After more than 6 years of planning and design and 18 months of construction, the Houston Zoo officially opens its newest addition, The African Forest on December 10, 2010.
I had the opportunity to visit a member's preview of the exhibit, and I've come up with 4 reasons why you should take your family.
1. It's unlike any other exhibit at the zoo. The largest exhibit ever constructed at the Houston Zoo, The African Forest is a one-of-a-kind journey where Zoo guests will encounter a diversity of wildlife including chimpanzees, white rhinos, kudu, Masai giraffe, and cheetahs in an immersive setting. "The African Forest is the most ambitious undertaking in the Houston Zoo’s 88 year history,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. “The design is uniquely different. It’s a totally immersive experience,” added Barongi.
2. It's interactive. Guests enter the exhibit by picking up a field guide and watching a recorded message about the tour. Zoo guests begin their adventure as the surrounding urban landscape gives way to rugged rock walls topped with a canopy of trees. Footprints, artifacts, unique sounds, cryptic writings, video images and other clues entice the curious to explore an exciting new environment –The African Forest.
3. The Chimpanzee Exhibit Gives an Up-Close and Personal View of the Animals. Housed in an exhibit called Tommy's Treehouse, a large display of windows provides a clear view of The African Forest's family of 10 chimpanzees.
4. The Giraffe Feeding Platform. One area of the giraffe habitat provides a unique opportunity – a feeding platform. Several times each day guests can purchase Zoo-approved giraffe treats and come face-to-face with the world’s tallest mammal and feed them by hand.
Guests can stay connected to their experience through The African Forest’s internal high definition camera system that will record and broadcast animal activities and keeper presentations on the Houston Zoo Web site (www.houstonzoo.org/africanforest) and soon to hospitals, schools and community groups on a daily basis.
Do note that there is a gift shop at the end of the exhibit, in case your young one likes souvenirs.
A fun activity for all. Try it out!
Have you visited? Let me know what you think!
