On 1000 acres of scrubland in the north of San Diego County is a huge wilderness that was once called Wild Animal Park and is now called Safari Park. It is peopled with elephants, dik-diks, zebras, Bengal tigers, wild desert asses, antelopes and hundreds of other kinds of birds and animals. It does breeding for endangered species and research into obscure zoological questions, and makes money by showing the wild animals to the public, much like a zoo. But instead of cages the tigers and the lions and the giraffes and the elephants all roam their own wilderness areas, while the people stroll on protected pathways and tramways. It's a wonderful place, and yesterday we spent the night there in a set of fine study tents set up for paying customers, took long tours of the wilderness by flashlight, and watched the animals come out at night, watched elephants cavort in their water ponds at sunset, as carefree as any wild beast with a full belly could be, watched the prowling Bengals and listened to the mumble of elephants and exostic birds through the small hours of the morning. It was a wonderful night. We were up at five watching the phunks and the lions strolling in the predawn light. Dinner and breakfast was laid on, and they offered drinks and snacks. A lovely way to spend 24 hours, and it felt like a four day vacation. We were delighted by the whole expedition and came home tired by full of fine rsare memories.