Only here at the L.A County Fair can you experience Gateway to Africa. As you approach the Flower and Garden building be prepared to enter into another world as you are greeted with elephants that actually spray water out of their trunks and a jeep that awaits to take you on a safari.

Once inside you will be transported through the Gateway where your senses will be dazzled! You will be greeted by floral giraffes that stand 15 feet into the air waiting to snack on the vegetation above and zebras that show their stripes in seeds!

As you travel through this amazing continent you will hear African drums and feel the mist from tropical waterfalls as you experience firsthand the vegetation and flowers that grow freely throughout the deserts and the tropics of Africa. From the desert biomes to the floral kingdoms, you will be amazed at all this amazing place has to offer.

Let your senses be your guide as you travel through this vast continent and explore the various regions including; the pyramids of Egypt, the floral kingdoms of South Africa, the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, and so much more!

Elephants
African Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They are slightly larger than their Asian cousins and can be identified by their larger ears that resemble the continent of Africa. An elephant’s trunk is unique among living mammals and is vital to its survival. The trunk is actually a long nose used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and also for grabbing things—especially a potential meal. The trunk alone contains about 100,000 different muscles and has two fingerlike features on the end that they use to grab small items. This year as you approach the Flower & Garden Pavilion you will be greeted by a life sized topiary version of this amazing animal, but watch out as this playful elephant loves to use its trunk to spray water at visitors. More

The Atrium
New this year in the Atrium, we will take you to Urban Jungles where you can create a safari experience in the comfort of your very own backyard. We’ll have you seeing spots, stripes, and sand as we capture the true essence of an African Safari. Open–air dining and relaxing ensembles are just the beginning of this lush outdoor adventure. Don’t forget to go on our Plant Safari as you experience plants that you can grow in your own backyard to create your own private urban jungle.

The Safari Stage
“Learn the Art of Floral Design and Backyard Gardening”- Cut flowers come to life in new and unusual ways; whether it be cutting flowers for unusual arrangements or creating a backyard retreat, you can learn it all at the Safari Stage!

In the hillside behind the Flower and Garden Pavilion you will embark on an exciting safari adventure. Encounter wildlife that hail from the many regions of Africa in a beautiful jungle-like setting.

The Sandy Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is considered one of the oldest in the world and is home to a plethora of flora and fauna. Here at the Fair, The Sandy Serengeti inhabits creatures that are more on the creepy and crawly side of the animal kingdom. Monty the Python represents the reptile species that can be found in abundance throughout the continent of Africa. This slithery serpent is considered one of the largest snakes in the world and is known for killing their prey by squeezing or constricting their victim before it suffocates.

Joining him is Harry the Tarantula, an arthropod belonging to the Theraphosidae family tree of spiders. They’re big and hairy, but are they scary? Not when you get to know them better! In Africa, this particular breed is frequently referred to as “baboon spiders.”

Rounding out our inhabitants is the black widow, one of the most feared and misunderstood spiders. Visit our Wall of Widows and watch these carnivorous creatures as they spin their silken webs. They do have powerful venom, but they are actually quite timid and shy. This genus of spiders received their name because widow females frequently consume the males after mating, leaving them widowed. Is this love at first bite? As with all living things, these creatures are important to maintain an eco balance and continue the circle of life.

Safari Guide: There will be a knowledgeable safari guide at this location to answer any of your questions on the Sandy Serengeti and its many ecosystems.

Congo Basin Fly Zone
Take flight and continue on to the Congo Basin Fly Zone where you will encounter Percy the African Grey Parrot, one of the most intelligent and best talkers of all exotic birds. This African native is the perfect combination of beauty and brain and has the most extraordinary flair for speech with the aptitude to possess a vocabulary of over 2,000 words. But these birds aren’t limited to dialogue alone – they can imitate almost any sound they hear. You can see for yourself at our daily parrot shows as these flyers demonstrate their remarkable abilities of language and mimicry. These amazing birds have the intellectual capacity of a 5 year old and the emotions of a 2 year old, so it’s like living with a toddler that never grows up!

Safari Guide: There will be a knowledgeable safari guide at this location to answer any of your questions on the Congo Basin and its many breeds of birds.

Congo Basin Parrot Shows: A new show where you will get to meet and talk to our special parrots.
Show Times: Saturday – Monday, Sept. 5 – 7 only; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm
Saturdays –Sundays; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm
Wednesday – Friday; 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm

African Educational Landscapes
Students from local schools will create landscapes with an African theme.

Zimbabwe Ruins
The ruins of Zimbabwe are one of the most important archaeological sites in Africa and create the inspiration for our desert habitat where two prevalent animals from this region are in temporary residence. Camels, such as our very own Camilla and baby Chloe, are large, mammalian herbivores that make a crucial contribution to man’s survival in this desert atmosphere. These cud chewers are especially valued for their milk, meat, and wool, and are depended on for transportation across arid environments. Did you ever wonder if camels really spit? They aren’t actually spitting – it’s more like throwing up! They bring up the contents of their stomach, along with saliva, and project it out to surprise whatever the camel feels is threatening it.

Our second dweller is the zebra, an African equid known for their distinctive white and black stripes which is unique to each animal – just like a human fingerprint. Like Zoey the Zebra and baby Barcode, these banded wild horses are among the most familiar animals to people because of their unique stripes and behaviors and can be found in a variety of habitats including grasslands, savannas, woodlands, mountains, and coastal hills. Both the camel and the zebra are highly recognizable entities of the African way of life.

Safari Guide: There will be knowledgeable safari guides at this location to answer any of your questions on the camel and the zebra that live in these ruins.

