The 12th Tokyo Metropolitan Zoo Africa Fair will be held on November 22nd and 23rd! ~Learn about Africa and its wildlife~ (Updated October 18th: "animal keeper 's Story Relay")

event
September 17, 2026 (updated October 18, 2026)

Tama Zoo will be hosting the "12th Tokyo Metropolitan Zoological Park Africa Fair," which will introduce the nature, culture, tourism, current state of wildlife, and conservation activities of various African countries, with the aim of fostering friendship with these nations. We invite you to visit the park and experience Africa firsthand.

Poster

schedule

November 22nd (Sunday), 23rd (Monday/Holiday), 2026

place

Tama Zoo

Implementation details

With the participation and cooperation of African embassies and related organizations, the event will be implemented as follows:
Further details, including additional event information and a venue map, will be posted on this website.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony will feature representatives and guests from the countries participating in the Africa Fair. There will also be talks by the guests. The Africa Fair will kick off at 12:50 with a lively performance of African music.

*As this is an outdoor venue, the number of benches for spectators, including some priority seats, is limited. Please be considerate of others when using them.

Kawakawa Sankon
Date and Time

Sunday, November 22, 2026 12:50-14:00

place

Watching Center Entrance (In case of rain: Inside the Animal Hall)

guest

Kawakawa Sankon

African country introduction booths: "African Hippopotamus"

Embassies from various countries and organizations involved in Africa-related activities will set up booths, showcasing information on wildlife and tourism in African countries, as well as selling local products.

Additionally, booths related to the Tama Urban Monorail and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government are also scheduled to be exhibited.

Last year's situation
Date and Time

Sunday, November 22, 2026 11:30-16:00
November 23rd (Monday/Holiday) 9:30-16:00
*On Sunday, the 22nd, each booth will begin sequentially as soon as preparations are complete.

place

Pathway leading from the plaza in front of Main Gate

African music performance: "Enjoy the vibrant rhythms of Africa!"

BALANGOMA, a group formed by Masaya Onishi, who studied music in Kenya, and Benoit Mirogo, a traditional musician from Burkina Faso, will be performing.
A diverse array of instruments from East and West Africa intertwine, resonating with the pulse of the earth. Enjoy the vibrant rhythms and soothing melodies.

BALANGOMA
Date and Time

Sunday, November 22, 2026 14:15-15:00

place

Watching Center Entrance (In case of rain: Inside the Animal Hall)

Cast

BALANGOMA

African music and dance performance "Let's dance to the African beat!"

"Waka Waka Africa," a band comprised of members from across Africa, presents an exciting performance of African music and dance.
This is an interactive stage show where everyone, from young children to adults, can enjoy themselves together by clapping and dancing.

Waka Waka Da
Date and Time

November 23, 2026 (Monday/Holiday)
① 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
② 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

place

Watching Center Entrance (In case of rain: Inside the Animal Hall)

Cast

Waka Waka Africa

A stamp rally around the park called "African Stamp Rally"

We will be holding an "African Stamp Rally," a stamp rally that takes you through African Zone, which exhibits many animals native to Africa, and the African Fair venue. Collect stamps as you visit each rally point.
The first 800 people each day who collect all the stamps will receive a commemorative gift.

Commemorative shoulder bag
Date and Time

November 22nd (Sunday), 23rd (Monday/Holiday), 2026

Locations where stamp sheets are distributed

Special booth near Watching Center

Stamp sheet distribution time

Each day from 9:30 AM until the planned number of items is sold out.

Stamp locations

African Zone

Souvenir exchange location

Special booth near Watching Center

Date and time for exchanging commemorative gifts

November 22nd (Sunday), 23rd (Monday/Holiday), 2026
10:30 AM to 4:30 PM each day
*The exchange of commemorative gifts can only be done within Tama Zoo at the above date and time.

Souvenirs

Original shoulder bag
Illustration: Yuko Monden, a line artist residing in Hino City

Glass art by Yuko Monden

Yuko Monden, a line artist residing in Hino City, will paint glass art on the glass doors at the entrance of Watching Center. She will paint it little by little, mainly on days when the center is closed, building anticipation as it is completed by the day of the Africa Fair.

Last year's glass art

Connecting to the Africa Fair! A Relay of Stories from animal keeper ~Let's Learn About the Charms of African Animals~

From before the Africa Fair to the day of the event, animal keeper at the Tokyo Metropolitan Zoos (Ueno Zoological Gardens, Tama Zoo Inokashira Park Zoo Tokyo Sea Life Park, and Oshima Park Zoo) will give talks about African animals.

● Oshima Park Zoo

"Live streaming on YouTube from Oshima Park!"

animal keeper of the African animals they are currently caring for, Ring-tailed Lemur and Barbary sheep, will speak to you.
Please note that the live stream will be broadcast from the Animal Hall at Tama Zoo Watching Center on the day of the event.

