I have posted a variety of Africa Rocks construction photos in the San Diego Zoo media gallery. They were all taken on the 18th of June.
New article about AR including a high res up to date map on some new info. It appears that the kopje will be expanded with a garden and some other new space. San Diego Zoo gets ready to open $68 million Africa Rocks exhibit
This is a great find UltimateBea. My favorite part of the article is when it says they had to make the paths wider (than the old 1930's exhibit) to accommodate the increasing number and girth of visitors. In other words, a politically correct way of saying Americans are getting fatter! The article also confirms what we have been speculating: that the reason for the delayed opening is the record winter rains. The huge underwater viewing for penguins does indeed look impressive, but of course it will also be packed with visitors on busy days.
Construction projects all across San Diego have been delayed by rains. Californians don't prepare for it.
I wonder how much has been spent on advertising; there are billboards for it all over Los Angeles and I heard a radio advertisement for it as well.
I am sure they are spending a lot. But then again, I imagine the marketing budget for San Diego Zoo is as large as the entire operating budget for some small zoos!
Probably going to wait a week after opening to go see it for the meetup. Crowds will certainly be insane before that.
If you arrive at opening and go straight there, it should be ok for at least the first half hour or so I would think? I am not sure waiting a week will change anything (though of course you are free to visit whenever you like).
A week later is the meetup so I will definitely be there for that. I guess crowds will be big the whole summer The zoo's snapchat shows some non-working people in the finished cave fynbos. Probably a sneak peak for employee friends and family. Exhibit looks ready to go for Saturday; the penguins seem to be enjoying it too.
I tried to take a picture of AR from the Hua Mei cafe area but was told not to by a zoo employee. From what I saw, their is an Africa rocks sign on a rock formation on the far left, then the entranceway to the penguin underwater viewing than a bypass path, then a bus road, with very little room in between any of those things. All that stands between the cafe and AR is some wheeled translucent barriers. Edit: I was able to take a picture from the moving walkway landing on the canyonside. Will upload ASAP.
From San Diego Zoo's Facebook page: San Diego Zoo Does this mean they have all the animals now? Now that they have Geladas?
Just for fun, I'm going to try and predict the opening dates for every exhibit in Africa Rocks. July 1 - Cave Fynbos and Kopje July 15 - West African Forest July 22 - Madagascar August 12 - Acacia Woodlands September 2 - Ethiopian Highlands However, since all the animals have arrived and are on site, maybe will get back to back weekly openings. Still think this will be the order though.
I'm not sure if they actually have the geladas or are stating they will when that part of ar opens. The employee I talked to didn't know too much about anything beyond Cape Fynbos.
Construction still seems a bit iffy beyond Cape Fynbos. I'm calling for everything else to open in August.
I think at least the West African Forest (Dwarf Crocodile) could open near the end of July, since its only one exhibit area. It also dosent appear that large.
What's interesting is that the waterfall will be open on the 1st but West African Forest isn't listed as such. I guess waf can't be too far off but it's strange that it doesn't have a date.
