Lion's roar

Our land lord told us that he owns a zoo when we first moved in last March. We had no idea what that means in Lebanon. He said it was a zoo that rescues abandoned animals or animals in danger ( in syria for example)

   So we decided to try and visit. The weather was perfect. The zoo is located next to a river in a mountain valley, so as we pulled in, we were welcomed with golden lighting and lush green all surrounding us. We were the first car in the parking lot at 10 am. 

  As we walked up a beautiful path, we first came across a side-of-the-mountain goat habitat. We could tell this was going to be fun. 

  The path took us down into a really cute Zoo. The animals are really close to the path- and you can touch them if you want...most of them. It was exhilerating and i was giggling. The llama sticking out it’s head, the cow and the donkey...then we saw the hyenas and monekys...

  Then we rounded the corner and the gorilla was sticking it’s finger threw the bars and begging us for food. We knew the signs everywhere about not feeding the animals were probably ignored. 

  But as we rounded the corner we saw 2 grizzly bears, 3 feet from us. It was kinf of crazy and the adrenaline started kicking in. I was thinking to myself- man, i sure hope they did not take any short cuts with these cages. not like the short cuts they take at our home when they are building it. these cages are secure, right?

  

we moved down a few feet and see a magnifiscent tiger. stunning. and it hisses and then starts pacing towards us, eyes locked on Sophia in the stroller. It stops 2 feet away. Thin grating and metal bars between the two of them. My heart stopped. And i rotated around and see a Lion 2 feet away from us the other direction. we are between a tiger and a standing Lion- who then roars. Not a jungle roar, but a loud, shake the ground roar. and my heart really stopped. 

not the best pic of this majestic lion, but hard to capture

later pic of tiger resting. did not have time to capture him prowling my daughter.

Layla looked up at drew and i and said “ i am scared”. i don’t think i was breathing. Drew and i both nervously giggled and moved down the path a bit. 

   It was such an adrenaline rush...and i am sure the cages are secure...but i have never been that close to a wild animal before. We were laughing how in American there are like 5 ways that the animals could never get you..and here it is just a cage between you and them. 

  that was the most intense it got. our morning was spent looking at the wild animals and then playing on huge infalteable slides. it was a fabulous family spot- middle of nature with plenty of new things to discover for kids.

    and we got to hear a lion roar, the same week of Layla’s birthday...