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Left early and arrived for opening time… There we were, 8.30am, bright and breezy, at the gates of West Midland Safari Park… We were within the first five cars to enter! We were Hardcore Safari Parkers!

We were initially greeted by some dosile deer, merrily chewing the cud… But then we went into the wolf area!

I was expectant: salivating packs cornering their prey; cowering beasts surrounded by snarling fangs and hair raised on arched backs. I couldn’t wait!

It turned out to be a somewhat different kettle of fish. Some weary looking dogs with grey hair and lank expressions… Boo hoo!!

Then we had buffalo, more deer types, a ickle bambi-esque baby deer, white tigers and their rear ends (which Miki took quite an attraction to - this was Miki’s memorable bit), white wallaby (where we stopped for elevens’s), then reindeer, and the next memorable bit - Miho’s memorable bit…

The Lions!

I say “memorable” because, as we were entering the area, I stopped the car when I could see one male lion, main and all, walking towards a female one. The male lion continued to walk until he was above the female, at which point he lowered his hind quarters and proceeded to give the female a few firm thrusts with his loins!

Miho exclaimed at this turn up for the books, “Hayai ne!” (”That was quick!”) and the car (apart from the kids) burst into laughter… We moved on when the hilarity had subsided and the queue of cars behind us was about five long.

Then there were the white lions, the rhino (who must have been having a kip when we came in), then came the next memorable bit…

The Tigers!