A trip to Binder Park Zoo is a trip to Africa! Wild Africa will connect visitors to a 50-acre safari replicating an African national park and including an 18-acre savannah hosting herds of impala, zebra, antelope, gazelle, and ostrich, to name a few. Every turn of the boardwalk will offer another panoramic view along with colorful site graphics that provide educational information on species conservation. Families will enter an authentic African village, a ranger station, research camp, gold mine and forest farm. Authentic props and replicated artifacts are strategically placed throughout these sites to completely immerse visitors into a bold new land.

And the highlight here…hand feeding the velvet eyed giraffes! Boasting one of the largest herds of giraffe in North America, Binder Park Zoo provides another close up connection with personal involvement for all ages. Hand feeding giraffe is a stirring and moving experience engaging even the youngest family members. Zookeepers and staff are available throughout the park to help interpret the sights and sounds of Africa. Zoo volunteers can be seen pointing to the African primates, like the black and red mangabeys and colobus monkeys (and their offspring), as they are seen skittering up through the branches of trees and calming to the gentle preening care of their troop. It's the “real-feel” of Africa!

Don't leave Africa, but instead, spend the night! Family Safari Overnight Adventures and the Zoo Snooze are two different weekend nighttime outings that will delight and intrigue all zoo lovers. Spending the night in the Zoo includes wildlife games, hikes, dinner, and sounds that go grrrrr in the night! These very successful weekend adventures fill up fast with many camper families and scouting groups from all over central and southern Michigan taking the opportunity.

Blending recreation, entertainment, and conservation into a whirl of fun, is what the Zoo does best. Opening this spring, the Binda Conservation Carousel will delight people of all ages with the whirl of lights, music and motion. The carousel will directly connect children to wildlife with 36 hand-carved and hand-painted wooden animals. Imagine leaping up on a cheetah, galloping along with a stallion, or swimming on the back of a porpoise. What fun! And, two wheelchair accessible chariot rides will provide a way for all children to be included. Binder Park Zoo will be sending proceeds from the carousel to support the many conservation initiatives they are involved with, worldwide.

A trip to the Zoo encompasses a full day of excitement and one that creates lasting memories for every family member. Add to that a strong educational base that will help children learn and appreciate the issues facing our precious wildlife; a high order for the day. Don't miss Binder Park Zoo!