Today was forecast rain for a change, although the weather report added fog, mist, low cloud, snow and plagues of locusts and other things to the fun. Actually only joking about the snow.
This meant today was the trip to the Dartmoor Zoological Park or DZP as they like to call it - we've not been before but it used to be Dartmoor big cat sanctuary and our daughter is mad on Tigers.
Now pop this into Sat nav and it decides to take you via Jupiter and Uranus before dropping you into a black hole.
Just set Navigation to Sparkwell and with any luck you will pick up the signs for the park well before the Sat nav takes you down a road the size of your own bowels. From Challaborough its about 12 miles to the park - Follow the A379 and take the A3121 cut through to the A38 (Signpost Exeter A38), this keeps you on roads you have a reasonable chance of survival on rather than ones with a certain death sign.
Now I have to say the entrance didn't inspire us much, it consisted of a car park with three cars in it, some chaps in diggers doing lots of work and a lonely chap taking your money.
Added to that the mist and rain and I felt like I'd been mugged in a polite but crappy way but read on as the weather improves, who knows my mood might as well ?
You wander up a hill to the main park itself, on the right (no animals - bear in mind its hammering down with rain), on the left (wet animals) but the cafe beckons.
Quick cup of really nice coffee (£1.60 for a mug) and we start off, and I have to be honest we were not impressed initially, couldn't see any bears in the bear compound (obviously keeping out of the rain), the Racoons were no where to be seen (probably in Kingsbridge rummaging in the bins) and the rain (and mist) was not helping our general mood - my photo's look like I've used a fog filter for an added effect rather than try and focus on an animal 25 feet away in the mist.
Now everyone has had those moments in their life (Birthdays and Christmas) where they have decided they want an Xbox 360, out comes the large wrapped present (which is exactly the right size and weight), you carefully open the wrapping lest you disturb the prestine outer skeleton that is the Xbox packaging itself - you then find some bastard has got you a toaster.
However ... quite often after a short family row (which often includes destroying the said toaster in a fit of temper and pointing out to the family the 150 pictures you stuck to the walls and the fact you changed your name to "Xbox" as subtle hints you wanted one), there suddenly emerges another box - which you immediately assume is another fecking toaster.
You open the wrapping quickly on this (not realising someone has sellotaped the paper to the box so you tear the box covering itself) and find yourself the owner of the item you coveted with such enthusiasm (although it's dampened by the now less than perfect box but you make a mental note to buy the wife a new Iron for her Birthday).
This was the feeling we had when we turned the (damp and misty) corner and found the Wolves and Tigers - despite the mist and rain you were faced with incredible animals and views.
We've been to our share of Zoo's and Wildlife Parks and normally Wolves and Tigers are fast asleep 500 yards from the safety fences, not in this case - your behind a safety barrier but you could literally reach out and touch the animals (obviously leaving your arm as payment).
There's one Amur Tiger near the Wolves (which is the aunt of three more on the park), the Lions and Tigers are in nice compounds, good sizes, plenty of water and places to climb etc (we don't like the steel cages do we ?) and they actually move.
Next to the Tiger is the Cheetah compound, and again it was actually walking around and doing something (hopefully stalking several rabbits - I've never seen so many until we went on this holiday).
Visit the otters and just call out to them for some amusing antics as they rush up and start squeaking to you.
The guide came and fed the Otters at 12pm (who had a pack of Prawns today) - make sure you note down the feeding times from the board beside the cafe.
Just around the corner Soverign the Jaguar who very kindly came out the mist and sat on his rock allowing some fantastic pictures (apologies for the pic being a little dark, it was misty so I adjusted the brightness to reduce it a little).
On the way back to the cafe there's a large paddock you can go in (make sure by the way to take decent boots as it can get muddy and wet), in there are two crazy Mcaws who will call to you from miles away - ducks, small deer and pigmy goats.
A quick home made burger, fries, coleslaw and salad (very good for £6.25 - I had trouble eating it all), or have a simpler snack of chips and cheese ! Couple more cups of their excellent coffee and then off we go again to try and spot some bears (who appear to be still sleeping), back to the otters as we need to get to the Jaguar for 2pm)
We met the guide again for the Jaguar feeding who appeared quite happy to have some Horse then off to the close encounter session where you can hold land snails, stick insects, coackroaches, snakes etc.
I have to be honest, when we got as far as the bears and Racoons initially (and bear in mind it was raining and the diggers working on the entrance etc) we thought the trip was going to be terrible.
In reality this turned out to be one of the best zoo trips we have ever had, ignore the work going on at the entrance, the entrance fee is perfectly reasonable and spend plenty of time standing 5 feet from some major animals enjoying exactly what the park is all about.
The staff (and I mean all the staff) are friendly and very helpful, they couldn't do enough for you and you didn't feel you were in the sterile environment of some zoo's, the young French lady (sorry didn't get your name) who fed the Otters and gave the talks obviously loves her job and enjoys talking to anyone else who loves animals, we had roaches and stick insects crawling around and added to the great food and very reasonable gift shop (I got 4 gifts for £6.30 which would have expected to cost £20 at our local zoo).
If your heading down Torquay, Plymouth or around this area then book yourself a day to visit - we arrived at 10am and spent the entire day - you will be surprised how quickly the time goes as your watching the Tigers and large cats as they come so close to you.
It's more enjoyable as they are in good size enclosures with large pools, plenty of thick grass and places to climb so you can see they animals are happy and contented - in this day and age nothing should be in a cage but if they are in a zoo they need plenty of space, the enclosures are designed so in most cases there is a good clear view so you can get some great photos, the zoo also do photographer days where you can be taken around by your own guide and given unique access to the enclosures etc.
Would we go back again - without doubt, we enjoyed Paignton zoo last year (make sure you go there as well), didn't get time to go to the National Aquarium (but DZP do joint tickets by the way offering discount) but this park left us buzzing.
When you have someone who is mad on large cats anyway you can't help but be impessed when your so close and they are playing, growling and generally eying you up for their lunch - probably our favourite zoo of all time.
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