NationalGeographicTravellerAustraliaandNewZealandWinter2018

wild adventures

Overnight sensatiOns

Urban jungle

At Werribee Open

Range Zoo, just outside

Melbourne, guests take

part in a unique camping

experience for Roar ’n’

Snore. After dinner, check

out how the nocturnal

animals live and wake the

next morning to the call

of gibbons.

zoo.org.au

Kenya calling

Deep in Nairobi National

Park (below), bed down

in a luxe canvas dwelling

at Nairobi Tented Camp.

At night, you might hear a

buffalo crashing through

the undergrowth or the

roarof lions, and when the

sun comes up you’re in

prime position to explore

the nature reserve and

its wildlife.

nairobitentedcamp.com

Tropical treasure

From Jicaro Island Lodge

on Lake Nicaragua, take a

kayaking tour to spy the

birdlife that resides here

or trek into Mombacho

Volcano Nature Reserve.

Here, deep in the cloud

forest, keep your eyes

peeled for two-toed sloths

and howler monkeys.

jicarolodge.com

SuITe

DReamS

Three more animal

sleepovers.

W

e should make sure the meerkats are

doing OK.” During an overnight stay at

Jamala Lodge’s giraffe treehouses, this

becomes our mantra each time we leave the room.

The cute critters, including a variety of tiny pups,

are located in an enclosure just outside our rooms

and are prone to bursts of activity any time we peer

over the concrete fence.

Jamala is located on the grounds of Canberra’s

National Zoo & Aquarium. If spending quality time

feeding carrots to Hummer, the cheeky giraffe,

from your balcony doesn’t appeal, then choose a

room with huge glass windows overlooking tigers,

cheetahs, lions or bears (both brown and sun bears

live here). Most of the time, they pay little mind to

human guests, although one family, who are staying

in the bear lodge, admit to spending hours staring

at their huge neighbours napping in the sunshine.

While the appeal of spying on the kings of the

jungle and plains from bed is undeniable, it’s the

behind-the-scenes insights that make any stay at

Jamala memorable. Before the zoo’s day visitors

arrive (and long after they’ve left), keepers take

guided tours. Guests discover the animals’ quirks

and habits. We toss treats, wrapped in banana

leaves, to the capuchin monkeys and chat to keepers

taking the dingoes for a walk.

Drinks and dinner take place in the lodge,

where the rare white lions, Jake and Mishka, visit

to be fed. There’s also the chance to get up close to

the rhinos and feed an eland, the biggest species of

antelope. For animal lovers, it’s a rare opportunity

to see wild animals up close and discover more

about the role of zoos and their participation in

global breeding and conservation programs. Oh,

and you might get to meet a meerkat.

jamalawildlifelodge.com.au

Head to Canberra for the chance to sleep

with lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!

CouR

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y J

AMALA

WiLDLiFe LoDge; C

ARRie Hut

CHiNS

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(NAiR

obi NP)

32 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER