Trunkline Magazine (Louisville Zoo) Trunkline Magazine: March 2016 | Page 9

The Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Spring 2016 • 9 As you climb onto the camel and situate yourself in the saddle located behind the camel’s characteristic one hump, you realize how tall they really are. and your traveling companions on a short expedition. As you climb onto the camel and situate yourself in the saddle located behind the camel’s characteristic one hump, you realize how tall they really are. Then, you sway back and forth on this majestic ship of the desert and grin madly for a friend with a camera! Getting your land legs back, you watch a giraffe feeding nearby or better yet, you join the feeding party. The Masai giraffes lumber over and gather, and using their amazing long purplish tongues, they eat browse (tree branches) right from your hands. You decide it’s time to journey on — and to get a closer look at the Hartmann’s mountain zebras as they run and frolic with wild abandon. As you travel along the wall of painted petroglyphs featuring stylized drawings of animals, the Toyota safari vehicle calls to kids like a siren — they race to climb in and peer out the driver’s side window that is actually positioned inside the zebra exhibit. Several zebras approach the Be sure to come visit starting March 19 to take your first tour of New Africa. See more online at LouisvilleZoo.org/events vehicle to investigate the giggling children. The two groups curiously examine each other, nose-to-nose, separated by only a window pane! You hear the enthusiastic and rather unruly beating of drums nearby. You spot a lively cluster of inspired young Zoo visitors trying out the African percussion instruments located around the corner near the African Outpost restaurant. Your gang doesn’t want to pass up the chance to create their own drum circle. As you tap your drum in the shade of the canopy above the conga and the marimba, the drumming rhythm feels more like a soundtrack for your group adventure. With a wave goodbye to your new zebra pals, you take a short stroll to the African Outpost to grab a snack or the daily special for lunch. You snag some prime seats in the shaded outdoor deck, kick your feet up and fully enjoy the cinematic setting. From your comfortable seat, you watch the Hartmann’s mountain zebras now galloping across the savannah. You hear the roar of a lion and see it in the distance, in no doubt of its status as king of the beasts. With such a vista before your eyes, you truly feel the power of Africa. It’s been an incredible journey— and many more adventures await you throughout the rest of the Zoo! You’ve now had an ideal tour through th H