Date and Time

October 12, 2026 (Monday, public holiday) 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM *Cancelled in case of severe weather

YouTube Live embedding

● Ueno Zoo

animal keeper will give a talk in front of the African animal enclosure.

Date and Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026, Sunday, November 1, 2026 *Cancelled in case of rain

"Lemur Talk"

time

Content

Meeting point

11:30~11:40

Ring-tailed Lemur

Ueno Zoo West Garden-Ring-tailed Lemur Island

13:30~13:40

Black Lemur

Ueno Zoo West Garden-Black Lemur

14:30~14:40

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

Ueno Zoo West Garden-Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur

15:30~15:40

Aye-aye

Aye-aye West Garden Ueno Zoo

※
This event will also be held as part of the events related to "World Lemur Day".


A story animal keeper "Hippopotamus"

Date and Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026 13:30-13:40 *Cancelled in case of rain

Meeting point

Ueno Zoo West Garden-Hippopotamus

● Inokashira Park Zoo

animal keeper will give a talk in front of the African animal enclosure.

"The Story of Meerkat"

Date and Time

Saturday, November 7, 2026 10:30-10:40 *Cancelled in case of rain

Meeting point

In front of Meerkat Inokashira Park Zoo


"The Story of Fennec Fox"

Date and Time

Saturday, November 7, 2026 11:00-11:10 *Cancelled in case of rain

Meeting point

Inokashira Park Zoo Zoo (Main Park) - In front of Fennec Fox

● Tokyo Sea Life Park

A video showing the current state of seabirds inhabiting Marion Island, a South African territory.

On Marion Island, the habitat of many seabirds is threatened by the invasive mouse species. We will be showing a video produced by the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM*) Project, which is working to restore the island's ecosystem, that shows the current situation of the island's seabirds.

※
MFM: An international environmental conservation project aimed at protecting the valuable ecosystem of Marion Island, a South African territory.
Date and Time

Saturday, November 14, 2026 9:30-16:30

place

Lecture Room, 2nd Floor, Main Building Tokyo Sea Life Park
*Anyone is welcome to view this.

Screened works

“Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds” (2 minutes 45 seconds)


Staff Talk: "Stories about Seabirds at the Aquarium"

Following the introduction of ecosystem conservation efforts in South Africa, we will share stories about the care of Common Murre and Tufted Puffin kept in the "Seabird Ecology" tank, as well as the conservation efforts being carried out at the aquarium.

Date and Time

Saturday, November 14, 2026 1:30pm - approximately 20 minutes

Venue

Lecture Room, 2nd Floor, Main Building Tokyo Sea Life Park

Capacity

80 people

※
More details about Tama Zoo will be announced at a later date.

Panel Exhibition: "A Journey Through East Africa's World Heritage Sites – The Breath of the Land and the Inherited Culture"

East Africa is home to magnificent natural World Heritage sites and cultural World Heritage sites that tell the story of a long and rich history. There, you can find the lives of people who have lived in harmony with nature, and a diverse range of cultures.

This exhibition focuses on World Natural Heritage Sites and World Cultural Heritage Sites, showcasing their wildlife and attractions. Enjoy their charm as if you were traveling to these locations yourself.

Panel exhibition image
Event period

November 5th (Thursday) – December 1st (Tuesday), 2026

Event time

9:30am - 4:30pm

place

Inside Watching Center

Making accessories to learn about color culture

This workshop uses colorful African beads. While learning about the "cultural meaning" behind the patterns and colors of the beads, you'll create your own original accessory. Why not join us and experience the joy of wearing the rich culture of Africa?
Details regarding the event time and other information will be announced at a later date.

Accessory image
schedule

November 22nd (Sunday), 23rd (Monday/Holiday), 2026
*The process takes approximately 30 minutes.

place

Inside Watching Center

Participation fee

free

Photo spot: "Take a photo here! Memories of Africa"

We will set up a photo spot that captures the charm of Africa. Please take a memorable photo to remember the moment.

schedule

November 22nd (Sunday), 23rd (Monday/Holiday), 2026

place

African Zone Lion Bus Station Terrace

Face painting

The Tokyo Zoological Park Volunteers (TZV) Docent Group (DG) will be hosting a "Face Painting" event! Why not try becoming Serval by getting your face Serval and wearing serval ear headbands?

Face painting image
Date and Time

Sunday, November 22, 2026, 13:00-14:30

place

Hayashi Plaza *Cancelled in case of rain
Makeup remover corner
Hayashi Plaza: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Watching Center Entrance: Open until closing time (4:30 PM)

Capacity

Limited to 150 people (first-come, first-served)

Sponsor

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation Agency

cooperation

Keio Corporation, Tama Urban Monorail Co., Ltd.