The bus tour today at Werribee's open range zoo was joyous. Camouflaged Kudu antelope, white rhinos, stripey zebra and best of all, the noble giraffe! The youngest of them, stood with splayed legs and head down, nibbling the grass, and the tallest of them literally stopped traffic! He wandered across the path of the stopped buses, with ponderous grace, to the awed, 'oohs' and 'ahhs' of the spectators.
The Lions were at first hiding behind their bushes, panting in the sun, but patience won out. The first male sauntered past the windows, stepping out with big, padded paws. He gave us a good solo performance, before his friend the lioness, came to join, giving us an impressive snarl. The first's brother joined them, and they all walked slowly in circles, until they found a new vantage point, from which to gaze with disdain upon us.
Later we walked through the wetlands track with delightful white butterflies fluttering around us, and the cool river, silent and brown. I read how the Wurundjeri would cross the river to trade and intermarry with the language group across and felt transported to a peaceful time.
As we explored for kangaroos and bandicoots, seeing none, a great emu walked across our path and led us for a few minutes at a slow stroll.
Truly a place of wonder and (relative) freedom.
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