August 3rd, 2010. Species list: white rhino, ostrich, sitatunga, gemsbok, Nile lechwe, blesbok, Thomson\'s gazelle, greater kudu and defassa waterbuck.
This looks like a really cool exhibit, but it also looks like it could be extremely difficult to see the animals if they are way in the back. How does viewing of this exhibit work; are there paths surrounding the perimeter of the exhibit that allow you to see the whole thing? Do you need binoculars to really enjoy this exhibit?
This looks like a really cool exhibit, but it also looks like it could be extremely difficult to see the animals if they are way in the back. How does viewing of this exhibit work; are there paths surrounding the perimeter of the exhibit that allow you to see the whole thing? Do you need binoculars to really enjoy this exhibit?
There is a winding boardwalk with various viewing angles, and I seem to remember binocular stations set up as well. How many other facilities have 7 rhinos in with a plethora of antelope? Simply magnificent, but also not without some faults (see below).
An excerpt from my 2010 review:
African Plains – This 40-acre exhibit is home to at least 7 southern white rhinos (it can contain up to 10 rhinos in the future), ostrich, and these 7 antelope species: greater kudu, Thomson’s gazelle, defassa waterbuck, blesbok, sitatunga, gemsbok and Nile lechwe. There are plenty of viewing opportunities and the amount of space offered to the 9 species is mind-blowing (larger than many entire zoos!) but my main beef with the enormous paddock is that the hoofstock were often too far away to identify let alone see properly. There is a huge lake that is in part of the enclosure, many trees to provide shade, and loads of lush grassland, but the animals were spread out thinly and there needs to be a boardwalk that goes deeper into the territory.
