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Fresno Chaffee Zoo Introduces Evenings on the Savannah Series

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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Last week, I was excited to learn about a new summer event series from Fresno Chaffee Zoo called “Evenings on the Savannah,” which will feature live entertainment and gourmet dinner entrées at the Zoo’s African Adventure exhibit!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Kopje Lodge food court located in the African Adventure area of the Zoo, truly, you are missing out.

The food is tasty and fresh, and there is a wide variety of items offered. In fact, I personally had a lunch meeting there this week specifically because the party I was meeting with recommended the food so highly.

I had the Artisan Carved Sandwich, which was made on fresh, Max’s ciabatta bread and piled high with freshly carved turkey breast and smothered in a delicious red pepper aioli. Other options include wood-fired pizza, a kale salad that looked really tasty, macaroni and cheese, daily soups, and, of course, traditional fare like burgers and garlic fries.

Zoo Evenings on the Savannah

Enjoys views of the Savannah from the Kopje Lodge patio, which is where Evenings on the Savannah will take place

Zoo Evenings on the Savannah

Animas graze close to the Kopji Lounge

Event Details

Live entertainment for the Evening on the Savannah event will include performances by violinist Patrick Contreras, a karaoke night, and more.

In addition, the Zoo’s Kopje Lodge team of culinary connoisseurs will be preparing custom dinner entrées for each evening. “We’re really excited to offer these later evenings to our guests,” said Scott Barton, Fresno Chaffee Zoo CEO. “We encourage everyone to come out to the Zoo, have a glass of wine and a delicious meal, and enjoy live entertainment while looking out over the African Adventure Savannah.”

Zoo Evenings on the Savannah

The Kopje Lodge dining patio

Zoo Evenings on the Savannah

Who wouldn’t want to to dine with a rhino?

The Evenings on the Savannah Series will begin Friday, May 5, with a special Cinco de Mayo-themed event.

The series will be held from 5-7 p.m. on the following days:
May 5, 12, 19, & 26
June 9, 16, 23, & 30

There is no additional cost to attend the Evenings on the Savannah Series. Zoo admission is $10 for adults and $5.50 for children (ages 2-11). Children 1 and under get in for free.

For updates on live entertainment and dinner options, keep an eye on the Zoo’s Facebook page or visit www.fresnochaffeezoo.org.

Chaffee Zoo African Adventure – sneak peek photo tour & grand opening news

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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This afternoon, my gracious supervisor granted me a few hours off so that I would have the opportunity to go with my family to the Chaffee Zoo Member Preview of the new Chaffee Zoo African Adventure – sneak peek photo tour & grand opening news expansion. I am so very glad that we went! It was such an amazing experience and I’m still in shock at what an amazing gem of a zoo we have, right here in Central California. African Adventure will remain Members Only Wednesday, October 13th (Zoo members can simply show their membership card at the Zoo entrance to receive a stamp to show at the African Adventure entrance area, located next to the original snack bar on the east side of the Zoo). The grand opening of the expansion for the public will be on Thursday, October 15th. (If you’d like to purchase a membership today and tour the expansion early, you can absolutely do that as well. Membership pricing is very reasonable and grants the pass holder unlimited Zoo admission for one full year. Prices for memberships vary based on number of people to be included and they can be viewed and purchased online here.) Even without a membership, the Chaffee Zoo remains an affordable experience at just $7 for adults and $3.50 for children. (Don’t forget, the Zoo is in Roeding Park, so there is a $5 car entrance fee and cash is required.)

I’d like to take you on a mini-photo tour of the expansion now, however, I must say, please find the time to go see it for yourself in person very soon! Pictures can’t possibly do it justice, and if you haven’t been to the Chaffee Zoo since Measure Z was approved the first time, well you are in for quite a treat! Our entire Zoo is just worlds apart from what it once was. Expanded habitats, lots of animal enrichment, interactive exhibits, lush greenery, lots of shade, flowers, tasty food at reasonable prices, friendly keepers ready to teach you about the animals stationed all around… the Chaffee Zoo has become a true destination not just for locals, but for thousands upon thousands of visitors each year (75k +!) and for good reason.

Without further adieu, a sneak peek at African Adventure! Enjoy!

My son and I, ready to enter African Adventure

My son and I, ready to enter African Adventure

Just past the entrance to African Adventure and the cheetah exhibit, you'll see a fork in your path and a directory leading you to the trail of your choice.

Just past the entrance to African Adventure and the cheetah exhibit, you’ll see a fork in your path and a directory leading you to the trail of your choice.

Closer view of the sign, so you can get an idea of the layout

Closer view of the sign, so you can get an idea of the layout

To your right is the dining area, it's expansive and shady. Food is cafeteria style (think Disneyland restaurants or Sea World style, where you grab what you like, place it on trays, then pay at a cashier by the exit for everything at once). Prices are very reasonable and food is fresh. Garlic fries, freshly-baked pizzas, kale power salads and macaroni and cheese seemed to all be big hits. I had a three-cheese personal pizza, which was tasty and not greasy at all for $6.99.

To your right is the dining area, it’s expansive and shady. Food is cafeteria style (think Disneyland restaurants or Sea World style, where you grab what you like, place it on trays, then pay at a cashier by the exit for everything at once). Prices are very reasonable and food is fresh. Garlic fries, freshly-baked pizzas, kale power salads and macaroni and cheese seemed to all be big hits. I had a three-cheese personal pizza, which was tasty and not greasy at all for $6.99.

Bilingual exhibit signage (yay!) expands education opportunities for many

Bilingual exhibit signage (yay!) expands education opportunities for many

The dining area overlooks the animals

The dining area overlooks the animals

Beautiful beams and carved giraffes decorate the giraffe feeding and viewing area

Beautiful beams and carved giraffes decorate the giraffe feeding and viewing area

We have rhinos in Fresno again! (Two white rhinos to be specific!)

