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Encounter Africa

Photos of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit.

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEJambo, one of four African Elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, plays in deep sand in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEMalaika, one of four African Elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, explores the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEOne of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Meerkats watches passersby, Wednesday, April 24, 2013, in one of two exhibits for Meerkats in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTETwo-year-old Elsie Hunter plays Wednesday, April 24, 2013, on a sculpture of a baby elephant at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit . Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEFour-year-old Malachi Alvarez waves to his mother Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from the fuselage of a plane that's part of the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEOne of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's four African Elephants plays in the sand in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEOne of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Meerkats stays warm under a heat lamp, Wednesday, April 24, 2013, in one of two exhibits for Meerkats in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEOne of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's four African Elephants plays in the sand in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEKristen Ortiz and her son, Austin, 2, pass a sculpture of an elephant at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Wednesday, April 24, 2013 as they explore the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEOne of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Meerkats watches passersby Wednesday, April 24, 2013, in one of two exhibits for Meerkats in the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTETwo-year-old Austin Ortiz watches Malaika, one of four African Elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Wednesday, April 24, 2013. The grand opening of the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Wilgruen Elephant Center at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is about two thirds the size of a football field. The Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEIda Kenney of Boston poses for a photo on an elephant sculpture Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit . Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEThe Grand Opening for the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit is May 1, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

Encounter Africa — MARK REIS, THE GAZETTEMalaika, one of four African Elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, explores the zoo's new "Encounter Africa" exhibit Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazettey

MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

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