Africa Savanna Exhibit

Overview

OPENED APRIL 29, 1989
The exhibit replicates the dry, open plains of East Africa. Familiar African animals such as giraffes, zebras, hippos and rhinos live along riverbanks and water holes. DeBrazza's monkeys and colorful African birds play in the trees. Visitors walk through a large glass-enclosed aviary, down a safari path and up onto an overlook where they can gaze out over the savanna.

Animals

*symbol indicates endangered species

Exhibit Components

AVIARY

The Howard Vollum Aviary is landscaped with trees, shrubs and plants similar to the vegetation found along the streams and rivers of the bush country of Africa. The aviary is as much a source of pride to the zoo's horticulturists as it is to the zookeepers, for it is considered Portland's first plant conservatory.

RHINOS

Pete, the zoo's rhino, lives on a grassy plateau overlooking the hippopotamus yard. A watering hole separates him from his visitors. A replica of a termite mound, like those found throughout the savanna, provides him with a scratching post and shade.

HIPPOPOTAMUS

Visitors can view our hippos from two spots, one of which gives a very close view! The animals can loll all day in the "river" and move to the banks at night to graze.

Animals on the African plains often congregate around watering holes, and our zebras are no different. Visitors can see them "roaming" in their large enclosure and visiting their own watering hole.

GIRAFFES and STORKS

These two species of animals share an expansive exhibit, just as they share the dry African grasslands. Giraffes, several marabou storks and white-faced whistling duck live together in this exhibit.

TREETOPS

The zoo's Treetops building is inspired by the famous Treetops Lodge in Kenya's Abedare National Park. In Kenya, guests can stand on a large deck and watch animals moving around nearby watering holes. On Portland's deck, visitors can get face-to-face with the reticulated giraffes. Inside the Treetops building are DeBrazza's monkeys, hinge-backed tortoises, and the very popular naked mole-rat colony. Graphics tell stories of how these animals live in the wild. Also in Treetops is a second aviary in which visitors can watch weaver birds build the nests so often seen in thorny acacia trees on the African plains.

Exhibit Specifications

Enrichment

Learn about the things we do to enrich the lives of our animals.