Savanna – African breeding and exhibition complex

The new „Savanna” exhibition complex is a multi-stage investment that aims to create one of the most diverse and attractive presentations of African fauna in our zoo. The project has been divided into several stages, and its first one is already being implemented, including the creation of two large-scale enclosures with a viewing footbridge.

Stage I – Semi-desert and savanna zone

• Entrance and footbridge

The tour begins near the breeding department building, where an entrance to a specially prepared footbridge is being built. This structure guides visitors over the display areas, providing excellent visibility for the animals in their spatially planned enclosures.

• First enclosure – landscape of the African semi-desert

The first part of the complex takes visitors to a vast space styled as an African semi-desert. This multi-species enclosure is home to.

• Dama gazelles,
• addaxes,
• warthogs,
• african ostriches,
• dikdik antelopes.

Visitors will be able to observe these species from the footbridge winding over the enclosure, and an additional arrangement element will be a pavilion for ungulates, designed in the style of African indigenous buildings.

• Second runway – African savannah

The next part of the exhibition is the open space of the savannah. In this zone, the main attraction will be.

• giraffes,
• zebras,
• lesser kudu antelope herd.

The footbridge will reach its highest point here (approx. 2.5 m high), enabling the organization of demonstration feeding of giraffes, which will become an unique educational and recreational attraction for visitors.

Stage II – New pavilion for zebras

Later this year, it is planned to announce the second stage of the – investment, the construction of a new pavilion for zebras. It will be built at the back of the current Africa Pavilion, allowing animals direct access to the exhibition enclosure.

Stage III – Modernization of the giraffe pavilion

The next stage will include the enlargement and modernization of the giraffe pavilion. The project assumes:

• construction of a spacious paddock for a herd in the arrangement of 1 male + 6–7 females with calves,
• creation of two separation boxes and one outpatient box for the husbandry procedures,
• merging the rest of the herd into a large common display space.

The new part will be built at the front of the current pavilion, in the place of the forerun.

Stage IV – Educational tunnel

The next step will be the construction of a tunnel connecting the complex with the second part of the catering zone. The tunnel will feature displays of nocturnal and lesser-known African species such as.

• naked mole-rat,
• aardvarks,
• springhare (or other smaller animal species if they can be obtained).

Stage V – Modernization of the Africa pavilion

The last of the planned stages is a thorough reconstruction of the existing Africa Pavilion.

• It currently houses three aged meerkats, two African porcupines and dik-diks.
• The interior of the pavilion will be converted into a space for the Drills after the upgrade.
• The existing eagle aviary, after the addition of the winter pavilion on the Africa side of the pavilion, will be adapted into an exhibition for the bonobo family group.

Summary

The „Savanna” complex will be one of the most extensive and modern African areas in the region’s zoos. The project combines modern breeding solutions, an attractive educational narrative and diverse – environments from semi-deserts, through savannah, to specialized pavilions. Thanks to the phased implementation of the investment, visitors will be able to gradually discover new exhibition areas, and the animals will receive space adapted to their behavioral and breeding needs.