Guests are being invited to walk on the wild side at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, and see seven-month-old cubs Kaari, Mzuri and Nguvu like never before. 

The Pride Lands Patrol Tour takes guests on safari in a purpose-built truck through the Zoo’s three-hectare lion habitat, home to African Lions Lwazi and Marion and seven of their offspring: sisters Amali, Imani, Mara and Zawadi, and cubs Kaari, Mzuri and Nguvu. 

The pride of nine is the largest ever to call the Lion Pride Lands home, and Senior Keeper Mel Friedman said the truck enabled guests to see the lion cubs like never before. 

“The larger habitat is a whole new world for our cubs to explore,” Mel said. 

“They’re busy rolling around and climbing trees, chasing dad and their sisters and just having an amazing time out there – they must be exhausted by the end of each day.”

“People are really loving seeing them from the truck. I went out on the first tour with guests and they absolutely loved it. The lions were really energetic, very playful and so they all had smiling faces on board the bus, that’s for sure!”

The cubs are not the only youngsters ready to wow guests this spring. 

Three baby Spider Monkeys have joined the troop on the Primate Islands, joining four rambunctious toddlers who were born in recent years. The babies can be spotted by eagle-eyed visitors from the comfort of Café Wild or – for the more adventurous – on board a pedal boat on the Savannah Lake. 

Hand-raised Giraffe calf Msumeno has made his public debut on the habitat neighbouring the main Giraffe herd, where he can sometimes be spotted touching noses with members of the herd, and even doing zoomies with his half-siblings on the other side of the fence. It won’t be long until he is fully weaned and ready to become a fully-fledged member of the main herd. 

With the weather heating up, guests are also invited to explore the Peters Bilby Trail for the chance to claim a free Frosty Fruit thanks to Peters. 

And don’t miss the award-winning Platypus Rescue HQ, which recently won the Large-Scale Exhibit Award at the Zoo and Aquariums Association (ZAA) Australasia conference.