Jambo!  (That’s African for “Welcome!”) You’re invited to a colorful, summer celebration of Africa at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park.  Running through September 6, the African Summer Festival is a fun-filled, family fest letting you experience Africa without ever leaving San Diego County.

A Cause for Celebration
It all started with the birth of three African elephant calves at the Wild Animal Park.  The elephant herd has doubled its size since seven were rescued from a small southern African country, where they faced being killed because of elephant overpopulation.  The herd has successfully given birth to eight calves since the adults arrived at the Park in 2003. 

Join zookeepers daily to watch the elephants search their three-acre habitat seeking goodies hidden in the grass, trees or rocks.  And delight at the three calves and their five older siblings (ranging in age from only a few weeks old to six years) as they wrestle, chase each other, and take a refreshing dip in the pool.

Festive, Family Fun
At the African Summer Festival, you’ll find yourself immersed in a swirl of activities that represent the wonders of the African continent, from acrobats and storytellers to artists creating jewelry, purses and other traditional crafts.  Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll enjoy:

• You’re invited to a colorful, summer celebration of Africa at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park.  u Pick up a souvenir Passport and stamp it at special event stations.  Collect all seven unique stamps.
• Explore the African Meeting Place and join in beading and craft making.
• Try some tasty African food and wine specialties and tap your toes to special musical entertainment.
• Enjoy active storytelling complete with drums, rain sticks and audience participation.
• Marvel at the spectacular, gravity-defying feats of an African acrobatic troupe.
• Chat and chuckle with Robert the Zebra, the Park’s interactive digital character.
• Get to know the cheetahs and their trainers during special daily presentations.
• Meet some of the Park’s animal ambassadors during frequent Animal Encounters.

In addition to the summer festival, you can upgrade your once-in-a-lifetime experience with a caravan safari, sleepover or special tour.  It’s no wonder the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is one of our favorite eco spots in SoCal.  Are you game? 

The 1,800-acre Park is operated by the not-for-profit San Diego Zoo and includes a 900-acre native species reserve.  The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife, and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections.

The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.  For more information, check out wildanimalpark.org or call 760-747-8702.

Want to know more?  Click here to read about The Newbie's zoo adventure with her mom.  If you'd like to read about a zoo adventure thru the camera lens of Picture This, click here. Let them be your local tour guides.