An American Safari

The Ponce family travels from their hometown of Chicago, Illinois, to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming for an American safari. Park guide John Harmer shares rich history, breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife with the family on a memorable adventure through America's first national park.

Park Guide John Harmer

He is a well-known and beloved face at Yellowstone National Park.

Top 5 Sights in Yellowstone

Some spots are frequently visited while others are off-the-beaten path.

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

Visitors learn about gray wolves and grizzlies — from a safe distance.

1 / 13 Male bison generally travel alone or in groups of two or three. This bison grazes alone with a tiny friend perched on his back.

2 / 13 Weighing about 2,000 pounds, a mature male bison relaxes on a brisk morning in Yellowstone National Park.

3 / 13 Steam rises from Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, at dawn. The water temperature is about 170 degrees F.

4 / 13 At Mammoth Hot Springs, hot water rises through the soft limestone, dissolving large quantities of rock and leaving a white chalky mineral on the surface.

5 / 13 Cowbirds feed on insects while riding on the back of a large bison.

6 / 13 A herd of elk moves during a beautiful afternoon in May. Since elk shed their antlers during March and April, they are typically antler-free at this time of year.

7 / 13 Two bison graze along Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park.

8 / 13 Paloma Ponce, 5, and Alessandro Ponce, 7, play in a field of wildflowers.

9 / 13 A large pronghorn relaxes in a field of dandelions in Yellowstone National Park.

10 / 13 A small herd of pronghorn makes its way across Yellowstone National Park.

11 / 13 Two black bear cubs rest atop the hillside. Once fully matured, black bears can reach well over 200 pounds.

12 / 13 A bison’s horns can grow up to two feet in length. Here, a mother cow and her calf take a morning stroll.

13 / 13 A herd of bison crosses the road at Yellowstone National Park. A herd can include up to 4,000 bison, capable of stopping traffic for some time.