Zany Zebras........

So we recently got back from a family holiday to Southampton to see my grandparents. 

We had an amazing time and enjoyed the usual delight of going to the local zoo which is Marwell Zoological Park. I have been going here since I was about 3/4 years old with my grandmother and so it has become a tradition to go there every time. Even my sister asks to go to the zoo and she is 29. Taking our own children has now become a delight and I have some fond memories of the place......helping Santa wrap presents in Marwell Houses Kitchen for the Santa's Grotto, feeding a giraffe called Biffa and watching my sister bottle feed a baby Giraffe called Ben......its a beautiful place and I would highly recommend it. Also the conservation that they do is incredible as well as supporting so many endangered species as well. Their incredible breeding programme also means they are sustaining species for future generations and whilst the park has a lot of animals - it is not uncomfortably large so is easy going for old and very young alike with plenty of benches, grassed areas and refreshment stands available. 

Anyway as a charity fundraiser and to raise awareness they often have special events on and this time around they had Zany Zebras .......

Now Ill explain - These Zebras are big. You cant miss them! They are given to local businesses etc to decorate any way they please, they are then put on display all over the town of Southampton as kind of a treasure hunt....which means you can walk the whole city looking for these decorated Zebras, 

2013 Go Rhino Event

Back in 2003 they did the same event with Rhino's in the Go Rhino! event, and this time was no different.......

Now at the end of the event they are all taken to the local zoo and put on a final display, then a big charity night is held and the Zebras are auctioned off to raise money for Conservation projects....this time was to raise money to conserve endangered Grevy’s zebras and other wildlife, and to support communities living in the arid range lands of northern Kenya. 

You can buy a souvenir guide/ map that shows you where all the zebras are. Alternatively you can download an App but please also know that if you buy them the money also goes to the charity as well. 

 I think in total there is 47 large Zebras and 50 smaller ones (the smaller ones are placed in shop windows or various places like civic centres etc).......we managed to find 45/47 as sadly two had been vandalised. It is a fantastic free event and well worth doing to see the sites of the city as well as fun for the kids. We had a slight ulterior motive as my cousin Daniel had won a competition with a local radio station and his design was put onto their zebra so we HAD to find that one especially.......

Zeffe

If anyone does take up the challenge and posts a picture with Zeffe the Zebra I WILL send you a prize...... 

Anyway here's a few more picture of some of the beautiful zebras we managed to find ......

Also note that there is a Zany Zebras shop opened in the Margate Centre where you can see all the designs and some of the figures. 

After you have walked around the town, if you head to the zoo the next day for example, they have a mini hunt all over the zoo. The children can get a little leaflet at the gate which gives them clues and riddles to find the zebras. If they find and solve the puzzles at the end if they go to the gift shop they get a special prize. (I think it is a special sticker) but its an added little bonus to enjoy at the zoo with the kids.

I really would highly recommend packing a picnic, and hunting them. We thoroughly enjoyed and are looking forward to the next one!