We
also went on a mini-safari during our stay in Dakar. The FMA crew
hopped into three covered trucks that drove us into the Dakar Zoo.
Unlike when we visit the zoo in the United States we were the ones in
the cages (enclosed trucks) while the animals roamed free. During our
two-hour tour of the zoo we encountered gazelles, various types of
antelopes, zebras, rhinos, monkeys, ostriches, and many many giraffes.
Wow, the giraffes were tall...and well camouflaged! Sometime we didn’t
even notice these 13 to 20 feet tall creatures hidden amongst the trees
not more than 30 feet from us until they turned their heads to look at
us. During one of our encounters we drove up on an ostrich that had
planted itself in the middle of the road. As the truck crept forward the
ostrich came alongside the truck, truck, poked its head in, and smiled
for the camera (pictured). One of the rhinos we saw also performed for
us and came forward to be photographed. We believe the animals were just
as curious and excited to see us as we were to see them!