SPRING BREAK SAFARI: TAMPA’S LOWRY PARK ZOO ADDS NEW ADVENTURE RIDE, NEW RESTAURANT

Hop on Board the “Safari Ride” for an Up-Close Safari Experience

TAMPA, Fla. (March 27, 2006) – This spring break, visitors can “go on safari” at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. The zoo is introducing a new adventure ride, a guided tour of the zoo’s Safari Africa habitat area, with behind-the-scenes views of dozens of unique and endangered species.

The open-air tram departs from the zoo’s Safari Africa Plaza and sets a course for adventure, including an exciting trek between the zoo’s two elephant yards where passengers can see and photograph the elephant herd and baby Tamani.

“Our new Safari Ride is designed to bring the excitement of an African safari close to home,” said Lex Salisbury, president and CEO. “We hope that our visitors will enjoy learning about these majestic animals and discovering some of Africa’s wonders in their own backyard.”

On the narrated tour, which lasts about 14 minutes, passengers can see and learn about animals like: plains or common zebra, common waterbuck, dromedary camel, Watussi or Ankole cattle (royal animals of Swaziland), ostrich, white rhinoceros, African elephants including mother and baby, giraffe, lesser kudu, duikers, East African crowned crane, Southern ground hornbill, and warthog.

The ride runs continuously throughout the day from a covered station in the zoo’s Africa Plaza, near the entrance to the Skyfari sky ride. Ride tickets are $3 per person and can be purchased at the token machine in the plaza, or unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased at the front gate.

The Safari Ride is the newest attraction in the zoo’s 11-acre Safari Africa habitat area. New animals, exhibits and attractions are planned through 2008.

NEW DINING OPTION
After extensive construction, the zoo is opening a new restaurant called the “Garden Grille” inside the front entrance. The restaurant offers air-conditioned casual dining in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The Garden Grille has an open kitchen serving up grilled chicken breast, Black Angus steak burgers and fresh salads made to order. The main courses will have a compliment of new healthy-choice sides like yogurt, fruit cups, smoothies and side salads.

The Garden Grille overlooks the zoo’s main entrance plaza and Zoo Boulevard with two walls of windows. In the coming months, the zoo will be adding a new circular plaza outside the restaurant made of commemorative brick pavers with personalized inscriptions. To share a piece of zoo history and order a brick, visit www.lowryparkzoo.com and click on the “Who’s on Your Brick” icon on the bottom of the home page.

About Safari Africa
In 2004, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo added “Safari Africa,” an 11-acre expansion on rainforest and savannah landscape. Safari Africa features elephants including the first calf born at the zoo, giraffes, zebras, white rhinoceros, meerkats and many other African species. Guests can feed a giraffe, ride a Dromedary camel and have a “rhino encounter,” an opportunity to touch and feed a white rhinoceros. Visitors can also experience a bird’s-eye view of the zoo on “Treetop Skyfari,” a 45-foot-high aerial ride, and climb aboard the new Safari Ride, a behind-the-scenes narrated tram ride.

About Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Serving more than 930,000 visitors in the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2005, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) cultural organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. Named the #1 family-friendly zoo in America by Child magazine, the zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48). Parking is free. Visit www.lowryparkzoo.com or call (813) 935-8552 for more information

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