The Central Florida Zoo will expand thanks to land bought and donated by Seminole County.
Nearly 17 acres were bought by the county and it will be used to build a Wild African Safari Park at the zoo.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, plans show visitors traveling by shuttle buses or trains across an area similar to an African plain to see animals native to that continent, like giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and gazelles. Animals will be separated from visitors by a natural barriers such as moats.
It isn’t a done deal, though. Zoo officials said they still need to raise nearly $6.5 million to build the open-range attraction. If they do raise enough funds, construction could start as early as 2014, with a estimated opening in 2018.
The safari park would be the largest expansion for the zoo since it moved to its current location in 1975.
- ‘Art in Bloom’ returns to Orlando Museum of Art March 24-26, 2023 - March 21, 2023
- Out and About: JoJo’s ShakeBAR Opens at Pointe Orlando - March 20, 2023
- ‘TRON Lightcycle / Run’ at Magic Kingdom Enters Soft Opening Phase - March 19, 2023
- MegaCon Orlando 2023: What You Need to Know - March 16, 2023
- Little Radical Theatrics Presents ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ March 24-April 2, 2023 - March 15, 2023
- SeaWorld Orlando Adds St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and More Concerts to Seven Seas Food Festival - March 14, 2023
- Broadway In Orlando Presents ‘Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird’ at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center March 21-26, 2023 - March 13, 2023
- JoJo’s ShakeBAR Opens at Pointe Orlando March 18, 2023 - March 10, 2023
- Sloppy Joe’s Sponsors The Wheel at ICON Park With Special Offer for Guests in March - March 7, 2023
- Dr. Phillips Center Announces Broadway in Orlando 23/24 Season Titles - March 6, 2023