A male African Lion posing during the Sunset Safari at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York.
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, hosts Sunset Safaris on Tuesdays during the month of July each year. The zoo closes at 4:30PM each day. By attending a Sunset Safari you get back into the zoo from 5:30 to 8:30PM.
Along with viewing the zoo animals, there is live music performed by local bands and special pre-ordered meals available. On the evening of my visit, the band was all about music from the 1970’s which brought back memories.
This is a good time of the day to see animals who mostly sleep or are inactive during the heat of the day moving around as the air cools with the setting sun. In particular, the African Lions were very active and playful inside their enclosure. The two sisters were taking turns stalking their brother. A bit of rough housing would ensue when one of them would punce on his back.
In between bouts, they would relax and even pose for the visitors watching and photographing them through the glass.
Shooting through glass is challenging. You have to be careful not to get reflections of yourself and other people near you. I get as close to the glass as I can and shoot straight on.
I was informed by the zoo volunteer the lions are triplets. They also have a tendency to roar around 8PM each night but decided not to on this evening. I’ll have to wait to capture a roaring lion photo on some other day.
If you have a nearby zoo which has evening hours or a program such as a Sunset Safari, grab your camera and enjoy an evening with some real animals. 
A Lioness takes a break from stalking her brother but still keeps an eye out for another advance during the Sunset Safari at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York.
