Languedoc 2013: Safari

01.10.2013

I've been to Africa, but never on a safari. It's a dream of mine that may never happen, so what a treat to visit the "Réserve africaine de Sigean"! The brochure says you could visit everything in 3 hours, but we were there for 8 hours and still missed a few sections.

The Sigean African Reserve is a large semi-natural wildlife park located in the south of France, between Narbonne and Perpignan, on the Mediterranean coast and along ponds that dot the coast of Languedoc. It hosts more than 3,800 animals (more than 2,000 birds, 900 mammals and 900 reptiles) on 300 hectares. In total, more than 160 species are represented.

Forest buffalo

You travel by car through the first park sections, all eight of them, which means that you are in the closest proximity to the animals imaginable. Then you do a walking trek that encompasses all the remaining animals which are fenced away from us, but still free to roam in immense areas. Groups of animals are seen in huge fields, not cramped in small enclosures. And they are in groups, displaying a normal social life that one would see in the wild, not just an isolated animal in an enclosure, lonely and completely out of its element.

Impala

Sun tanning.

Hippotragus niger

Ostrich and baby

Plants native to Africa have been planted throughout.

Not from Africa, but these Tibetan bears are rare and have found a wonderful home here.

Smile and give us a kiss!

Let's all five of us lay down and not allow cars to come through.

Lol!

These three were just part of a much larger pride.

So who is king of the jungle? Don't you forget it!

Note that the fence is BEHIND the lion. We are travelling by car among the animals, with our windows closed. Park rangers roam around to ensure we don't try rolling down our windows to take a photo.

The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros is the largest and most numerous species of rhinoceros that exists. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species.

You wouldn't want to see this one charging towards you! Despite the fact that his horn has been taken away... Poachers?

Holding his hind leg up, flamingo style, some would say "Becky" style.

"Baby face. You've got the cutest little baby face. There's not another that could take your place..."

Watussi bull.

This Watussi Bull wears down the tree with his horns and has it flattened in no time at all.

Giraffes.

This baby giraffe and her mom have been separated from the rest just for a short time.

Zebra.

This baby Grant zebra was born on July 24, 2013.

Okapi.

Peacock. Never saw him with his tail fanned open.

Flamingos.

Remember the birthday tradition when people used to rent pink plastic flamingos for a celebrant's front yard, the number equalling the age being celebrated? I'm quite sure there are many more than 61 of them here...