30 DAYS OF FREE: Day Twenty Four

Activities: Free Giraffe!

 

Difficulty Rating: 3

 

Thoughts: While strolling along a leaf-littered street I bumped into a friend of mine who works at the Zoo. We beamed and embraced and she informed me she was able to get free tickets to I, Animal, the zoo’s sensational night time audio tour. I saw I, Animal back in November and loved every minute of it, so I was over the moon when this happy chance led to me being able to see it for a second time – and for free! It’s these lucky moments that make free month worthwhile!

 

Last time I saw I, Animal it was summer and the tour was conducted over a warm, lazy twilight. This time, I marched across the zoo threshold on a black wintery night, breath lingering in the air before me. I had chosen the path of the giraffe and it led to some of the most exotic and dangerous animals of the zoo. We saw lions prowling out of the darkness, a tapir patrolling his territory and the majestic giraffe blinking placidly at the herd of humans who’d come up to say hello.

 

The tour ended with the entire group meeting up by the lovely old carousel in the middle of the zoo. Another perk of the dark winter night was the big blazing braziers set up to roast marshmallows over. It was a lovely gift at the end of a lovely tour.

 

The crowd was visibly smaller in the winter cold, huddling together and smoking like Victorian era chimneys. But even in the dark I, Animal is one of the best nights out I’ve had in Melbourne. The tour is adventurous and personal and it’s fun sneaking around the zoo at a time when all the screaming kids are in bed.

 

As it was so dark, most of my animal photos didn’t turn out very well. Instead, here’s a photo of the beautiful carousel!