Daytripping from Americus - A Wonderful Day at Chehaw Zoo in Albany, Georgia

Last week, we decided to take a daytrip to The Animal Park at Chehaw in Albany, Georgia, just 45 minutes from Americus.  We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the zoo and could easily have spent the entire day, if we had visited when the Wiregrass Express Train was running or the African Veldt Safari was operating (March - November).  

It was a very chilly day, but, the sun was shining.

We started our tour looking at the reptiles (all behind glass).  If you don't like snakes, scroll down a little!

This is a Burmese python named Nochaway.

This is a canebrake timber rattlesnake.

Check out this albino boxer turtle and a broad-headed skink.

This is a green tree python.

This is a gray-banded kingsnake.

This is a pancake tortoise.

This little one was not marked, so, I have no idea what it is.

While we were there, they were feeding these frogs live crickets.

There are two snakes in this photo - 

ratsnakes.

It finally warmed up a little and we headed towards the actual zoo area and met this peacock.

The meerkats are absolutely adorable.

However, the peacock was very aggressive towards the meerkats (in their enclosure which the peacock could easily enter and exit) and we wished we could have intervened as we watched the peacock bully them.

We felt like this little guy was saying, "Somebody, please help us!"

Muckalee Swampland Station - looks like pea soup

Look a little closer and you see the alligators.

During "season" they feed the 'gators, but, not this time of year.

There were bald eagles.

This bobcat just looks like a really big housecat as it was grooming itself in the sun.

The cheetahs were also soaking up the sun.

Then, there were the lemurs.

All of a sudden, it seemed, they appeared.

We watched as this brown one groomed the other one.  They are so cute!

Another lemur, sleeping.

The petting zoo animals were funny to watch.  The pig would grab some hay and then take it into the building you see.  The goat was just eating...

There was a Southern black rhinoceros.

It really was a gorgeous day.

The colobus monkeys were fascinating to watch.

Unfortunately for me, this is when my camera started to malfunction.

This is Bogart, the bactrian camel.

Isn't he a handsome guy?

Did you know that red wolves were considered "extinct" in the wild in 1980 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?

What I found fascinating is that although there have been efforts to restore populations of red wolves to their native habitat, interbreeding with coyotes has been recognized as "the most significant and detrimental threat" to the wolves in North Carolina.  (according to the Chehaw website.)

And, lastly, my favorite, the serval.

How can you not just love that face!

So, the next time you come this way, plan some time to make a day trip to Albany to visit the Chehaw Wild Animal Park.  If you bring your bicycle, Chehaw has miles of groomed bike trails throughout the park.  They also have a BMX bicycle racing track.  There really is plenty to see and do in SouthWest Georgia.

Thanks for visiting the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast blog.

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Love,

Susan