Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa is a fun, new take on the tycoon game series.  This is a strategy game where instead of building schools, malls or restaurants, you build an entire ecosystem in the African Serengeti.   And it’s more complex than it sounds!   You will have to juggle a variety of animal species, balance food supplies and create water sources to keep your ecosystem thriving.  Build a large enough group of animals and you will move on to the next level.

Lions, Zebras and Elephants, Oh My!

Each level of Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa has a specific animal goal you must meet.  These goals vary by the level of difficulty you select.  Once you meet the goal, the game ends and you can move on.

You can add animals to your ecosystem by breeding (when you have at least two!) or by buying animals.  You use flowers to purchase animals for your ecosystem.  Your flowers continually grow back, so don’t worry about running out.  If you need an animal and don’t see it available, you can shuffle the animals that are available for purchase.  Shuffling costs you one flower.

In addition to the animal goal, there are also animal requirements to earn jewels.  Once you earn jewels, you use them to purchase shrubs, grass, trees, even rain to keep your animals alive.

Don’t be afraid to spend your jewels.  You can only hold a maximum of six jewels, so if you don’t spend them, any new jewels you might earn will be wasted.

Lions Have to Eat Too

Once you have populated your ecosystem with animals, you need to make sure they have food and water.  When you create a new animal, try to place it near food and water sources.  New animals are usually only at half of their food and water requirements.

Use your jewels to purchase and place shrubs, trees and grass for the herbivores to eat.  Only one animal can eat from a shrub at a time.  You will need approximately 1 shrub for every shrub eating animals.  Grass is less nourishing, but my animals can eat from it at the same time.  Shrubs and grass placed away from water are more nourishing, but those closer to water are easier to access.

Of course, not all the animals will be content with grass and shrubs.  Lions and hyenas are predators and will need other animals as food sources.  So, if you’re building a pride of lions, be sure to add some zebras in for food.

Building a Second Ecosystem

As your animal families grow, you will need to start a second ecosystem.  Use the map on the screen to locate a second watering hole.  If the watering hole is dried up, use your jewels to purchase rain.  You can completely fill a watering hole with three rainstorms.
Once this second water source is established, you can drive a few of your animals to it.  Select an animal and guide it to the new watering hole or new food sources.  Once the animal finds the food and water, it will remember it and return to it on its own.  It will also teach its offspring where to find food and water.  Try not to pick an animal that is to hungry or thirsty (they might not make it to the food and water)

Some species have a maximum number of animals that can live together.  For example, lions have a maximum of four in one group.  To meet a higher lion goal, you will need to establish a second or third watering hole with adequate food sources.

Click on the locations on the map to quickly zip between your watering holes.

Making Baby Zebras

Animals will naturally breed and make baby animals.  However, families will reach a maximum number and stop breeding.  When this happens, you will have to use your flowers to buy new animals to keep your population growing.

Keep an eye on your animal goal statistics.  When you get close to meeting your goal, consider just buying the last one or two with your flowers.

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