I celebrated my 36th birthday by going on a sleeping safari at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. It was the wildest experience to wake up to the sound of lions roaring. Especially being in Australia. This zoo has animals from Africa including; giraffes, cheetahs (see below), rhinos, meerkats, lions, zebras, vervet monkeys and hippos! We saw Harry the hippo at feeding time and he decided to spray feces from his butt while swinging his tail, boy did we run for cover!

This is Haraka - the 13 year old cheetah who lives in the zoo. That makes him 91 years old in human time! Though a bit cranky in his old age and trouble with his teeth, he was able to chow down on this rabbit like it was nothing! Cheetahs can travel up to 112 km/h, so when driving down the high way, they would pass you! They are a solitary animal which means they only get together with another cheetah to mate, besides that they are on their own.

This is Anthony from the Werribee Open Range Zoo. In Africa, he lived with all females and so does not know how to 'live' with males. Therefore, he does not know how to fight, and the other males take advantage of this. He has a horrible odour, a skin disease, and is allergic to his food. Poor Anthony, so troubled yet so adorably cute!! Interestingly enough, giraffes only sleep for 20-25 minutes a day while they are standing up. Add this fact to their very long tongue that they can put up their nose - and I believe I was a giraffe in a former life.