Emma @ theweekendabroad.com on I Locked Lips with a Giraffe at B Bryan Preserve
As mentioned in my last post on my amazing weekend in beautiful Mendocino County, visiting the B Bryan Preserve was the highlight of my trip. After talking to friends and family about the place, it’s apparent to me that it’s still very unknown, which is why I wanted to dedicate an entire article to the magical destination. B Bryan Preserve is an African wildlife sanctuary that promotes the education and conservation of animals, in which all its inhabitants are bred or raised on-site. I personally felt my experience at B Bryan was better than any zoo I’ve visited. Granted, I’m sure there are some pretty incredible zoos I haven’t been to. Here are the basics on B Bryan Preserve if you’re hoping to visit and why I loved it so much.
B Bryan Preserve Basics
- Location: Point Arena, CA (about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco via car). The town has a population of under 500 people!
- Cost: $35/person
- Duration: The website states 1.5 hours, but ours ended up being just over an hour. It varies due to how many questions are asked throughout the tour.
- How to book: You must book in advance. I booked about a week prior. You can book online or by phone on their website and offer tours at 9:30am and 4:00pm everyday. If it says a tour is booked up online, give them a call and they might be able to make room for you. That’s what we did.
- What to expect: I’ve never been on an African safari, but this was the closest I’ve experienced thus far. You are driven in Jeep’s around the sprawling property and are introduced to zebras, antelope, and giraffes.
Why I Love B Bryan Preserve
- You are in a small group, which means you aren’t fighting to get a look at the majestic wildlife or straining to hear what the guide is saying.
- It is a personalized, educational experience. I’ve definitely learned a lot from my time at zoos, but I loved having an actual guide to educate us on the diverse range of animal species and have the opportunity to ask her questions as they came up.
- The animals don’t feel completely detached from us. Rather than being enclosed by glass or thick fences, the animals were up close and personal with us. I was less than a foot away from their zebras! And the best part – I got to kiss a giraffe!
- As mentioned in the last point, you get to kiss a giraffe! This is totally optional, but they let you feed the beautiful creatures and give you the opportunity to put a carrot in your mouth, which leads to a big fat giraffe kiss.
- The core of their business is to educate and conserve. I never felt like I was being sold anything or presented with any “fluff”. They are really passionate about what they do there.
B Bryan Preserve in Pictures
I kissed a giraffe at B Bryan Preserve!
They’re so friendly!
Just look at those long necks
Feeding an adorable kudu at B Bryan Preserve
Roger feeding a kudu
The 3 kudu who came out to greet us
Elvis the plains zebra at B Bryan Preserve
Zebras vying for the food
Posing perhaps?
How adorable are their ears?
The meeting area and gift shop at B Bryan Preserve
You can paint with giraffes at B Bryan Preserve! Here’s some of their artwork.
Thoughts or questions on B Bryan Preserve? Have you done anything like this before? Let me know in the comments!
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