Open Today: 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Location map
An aerial view of the Akiba Bridge, a long wooden bridge with colorful designs and a pergola in the middle that leads from the parking lot, through dense trees, over a lake and ending at the African entrance of the NC Zoo.

Bridge to Africa

Date Installed:
Region:
Africa
Medium:
Mixed Media
2D/3D:
3D
Jim Hirschfield & Sonya Ishii

Collectively, the art elements on the Africa Bridge are indicative of a journey to Africa—where the landscape is uncommonly beautiful and the animals extraordinary. The canoes, water carrier sculptures*, water proverbs, water pots* and Ola, the Water Bearer story symbolize the significance of water to life in Africa. Water, essential for all life, is also a transportation system, power source, used for washing, bathing and recreation. 

*The water carrier sculptures, and the water pots have been relocated from the length of the bridge. The water pots can be found along the entrance to the Africa Bridge.

Bob and Bonnie Meeker
The Bridge to Africa can be found in the Africa Parking Lot leading to the Africa Entrance.
A close-up view of a large bridge with two black-and-white striped crossbars suspended between four dark wooden posts. Beyond the entrance, a thatched-roof building is visible, and two white statues stand on either side of the path leading to it.