Comprising of both an indoor building and outdoor paddock, this habitat is one of the few areas where you can see a range of different animals interacting as they would do out in the wild. You will have the chance to see reticulated giraffes, maneless zebra, white rhino, ostrich, crowned crane and greater kudu enjoying their savannah environment.

The inside area is also home to pygmy hippo, a variety of reptiles, birds, and fish species. There is also a lovely view from the balcony overlooking our outdoor paddock.

If you exit through the ground floor of the building, past the pygmy hippo habitat, you can choose to walk the two pathways that run alongside the paddock. Venture down Vulture Valley and discover our African vulture aviary housing vultures, or take the quieter pathway, Wilderness Walkway, and immerse yourself in nature before joining the Edge of Africa and Africa Plateau. 

Please be aware that the Kingdom of the Wild building may close at least one hour prior to the zoo grounds.

In the year
2001
this habitat was completed
We welcomed in
2009
giraffes, Lili and Isha
In the year
1972
our first rhinos arrived
Since 1972,
7
rhino calves have been born

Animals in Kingdom of the Wild

African Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum gibbericeps

From: East Africa

Status: Endangered

Quick Fact: The African crowned cranes are recognisable from the stiff, golden feathers which sits on the top of their head.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Birds

African Moony Fish

Monodactylus sebae

From: Atlantic Ocean

Status: Not Listed

Quick Fact: African moony fish can live in both fresh and salt water. Juveniles live in fresh or brackish water before moving to marine mangroves and reefs as they mature.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Fish

African Pancake Tortoise

Malacochersus tornireri

From: Southern Africa

Status: Critically Endangered

Quick Fact: Pancake tortoises have a thin, flat, flexible shell that enables them to crawl into narrow crevices, to flee from predators.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

African Plated Lizard

Gerrhosaurus Validus

From: Southern Africa

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: The soles of the African plated lizard’s feet have black rubber-like balls; an adaptation to living on rocky outcrops.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

African Rock Python

Python sebae

From: Africa

Status: Near Threatened

Quick Fact: This snake is hunted for its meat and skin to make items such as handbags and belts.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

Black-headed Weaverbird

Ploceus cucullatus bohndorffi

From: Africa

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Weaverbirds get their name from the intricate baskets nest that the males weave in trees. Females signal acceptance of a male and his nest by lining the nest with soft materials.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Birds

Blue-tongued Skink

Tiliqua scincoides

From: Australia and some islands in Indonesia

Status: Not Listed

Quick Fact: During confrontation, the blue-tongued skink can lose its tail should a predator try and grab it. When disturbed this skink sticks out its blue-tongue, puffs up its body and hisses loudly to frighten attackers.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

Green Tree Skink

Lamprolepis smaragdina

From: South-east Asia

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: The green tree skink can shed its tail when threatened. The detached tail will continue to move as a means to distract the predator and allow the skink to escape.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

Lattice Soldierfish

Myripristis violacea

From: Indian Ocean

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Soldierfish make sounds by grinding the teeth in their throat together and stretching muscles against their long gas bladders.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Fish

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

From: Eastern and Southern Africa

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: The leopard tortoise is the second largest land tortoise in Africa and the fourth largest tortoise in the world.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

Madagascar Tree Boa

Sanzinia madagascariensis

From: Madagascar

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Madagascar tree boas are medium-sized constrictors that use their powerful coils to kill their prey.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

Maneless Zebra

Equus burchelli bohmi

From: Africa

Status: Near Threatened

Quick Fact: Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern that can be recognised by other family members!

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Mammals

Ostrich

Struthio camelus

From: Africa

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: The ostrich is the only bird to have just 2 toes, one of which has a formidable 10 cm long claw!

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Birds

Pygmy Hippo

Choeropsis liberiensis

From: Africa

Status: Endangered

Quick Fact: The pygmy hippopotamus spends the day in water and emerges when they are hungry and will feed on fruits, leaves, roots and grasses.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Mammals

Reticulated Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata

From: Northeastern Kenya

Status: Least concern

Quick Fact: With their 45cm prehensile, black tongue, the giraffe can eat up to 134kg of leaves a day!

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Mammals

Snowflake Moray Eel

Echidna nebulosa

From: Pacific Ocean

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Female Moray eels can release 10,000 eggs at a time near the surface of the water. Once fertilised, they hatch into larvae and drift among plankton.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Fish

Southern White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum simum

From: Africa

Status: Near Threatened

Quick Fact: The southern white rhinoceros is the largest of the five species of white rhino and one of the world’s biggest land animals.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Mammals

West African Mud Turtle

Pelusios castaneus

From: Africa

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Despite its poorly webbed limbs, this turtle is a relatively good swimmer, often seen at the bottom of the water, digging for something to eat.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Reptiles

White Spotted Puffer

Myripristis violacea

From: Indo-Pacific Ocean

Status: Least Concern

Quick Fact: Pufferfish can inflate their abdomens with water to deter predators. They produce deadly toxins in their reproductive glands, skin and liver.

Find me in: Kingdom of the Wild

Fish

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