I don’t use the word “awe” lightly. But I was more than a little awed when a giraffe’s massively long tongue grazed my hand as he took the chunk of romaine lettuce I was offering him.
Giving Tafari his evening snack was part of Zoo Boise’s Wine Safari. The seasonal event gives a small group access to unique animal encounters, cuisine, and, of course, wine from around the world.
My safari companion, Jeanna Vickery, joined me as we ‘traveled’ across South America, Africa, and North America.
We arrived at Zoo Boise after hours on a toasty summer evening. After check-in, we headed over to one of the covered shelters for our first pours and food selections.
It was here we met Zoo Boise Director Gene Peacock, one of our main guides for the evening.
“What’s really neat about the Wine Safari is they’re so intimate,” Peacock said. “It’s fun to have that closer interaction with people. It’s intimate, it’s fun, it’s educational, and it helps our cause.”
Peacock said the Wine Safaris started in 2019.
“We have loads of kid stuff, but adults were asking for stuff too,” he said. “There was a demand for this, so we were glad to be able to start offering it. We’ve had visitors from other states and even other countries.”
Wine Safari is a bit unique among Zoo Boise events because of the close and relaxed access to the keepers. Peacock was a wealth of stories. With decades of experience and more than five years at Zoo Boise, he was able to provide insight and humor on daily zoo life.
South America
For South America, we tried wines from Chilean wineries Rogue Vine and La Playa. Tasty morsels included a cheese-stuffed tomato and a variation on a deviled egg.
Then it was time to meet our first animal. Appropriately named for his blue-and-orange coloration, we were allowed the chance to pet Bronco, the bearded dragon.
His incredibly tiny scales felt strange as I dragged my fingertips across them, but the rescued animal seemed nonplussed by all the attention.
Africa
Off in Africa, Painted Wolf wines accompanied shrimp croquettes and samosas.
We headed around the back of the giraffe enclosure while the zookeepers tempted Tafari out with some chilled lettuce. One by one, we climbed up a set of steps, handing over leaf after leaf to our new long-necked friend. Getting up close really gave me a sense of how huge these creatures are, and yet how gentle at the same time.
I’d classify this moment as my favorite part of the experience. It’s not every day that most people get to feed a giraffe!
North America
While we didn’t open up her box, we did get to meet Pandora the crocodile. Peacock regaled us with the tale of how she burst from her crate when she was first brought to Zoo Boise.
Since it was North America, we tried some Idaho wines, along with a heart of palm skewer and an empanada.
All Wrapped Up
Our visit ended with special enrichment for the African wild dogs: presents filled with food for them to tear open and enjoy. Asking our final questions and finishing our wine, we headed for the exit, stopping briefly to admire a southern ground hornbill showing off its evening meal and a snow leopard taking a roll in the long grass.
“The keepers were all lively, knowledgeable storytellers and shared their featured animals with great care,” Vickery said when I asked her about the experience. “Having the zoo mostly to ourselves, which was shady and comfortable even in summer, also enhanced the enjoyment.”
If you’re looking for a very unconventional wine tasting, Zoo Boise should be on your list.
For more information on September’s Wine Safari or other Zoo Boise events, visit ZooBoise.org.