​Carved pumpkins, spider webs, witches and ghost decorations lined up the pathways of Joburg Zoo as it came alive at night on Halloween.

It was smokey with a creepy atmosphere, strolling through the Johannesburg Zoo was like walking through a haunted forest of gory, ghoulish ghosts and zombies. It was an eerie Saturday night as Joburg Zoo hosted their Howl’oween Picnic on 27 October 2018 from 5pm to 9pm.

Residents came in their numbers dressed in delightful Halloween costumes. Visitors had a range of activities to participate in, including a walk into the Haunted Forest, where vampires, creepy crawlies and zombies roam, a devil’s pit surrounded by witches brewing their cauldron in a cemetery and a walk-about in the enchanted animal of the Amazon with close encounters with snakes, exotic spiders, piranhas and hanging corpses.

Resident Tebogo Matona said: “It was nice to experience this celebration. It was my first time and a truly memorable experience.”
Children were given sweets when the tricked or treated all those around. Trick or treat is a Halloween ritual for children and adults in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house asking for treats with the phrase “trick or treat”.

The treat is usually some form of candy, although in some cultures money is used instead. There were also fun-filled area with jumping castles, animal characters, face-painters, stilt-walkers for the entertainment.

Written by Johannes Phosa