Stop #11: The Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary and Zoo-Palooza 2: Hammifari

 

Today's journey takes us back to the Bellisseria Fairgounds for Zoo-Palooza 2: Hammifari, brought to us by the Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary.  Going to cover three topics in this one so we're chock full of grid-traveling goodies, all courtesy of The Bellisserian Hamsters.  The hamsters are an adorable couple of rodents who call Bellisseria home, and provide a relaxing haven for all things animal in the community of Bellisseria.

We'll start off at the sanctuary itself.  The Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary is nestled in the log cabin area of Bellissera, and has been around since July 19th, 2019, and is described as a "safe haven and rest stop for the animals of Bellisseria.  This space is here to promote the protection and care of animals, all animals. We welcome our hooman friends and have seating and space for everyone who visits."

Inside you will indeed find every creature comfort (every pun intended) for animals, from adorable animal company, from precocious bulldogs and shepherd pups destroying their play toys with reckless and joyful abandon, to bins of toys and shelves of food.  It's enough to keep even the most ornery animal sated and happy.

Outside in the backyard, amid some spectacular forest greenery are, indeed, really comfortable human-sized log lounge chairs, all surrounding a cozy firepit.  There's also a human-sized exercise wheel, for those interested in working off a few pounds from all the decadent animal treats provided.  I had the pleasure of meeting both the Bellisserian Hamsters at the opening day event of Zoo-Palooza 2:  Hammifari, which is, as I mentioned, brought to you by the Sanctuary.

As I landed at the Bellisseria Fairgrounds, which is hosting the Zoo-Palooza event, I happened to catch sight of the Bellisserian Water Taxi, located at the Bellisseria Fairgrounds Pier.  As some of you may know, The Fairgrounds are on an island, and the Water Taxi is an immersive means to traverse from the Bellisseria Mainland region of Squishy Squid, The Bellisseria Fairgrounds Pier, and the island home of the lighthouse in the Cedarburg region.

If you're looking for a relaxing way to immerse yourself in the area surrounding the fairgrounds, you couldn't get much better than the water taxi.  There appears to be plenty of room on each ferry boat, and the entire round trip can be completed in just a few minutes, with even more time taken off, if you simply board the watercraft and click it, which overrides the wait time.  Highly Recommended!

Which brings us to Zoo-Palooza 2: Hammifari, the event brought to us by the Bellisserian Hamsters, and goes from May 2nd to May 21st.  Fear not, intrepid passport stampers, if you are unfortunate enough to miss this years event.  The stamp provided at the fairgrounds exhibit is the standard Bellisseria Animal Sanctuary stamp, and is not a limited edition stamp, like other fairgrounds installations have been in the past.

You'll find the stamp dispenser inside the cozy log cabin on the outskirts of the installation (the stamp is also available in the log cabin of the sanctuary itself.)  The Zoo-Palooza event is entered by means of a stone archway, where you find yourself dropped into the African Savanna, with loads of free-roaming African wildlife for you to enjoy.

During your visit you may find yourself in need of refreshment, and the installation doesn't disappoint, providing watermelon slices on a stick, lollypops, popcorn, as well as tasty libations and lawn chairs and a safari tent arrayed to allow you to get off your feet and relax during your visit.

Wooden raised platforms allow you to get an aerial view of the grounds, as well as keep you distant from the more ferocious of the installation's animal residents.  They've gone out of their way here to create something right out of Lion King.

The southern end of the installation provides a refreshing lagoon, overrun with a large assortment of elephants and aquatic birds, as well as lush and verdant greenery.

Throughout the exhibit, you get the chance to reach out and interact with such a large assortment of divergent African animal species.  Don't miss this annual event during the month of May!

This particular park ranger gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up!!!