Safari Facts: Learn about all the products that can be made from the milk of the camel and interesting facts about the zebra. Did you know that a baby camel is referred to as a calf and that a baby zebra is a colt?

Olivia’s Ostrich Oasis
Be sure to stop by and take a moment to observe the royal beauty of the world’s largest bird. This avian animal is indigenous to Africa and is the only living species of its family. Did you know that male ostriches stand 6 - 9 feet tall? That is one big bird! And contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. When an ostrich senses danger and is unable to run away, it flops to the ground and remains completely still with its head and neck flat on the ground. From a distance it looks like the ostrich has buried its head in the sand because all that is visible is the body. Learn more cool facts about this bird when you visit Olivia’s Ostrich Oasis.

South Africa Stables
Saddle up and head on over to the South Africa Stables to behold the majestic artistry of the Arabian horse. This imposing steed has a reputation as the horse of beauty, courage, endurance, and romance and is one of the most recognizable breeds in the world. The Arabian horse developed in a desert climate and urbanized with humans to create an animal that is good-natured and compliant as well as high spirited. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to get up close and personal with this impressive charger.

Safari Guide: There will be knowledgeable safari guides at this location to answer any of your questions on the Arabian horses in these stables.

Henrietta Hippo’s Watering Hole
Visit Henrietta Hippo’s Watering Hole and discover the life-size replica of this fascinating beast. Hippos are adapted for life in the water; however they can’t swim or even float! Their huge bodies are far too dense to float, so they move around by walking along or pushing off the bottom of the river, similar to how you would see an aquatic ballet dancer. In our watering hole, kids will actually get to play in the mist of our hippo as she sprays water from the watering hole in this fun new wet zone.

Safari Facts: Did you know that hippo’s spend most of its time wallowing in shallow water, and that they have glands that secrete a pink liquid on their skin that acts like sun screen in the African heat as well as an anti-septic against cuts and scrapes. The hippopotamus is actually one of the most aggressive animals in the world, and is often regarded as the most dangerous animal in Africa.

Zulu’s Bird Sanctuary
Learn about some of the most well known avian in Africa at Zulu’s Bird Sanctuary: the vulture, falcon, and eagle. Vultures are considered one of the “bad guys” in the animal kingdom, mostly because they are supreme scavenging birds that feed on the carcasses of dead animals. These birds, although considered predators, do not actually kill animals but are dedicated scavengers that perform the vital function of removing rotting corpses and maintaining nature’s food chain. Falcons are the adrenaline junkies of the bird world and are the epitome of power and speed. Unlike the vulture, these birds are predators and strike in mid-air after a spectacular daredevil, high-speed stoop and chase. Raptors, or birds of prey, are the princes of the bird world with eagles being the most common of all raptors. The eagle is often a symbol of strength, courage, and immortality. Similar to the United States, who adopted the eagle as our national symbol in 1782, eagles have been used as the national symbol in many African nations including Egypt, Nigeria, Zambia, and Ghana. Most of the more than 60 species of eagles can be found in Africa. Be sure to visit Zulu’s Bird Sanctuary to meet up close and personal our very own Violet the Vulture, Freddie the Falcon, and Eddie the Eagle.

Safari Guide: There will be knowledgeable safari guides at this location to answer any of your questions on the vulture, falcon, and eagle that live in our sanctuary.

Zulu’s Bird Sanctuary Show: Is a new show where you will get to meet and talk to our special birds of prey.

Show Times: Saturday – Monday, Sept. 5 – 7 only; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm
Saturdays – Sundays; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm
Wednesday – Friday; 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm

Out of Africa Crusader’s Camp
Embark on an adventure where you can participate in hands on, interactive fun with our make and take crafts suitable for the safari guide in all of us.

Crafts: Saturday - Monday, Sept 5 - 7 only; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm
Saturdays – Sundays; 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm
Wednesday – Friday; 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm

Hedgehog Hideout & Hoot
“Small enough to fit in your hands but too prickly to hold” is a very accurate description of this fascinating animal. Hedgehogs, like Horace and Hannah, are easily identifiable by the sharp spines that run along the animal’s back and sides. Although these quills are not poisonous or barbed, they do provide the hedgehog with protection; however the animal’s most striking characteristic and defense mechanism is its practice of rolling into a tight ball with its spines pointing outward to ward off any predators. Superstitions about this little mammal run rampant in East Africa where it is believed that seeds rubbed on a hedgehog before planting will produce abundant crops. Whoo-whoo! What is it about owls that make them so mysterious to us? With their haunting calls and silent flight, owls are among the most ambiguous and misunderstood of all birds. Legends and mythology from across the world describe the owl as a supernatural being, often associated with death or revered as being "wise." Africa alone supports a large number of owl species, between 30 and 40, and some of them are among the most interesting birds on the continent. Visit Hootie the Owl to learn more about this amazing animal.

Tanzania’s Flamingo Bay
Due to their striking pink coloration and extraordinary shape, flamingos are one of the most recognized waterbirds in the world. They are also highly gregarious and move around in large flocks. In East Africa, it is possible for more than 1,000,000 flamingos to gather together, forming the largest flocks of birds known today. When assembled in organized rows, these flamboyant birds resemble a Broadway chorus line. And did you know that the pink color of the flamingo comes from the food they eat, including diatoms, algae, and small aquatic crustaceans and insects? Amazingly enough, flamingos are born grey and take on their pink pigmentation and become more colorful as they mature. “Think Pink” when you visit Pinky the Flamingo in Tanzania’s Flamingo Bay.