Our safari experience started on a cool rainy day in August. Yep! 55 degrees at the top of the mountain in August. It was a bit warmer in Eager -- maybe around 65 degrees. Another thing that’s hard to imagine if you’re driving up from the 100+ degree temperatures in the Valley. We chose to drive over the mountain in hopes of catching a glimpse of some of the local flora and fauna such as an elk, bear or the recently reintroduced Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. I guess it was too cool for the fauna to be out but the flora never disappoints. 

Arriving in Eager, we stayed on SR 260 until we saw the small sign advertising the R Lazy J Ranch. We followed the dirt road about a mile, past an old cabin, a field of sunflowers and some zebras until we came to a small outbuilding surrounded by mysterious enclosures. There we checked in and met our safari guide. Fortunately, we arrived early enough to have time to purchase the optional bucket of carrots to share with some of the more approachable wildlife. 

We then boarded the safari train. The seats were a little damp from the intermittent rain showers but a fellow safari traveler shared their garbage bags to spread on the seats. After passing through a gate into an open pasture, we soon encountered our first exotic creature -- Christmas the camel. As you might guess, she was named for the day of her birth. She eyed us from across the field. We stuck our hands in the air and waved our carrots. I figured that was the closest she’d come but within a few minutes she came galloping across the field and smothered us in fuzzy lips and photo ops. I think she might have liked to crawl up on our laps. She indulged us by eating as many carrots as she could from every hand.

The safari train started up and Christmas galloped alongside hoping to grab one more carrot but was thwarted by the gate separating her from the next pasture. All along, the guides were telling us important and educational information about the animals but I think we were all too excited looking around to be very good listeners. I know I was. I definitely plan to go back and listen better next time.  

Leaving Christmas staring forlornly after us, we entered the world of llamas and ostriches. Maybe alpacas and emus too. I really will pay more attention next time. They all came by for photos but weren’t interested in the carrots.

Our next stop was the land of the oryx, the water buffalo and giant Watusi cattle. They weren’t particularly interested in eating carrots but were obliging for photos, and a young oryx entertained us with an amazing display of speed as it raced around the pasture. Again, the guides were very informative explaining who was what and where they all came from.  

Did I mention the kangaroos? They were a little more standoffish and in their own enclosure that we didn’t enter but I did learn that the red ones are males and the grey ones are females. Or vice versa. They looked quite at ease lounging about and enjoying the cool weather. 

Then we stopped to feed our remaining carrots to goats and pigs who were happy to relieve us of the burden of carrying them any further. I think they’d have been happy to relieve us of the containers too but our safari guides were quick to collect them for reuse. 

From there, we took a guided walking tour of the mysterious enclosures filled with all sorts of amazing, endangered and exotic creatures. I really can’t remember them all but my favorite was the parakeet aviary. The guide handed us popsicle sticks with bird seed and we crowded in to the foyer until we were all in so that we could enter the aviary without budgies exiting. It was kind of like being in a cage ourselves for a few minutes while we waited for everybody to get inside. I loved the chirping, colorful birds fluttering around my head and then landing on my hand to eat the birdseed. Their little feet were so warm and their little bodies were as light as, well, a feather.

We met the resident ferret, watched the big-eyed, long tailed lemurs take bits of banana in their tiny little human-like hands and learned that they are the least intelligent of the primates. Lastly was the gorgeous clouded leopard. Oh, and the kookaburras. And the porcupines. And, and, and...I really have to go back.

For a grand finale, our safari guide produced a baby alligator from I know not where. His pocket? And he let us pet it. It was surprisingly soft and warm. Two hours had zipped past and it was time for us to go. I can’t wait to go back. 

The R Lazy J Wildlife Ranch opened last fall and is a work in progress. It is owned and operated by Jacob and Vanessa Roer. Jacob is a third generation Arizona rancher who has worked with animals all his life, and Vanessa has a degree in agricultural education and has worked in the zoo industry. They are dedicated to preserving wildlife and natural resources and their goal is to contribute to the propagation of threatened and endangered species and to create connections between people and wildlife to benefit conservation efforts worldwide. They do this by offering guided tours with informed guides to educate the public about each animal and why it’s important or special. The guided tour lasts about two hours and requires advance reservations. They have special group rates for schools, clubs and organizations. They also offer off-site party packages where they bring the animals to your classroom, birthday party or event.