Traditional Kikuyu Woman's Dwelling Opening

• Date:  Saturday, February 16
• Time:  10:00 AM

It’s a festival to celebrate the Grand Opening of a new exhibit! Stroll through the Oakland Zoo’s African Village while listening to a special musical performance by African Trio and sample mouthwatering African-inspired cuisine provided by Skates on the Bay. Plus, Under the Rainbow will be on site offering face painting for the kids. Join us as we unveil an exhibit featuring a “Traditional Kikuyu Woman’s Dwelling.”

Rustic materials were collected…diagrams were diligently studied…and an authentic replica of an East African hut has finally emerged! Oakland Zoo Executive Director Dr. Joel Parrott and Zoo Carpenter Rick Mannshardt spent more than seven months researching and carefully constructing the project. “My goal was to bring an authentic look and feel into the structure, so visitors receive a true depiction from the exhibit,” says Rick Mannshardt, who has been on staff at the Zoo for more than 17 years. In its completion stands a 23 ft round hut crafted to portray a pre-1903 East African design. Inside the dwelling, Zoo visitors will find a traditional mother’s bedroom, a daughter’s bedroom, and a kitchen with a fireplace. It’s an excellent opportunity to discover the traditional lifestyle of the Kikuyu people, who lived off the land, cooked over wood fires, and raised goats and sheep.

Event Times: 10:00am - 2:00pm (Skates on the Bay tasting: 11:00am - 1:30pm) Regular Zoo Admission price: $6 for Children, $9.50 for Adults, $6 for Seniors