We have rhinos in Fresno again! (Two white rhinos to be specific!)

More of the amazing, expansive grazing animal exhibit area. Lots of room for animals to roam, play, drink, cool off and run!

More of the amazing, expansive grazing animal exhibit area. Lots of room for animals to roam, play, drink, cool off and run!

Awesome covered dining area

Awesome covered dining area

African Adventure dining

African Adventure dining

Fantastically appointed "Simba" classroom, located off of the dining patio

Fantastically appointed “Simba” classroom, located off of the dining patio

Clean, well-appointed restrooms (because I know some of you wonder about these things!)

Clean, well-appointed restrooms (because I know some of you wonder about these things!)

Interactive children's exhibits allow kids to experience what it might be like to live in a termite home or be a meerkat.

Interactive children’s exhibits allow kids to experience what it might be like to live in a termite home or be a meerkat.

This rock, looks like an ordinary rock, but is actually heated, to attract the lions, so they'll want to lounge on it in clear view of Zoo guests. It is just beyond the viewing glass.

This rock, looks like an ordinary rock, but is actually heated, to attract the lions, so they’ll want to lounge on it in clear view of Zoo guests. It is just beyond the viewing glass.

Oh hey you three awesome African elephants, just milling peacefully about! Looking good.

Oh hey you three awesome African elephants, just milling peacefully about! Looking good.

The elephant's fountain, with holes where keepers can put treats as an enrichment activity for the elephants

The elephant’s fountain, with holes where keepers can put treats as an enrichment activity for the elephants

We happened to overhear Scott Barton, Zoo CEO and Director mention to a child that there were 6 of these "dung beetles" hidden in African Adventure. We found 4 of them - try to find all 6 when you go!

We happened to overhear Scott Barton, Zoo CEO and Director mention to a child that there were 6 of these “dung beetles” hidden in African Adventure. We found 4 of them – try to find all 6 when you go!


Update: Major happenings at Chaffee Zoo’s African Adventure

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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Last week, along with three of my FresYes colleagues, I had the exciting privilege of being able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo‘s African Adventure expansion, while still under construction. A LOT of the work has been completed, and at this point, you can really see what the expansion will look like, and I have to say – it is AMAZING.

Africa Tour

FresYes-ers on tour! (Tiffiny, Joanne, myself and Mr. FresYes, Jason Farris)

I was excited about African Adventure already, but after touring it, I am in complete awe at what is about to be available right here in Fresno. It almost seems too good to be true (but it’s not!).

If you haven’t had a chance to learn about African Adventure at all, you may want to go back to my original post touching on the subject, which you can find here. There you will also find the Zoo’s video rendering of about what the completed expansion will look like to get a visual.

I have to say though, even after watching the rendering, the actual real-life experience is just mind-blowing. The thing that immediately strikes you upon entering the area, is just how much you can see from any one place. Unlike other zoo exhibits, African Adventure literally looks like you’re viewing the wide open savannah. There are no walls dividing habitats, just seamless, nearly invisible barriers separating species that would endanger one another. The land where animals roam is level with the ground you are standing on, however, clever rock formations also at ground level and directly in front of you, camouflage your view of ten foot drops that create barriers between people and animals.

Thanks to our tour guide, Zoo Development and Marketing Director Alisha Anderson, the four of us FresYes-ers were able to see and appreciate how careful the attention to detail is in African Adventure.

There are rocks that are heated and cooled and strategically placed near areas where people will naturally gather to view animals, making it more attractive for the animals to come within close viewing range. The new 360 degree giraffe feeding area allows people to get nose to nose with giraffes, rather than making giraffes bend their necks all the way down to child-height to eat a leaf. The awesome new restaurant patio area looks out over the entire African Adventure area, giving you over 180 degrees of animal viewing to enjoy, while you sit in the shade and savor your lunch. A simulated baobab tree and meerkat home make great places for children to play and experience what it might be like to be an African animal. Families will even be able to traverse a walkway which goes beneath a bridge leading lions from their night home to their play space – just one example of many opportunities allowing Zoo visitors to really get up close to amazing animals.

The Meerkat Habitat Play Area under construction (photo by Fresno Chaffee Zoo)

The Meerkat Habitat Play Area under construction (photo by Fresno Chaffee Zoo)

At this point, the majority of construction is nearly complete, and the emphasis of the crews is currently on finishing all animal areas, so the many species that are now in Fresno acclimating to our weather, will be able to begin the month long transition in their new habitats.

One of two white rhinos that will be delighting visitors in African Adventure (photo by Fresno Chaffee Zoo)

One of two white rhinos that will be delighting visitors in African Adventure (photo by Fresno Chaffee Zoo)

African Adventure will be opening to the public on October 15th, 2015, however, there will be a special members-only early opening as well – so if you’re not already a Zoo member, you really may want to consider becoming one! (Check out the membership packages here.) We just renewed our family membership, and for just $55, the three of us can visit as often as we like for the next year. Something tells me that will be pretty frequently!

The Chaffee Zoo hosted over 700,000 visitors last year, and expects to exceed that by year end in 2015. Measure Z funds have allowed the Zoo to make improvements to existing exhibits for the past ten years, and the recent renewal of Measure Z is allowing for the African Adventure expansion as well as continued improvements Zoo wide. For additional information on Measure Z funds and how they support the Zoo, visit the Fresno County Zoo Authority’s page here.

All photos in this post are used with permission of the Chaffee Zoo. To see more of African Adventure, be sure to mark your calendar for its opening, October 15th!