African Veldt

The African Veldt is a focal point of the Zoo. Its central location makes an easily accessible meeting point for your family and friends. Here in this large open area, you will find our beautiful herd of giraffes, elands, Egyptian geese, and other wild birds who have decided to drop in for the day.

Meet Our Animals

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Chow Time

Animal Feeding Times

Monday–Friday

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Saturday–Sunday

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The African Veldt is elevated, flat, and often treeless.

The Veldt in Africa

Terrain

The African Veldt is a term used to describe the elevated, flat, and often treeless plateaus found in southern Africa, most notibly in South Africa and Zimbabwe. There are 3 general categories of the veldt: the high veldt at an elevation of 4,000-6,000 feet, middle veldt at 2,000–4,000 feet, and the low veldt at 500-2,000 feet.

Wildlife

Here you will find amazing wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, and lions. In the wild, herbivores (animals that eat plants) need vast areas of land to accommodate the large numbers of animals living in the herd. During the dry season they walk many miles to find enough food and water for all the members of the group. Where ever there are herbivores, there are sure to be carnivores (animals that eat meat) close behind. During the rainy season food and water is plentiful and many species meet by the ponds and lakes that appear. Here at the Zoo, we provide plenty of food, water, and shelter from the hot sun, as well as enough space to roam around.

Making Our Animals Feel at Home

The Oakland Zoo is committed to providing the best animal care and species specific habitats for all of our animals. In January 2012 we completed the new giraffe barn. The new barn is designed to better accommodate the giraffe and their unique needs: twenty-five foot ceilings, a birthing area, space for medical procedures, a heating system for cold winter months, two large doors to help them easily move in and out of the barn, and a floor made of material suited for giraffes. This amazing new area was made possible by the generous donations of over 100 individuals who contributed to the Zoo's Raise the Roof project.

How You Can Help

It takes a lot of work to create and maintain a great space for our animals. We are always in need of dedicated individuals who are passionate about animals. If you have some spare time and don't mind getting a little dirty, we would love for you to join our Animal Care Volunteer and Intern Opportunities.

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See what's coming up in the African Veldt.

Events

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Oakland Zoo actively supports conservation programs in Africa.

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