The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo is preparing their visitors for a whole new experience. A new and unique ride will allow guests to view animals from a bird’s eye view, while gliding through the tree tops.

Thursday, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Skyfari ride. Only 50 lucky people who won a contest got to go Thursday, but it will officially open to the public on Saturday.

Zoo “residents,” like a penguin, goat, and opossum, greeted guests before the ribbon, or in this case, vine cutting ceremony.

Mayor Mike Fahey and new zoo director, Dennis Pate, had the honors.

With that, 50 contest winners got to grab a seat, and lift off.

"I thought it was really cool to be one of the first to go on," said Maisie Habron of Gretna. Her family was among the lucky guests.

"I think it is really cool cause you can definitely see it from a different perspective, I think it's cool to see it from up above," said Audrey Habron.

"I thought it was kind of fun going over the water, and being so close to the ground and going up so high. That was fun," added their brother, Aaron Habron.

The ride glides along at 200 feet per minute and can carry 800 guests an hour.

Henry Morris is the ride supervisor at the zoo, and says the ride will take about 20 minutes round trip. "You'll be able to see giraffes, cheetahs, you'll be able to overlook the garden of the senses, the birds that might be out on that day, penguins, as you cross the lagoon you'll be seeing monkey island."

At the other drop off end, elephants and rhinos will be just below your dangling feet.

"We saw the elephants and the seals, and the ostriches, they all looked quite odd from up above," said Audrey.

The animals might be thinking the same of us.

"The ostriches and emus looked like 'what the heck?' It was funny,” said Aaron.

The cost of the ride is $2 for one way, and $4 round trip.