lechweoryx
Well-Known Member
Vote for your favourite African Savannah Exhibit out of the list below.
Best African Plains Exhibit Vote
- Thread starter lechweoryx
- Start date
Hmm..
Given the terms, Yorkshire, Longleat and Port Lympne are out of the running straight away for having animals that are not even African in the exhibit.
I haven't seen Africa Alive's or Marwell's yet so will have to leave those out.
Of the rest, West Midlands is rather standard safari park - and has the dodgy hybrid camel and the weird buffalo pit.
Newquay's is basically alright but a little underwhelming.
South Lakes is being ruled out because I don't like the baboon housing.
Edinburgh's has three very nice species on a huge, interesting paddock with a great view. Of this bunch, it wins hands down.
Given the terms, Yorkshire, Longleat and Port Lympne are out of the running straight away for having animals that are not even African in the exhibit.
I haven't seen Africa Alive's or Marwell's yet so will have to leave those out.
Of the rest, West Midlands is rather standard safari park - and has the dodgy hybrid camel and the weird buffalo pit.
Newquay's is basically alright but a little underwhelming.
South Lakes is being ruled out because I don't like the baboon housing.
Edinburgh's has three very nice species on a huge, interesting paddock with a great view. Of this bunch, it wins hands down.
Bit unfair given it's the most authentic-looking lol.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I will wait until I`ve seen Marwells on Thursday.
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zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Thats why I`m waiting until I have seen Marwells as I will the have seen them all within the last 12-18 months.
MARK
Well-Known Member
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zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Well when I return to home on sunday i will put my vote forward on here,and will say why as well.Very wise zoogiraffe, Thats comment was for everyone on this thread
I haven't seen some of the others, but I think Marwell's new 'Valley' area probably has the best vista and setting of all of them, and therefore the most potential to make an excellent exhibit in the future. It has masses of space, an enormous dam-like lake in the centre and the cafeteria which overlooks it all. Hopefully once they get the animal 'mix' right and more species added it will prove an excellent display. I would like to see;(from their existing stock) Giraffe, White Rhino, Zebra, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Sable(or Roan), Kudu + Warthog & Ostrich, crowned crane?) etc all in here- plus maybe a few more species too.
Newquay's on the other hand is a real disappointment- I think it was entirely the wrong type of display for this otherwise excellent small zoo to attempt.
Newquay's on the other hand is a real disappointment- I think it was entirely the wrong type of display for this otherwise excellent small zoo to attempt.
One of the best things about Marwell's Valley is the very fact that it is still in it's infancy: One they've opened up the eastern half and built the new animal houses, it shall be able to take on a much wider range of stock. As for me, I'd like to see the white rhino, kudu and roan antelope with eland, blue wildebeest and thomson's gazelle joining as new additions. Original plans for the valley featured a lion enclosure within with hidden barriers which I'd like to see realised one day, along with a separate lake and paddock for nile hippos.
I'm yet to see Newquay's, but it does have a really awkward appearence given photos here.
I'm yet to see Newquay's, but it does have a really awkward appearence given photos here.
I wouldn't bother if I were you- it looks like a weed infested pony paddock surrounded by suburban housing.
I would have much rather Newquay had used this extra area as an extension of the existing zoo area with a public pathway and more of the existing small/unusual species exhibits they do well at.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
I think Newquay just needs a chance to establish its herds a little - 3 lechwe, a waterbuck and two zebra aren't really going to create much of an exhibit right now. I'm sure if there are some wildebeest births over the next couple of years and the zoo increases the antelope numbers this will become a bit more dynamic, even if the grazing suffers a bit.
To me, Marwell just looks like Parkland, what is special about Port Lympne is that the reserve looks as good as Disney's animal kingdom without the meticulous cosmetic work. Seeing giraffe almost disappear into the branches of a tree while browsing, and views of grassland dissapearing out of sight rather than meeting a (distant) fence really raised the bar for large african ungulate exhibits in europe. Yes its annoying that there are species not from Africa in the drive-through, but I don't think it spoils the overall exhibit.
To me, Marwell just looks like Parkland, what is special about Port Lympne is that the reserve looks as good as Disney's animal kingdom without the meticulous cosmetic work. Seeing giraffe almost disappear into the branches of a tree while browsing, and views of grassland dissapearing out of sight rather than meeting a (distant) fence really raised the bar for large african ungulate exhibits in europe. Yes its annoying that there are species not from Africa in the drive-through, but I don't think it spoils the overall exhibit.
Oh yes, the herds of Blackbuck, Axis and Water Buffalo really transport me to Africa....
Really, none of them look like Africa, because they're not. Port Lympne's is one of the more convincing landscapes, because it's much wilder than the others.
But although I ruled it out for non-geographic-correctness - that's not actually my main reason for disliking it - I really don't like exhibits where you can only see the animals from a ride, particularly if you have to pay extra for it. It'd be the easiest thing to run a path up the edge of the paddock so you could see the giraffes and antelope properly from a stable platform. And the piped music in the vehicle is ghastly.
So in summary, paddock good, species choice questionable, visitor experience shocking!
I have never been able to bring myself (so far at least) to do this extra tour when visiting Port Lympne. Apart from the additional 'fee,' sitting in an old army lorry surrounded by families and kids deosn't appeal to me and that's before I knew about the music....
Its worth noting this 'reserve' was created solely to bring in more revenue for a financially struggling organisation. 'Combe Farm' was originally an offshow part of the Estate, used as a holding area for their surplus hoofed stock from both parks, hence the continuing presence of non African species like Axis Deer etc. The commoner African species were deliberately acquired (zebra, wildebeest etc) for the new 'African Experience' as these weren't species they formerly kept.. I don't know how successful it has been in terms of creating that important extra revenue.
I imagine that perhaps the non-African species may be 'phased out' (culled) when the African species reach suitably large numbers?
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But can't you see any thrill in taking a tour veichle music aside? Doesn't spotting giraffes out of nowhere from that create more experience then simply walking along a path and expecting to see them like at any other zoo? You don't go to Port Lympne everyday, and it's such a big paddock that a single viewing platform wouldn't do without complaints (and there is one anyway at the halfway stop). If I went to as many zoos as you, I wouldn't want every African savannah to be so default.
As an extra no problem. It's the fact that animals like the wildebeest and giraffes can only be viewed from a moving truck, on busy days possibly only by peering across a row of strangers. (I have similar reservations about the Longleat boat ride, which is otherwise very good). You're denied the option of watching the animals as long as you like, or moving on more swiftly if you wish.
And to advertise giraffes as a major attraction and then charge extra for them gives the money-spinning game away.
Possibly. But personally I'd much rather be able to spend as much time as I like watching the animals. Port Lympne's approach isn't invalid, but it's not my favourite - which is what the thread's about.
Anyone who knows Edinburgh's savannah knows that spotting the Lesser Kudu in the vast paddock is often much more effort than 'just walking up the exhibit', but the difference is you have the opportunity to spend all day looking or just take a passing glance as suits you.
The halfway one is not ideally situated, as the gradient of the hill conceals most of the paddock. My personal ideal would be a long walkway (yes, along the lines of the Edinburgh one!) through the middle of the paddock.
When did I say I wanted everything default? I just expressed a dislike for being carted past animals on a ride rather than being given the opportunity to watch (and photograph!) them.
Simon McGlary
Well-Known Member
Surprisingly I've gone for Marwell. I was really impressed with it and felt that it was a good use of the space. The view from the deck outside the cafe is really good as well and probably the best place to enjoy this whole exhibit!