Surrounded by many of the iconic species that live on the plains of East Africa, the African Savanna Exhibit will transport you across the globe in a matter of minutes.
Nearly half of Africa’s landmass is covered with savanna (that’s about five million square miles of terrain!) The savanna is home to the largest diversity of hoofed animals on earth and the fierce predators that follow them. Now you don’t have to travel all the way to Africa to experience the majesty of the savanna– you can simply enjoy it all at from the African Savanna exhibit here at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Lion Hill features cool grottos, heated concrete, and mighty rock perches to satiate the king of all beasts: the lion. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows bring guests nose-to-nose with the piercing golden eyes of these magnificent predators. Watch our lion pride (consisting of two male and three female lions) bask in the sun with the picturesque view of the Wasatch Mountains behind them.
Across from Lion Hill, you’ll find rolling grasslands that are dotted with trees. This diverse terrain allows giraffes, zebras, and ostriches to mix and mingle– much like they would in the wild.
At the Grasslands, you’ll see the pointed, thatched roof of Twiga Terrace—the primary landmark of African Savana Exhibit. Twiga is Swahili for ‘giraffe’, so it’s no wonder that this circular construction provides guests with an opportunity to see eye-to-eye (quite literally) with one of nature’s most unique mammals. The Twiga Terrace boasts a 50-foot diameter and a handrail height of 42 inches. The location offers impressive open-air views of the surrounding area, serving as the perfect vantage point for observing the “rhythm of life” in our little corner of Africa.