African Safari... but there's a catch

xtrodinarypilot (66)in #texas • 9 years ago (edited)

What's the Catch?

I can't imagine that there are many people in the world that wouldn't want to go to an African Safari. My little family and I are no exception. If you have ever driven through Texas on I-10, you start to see billboards for the Natural Bridge Caverns and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch when you are about 100 miles outside of San Antonio from either direction. In case you miss the signs, take I-35 to the 175 exit. It's somewhere between San Antonio and New Braunfels, home of @harleymechanix The caverns sound like a great place to stop, but that isn't the goal today. Besides we are a bit spoiled considering we have been to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. You will know you have arrived when you this sign...

Welcome to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

This was originally a 400 acre drive through safari that opened in 1984. There has since been a recent 50 acre expansion of the park that has a cafe midway with free roaming, domestic animals. What's interesting is that there is almost no history about the development of this facility. I believe the main reason is because you drive yourself around the park and don't get the added effect of having a guide. I have been to this facility at least 5 times in my life. With that being said, you should be able to see that there is some resell value. It's important to note that you pay per person and not per vehicle, so it can easily add up. We ended up paying $84.50 and then bought bags of feed. Try not to purchase too much feed because the animals have tons of the same food in their troughs.

Feed Hack

The park is designed to get you to drive through the park and then end near a giftshop/petting zoo. You have access to the giftshop before ever driving around the ranch. If you look at the trash can at the entrance of the petting zoo, you will see $100 of dollars worth of bags of food that people left. Pick those up before driving through the safari park. YOU'RE WELCOME

The Ostrich

or is it an emu? Either way it deserves it's own chapter after attacking @xtdnrymompreneur

As you can see, the catch is that you don't actually go to Africa. You are afforded the opportunity to observe the

magnificent live oak trees and witness the behavior of over 500 animals from 40 exotic, native and endangered animal species worldwide.

Trivia

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is on National Geographic's top 3 moments of 2017 It was also home to the only twin giraffes ever born on American soil. One of them has since died but that put the facility in the international spotlight.

All photos and videos from this post are originals of and by @xtrodinarypilot & @xtdnrymompreneur & @despool