invite them to peck my girlfriend was the only action jeopardising the success of her special birthday day-out, and fortunately, after receiving a short silent treatment, she forgave me. Even in the silence, the elephants provided entertainment by intelligently picking up branches off the floor and throwing them some distance. To our amusement, the vehicle in front caught the brunt of the flying soil thrown by the elephant’s playful trunk. Driving on we tactically bypassed the huge Bactrian Arabian Camel standing in the middle of the road. It seemed no wonder they were endangered with no fear of roads, one camel even using the vehicle in front as a scratch pad, rubbing itself against the driver’s door and roof. The giraffes merely munched on.
On that note the exciting safari journey came to an end, but the enjoyment continued. After parking up we visited the Reptile House with over 130 snakes, lizards, crocodiles, frogs and turtles. Regular interactive workshops are held so the brave and willing can stroke and hold a variety of reptiles, whilst learning about their nature from the experts. Additionally, there are regular seal shows and the amusement park with two roller coasters provides the perfect way to end a great day with the opportunity to purchase an on ride photo as a souvenir.
No monkey business
Obviously my girlfriend and I do not fit the bill for the family day out WMSP offers, highlighted when she would not let me get my face painted like a tiger. Maybe I just wanted to make the most of the experience which I had dreamed of since my cruel childhood. Despite my unpainted face, the day was a success and one I will remember for some time. Although geared for families, WMSP offers a great day out for all and as the park has no monkeys, I wonder if it is worthwhile for parents to continue reinventing excuses to avoid such dreaded days out. The animals may be mischievous from time to time, but WMSP gives a true insight into how animals act when liberated from cages which have an overt presence in zoos. And when you stop worrying about the unlikely negatives, (the monkey crap and broken window wipers), even adults can enjoy a day out at the WMSP.