AFRICAN EXPERIENCE:"IT'S CHEAPER than going to Africa, I'll say that," Christine said as she scanned a rolling savannah where giraffes, gazelles and elephants ambled within a few dozen metres of a tent she shared with her husband, Jim.
For the couple and more than 50 other safari wannabes who spent a Saturday night at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, the aptly named Roar Snore camp out was also enlightening, fun and a little eerie. But not necessarily restful.
“Oh God, where did I put my earplugs?” my partner asked soon after bedtime, as sonorous snoring erupted from nearby tents. “That’s going to be louder than the animals.”
For $129 (€95) each, plus $35 (€25) for park admission, you get a tent, dinner, breakfast, after-hours walking tours and plenty of time with park staff during an adults-only edition of Roar Snore, which is also offered for youth groups and families with children.
For an extra $20 (€15) you can stay in a tent overlooking the nearly 30-hectare East Africa habitat.
Dinner is a buffet of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, veggie burgers, barbecued beans and green beans, consumed at communal picnic tables.
After dinner you can take part in two brisk hikes through the darkened park, making you feel like a child sneaking into the zoo after closing.
– LA Times-Washington Post
www.sandiegozoo.com