Bronx Zoo First Time Visit

Quartz92

Quartz92

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
So it's that time, I am finally going to be visiting the Bronx Zoo after years of dreaming about it. I am posting just to ask what to keep my eyes out for anything of interest or anything I should know? Tips, tricks, etc. I am hopeful to do the whole zoo in a day.

Also, if there are any interesting things to do within NY feel free to let me know as well. I know about the major attractions, I would like to know of anything unique that I should be going to or consider going to?
 
Quartz92 said:
So it's that time, I am finally going to be visiting the Bronx Zoo after years of dreaming about it. I am posting just to ask what to keep my eyes out for anything of interest or anything I should know? Tips, tricks, etc. I am hopeful to do the whole zoo in a day.

Also, if there are any interesting things to do within NY feel free to let me know as well. I know about the major attractions, I would like to know of anything unique that I should be going to or consider going to?
Click to expand...

Do the monorail as soon as the zoo opens. The line gets long fast and you wanna get there early as the animals are all usually very active and the wait is shorter which gives you more time to see everything else. Also, if I were you I'd buy the total experience tickets online as they're cheaper than buying on-site and that'll get you into the exhibits you have to pay for (CGF, monorail, JW, ect.) faster and buy just showing them your ticket. Just so you know, Bronx is a huge zoo and you might not be able to see the whole thing in one day depending on how fast of a zoo visitor you are.

Well there are certainly the other four WCS collections- Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo. If you plan on visiting those as well, I'd personally suggest you just buy a WCS membership card as that'll get you into all of the collections for free, get you free parking at Bronx and the aquarium if you're driving, discounted food at Bronx, and into all of the exhibits you have to pay for for free at Bronx, which will probably be cheaper than paying for all that separately.

Have fun and enjoy!:D

~Thylo:cool:
 
Avoid Wednesdays as the admission price is a suggested donation only (used to be free). Bad things happen on Wednesdays!

FAQs
 
Thank you! I was planning on purchasing the total experience tickets. As for visiting in a day, I am from Toronto, and I can do my zoo in less than a day!

Thanks for the helpful tips!
 
Another little tip: I'm not sure if you enjoy primates, but if you do there are White-Throated Capuchins visible behind the old Monkey House in Astor Court.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Quartz92 said:
Thank you! I was planning on purchasing the total experience tickets. As for visiting in a day, I am from Toronto, and I can do my zoo in less than a day!

Thanks for the helpful tips!
Click to expand...

First off, no problem.:)

Second, all I'm saying is that it took me two visits to see the whole zoo when I first started serious zoo-going. It still takes me just about all day to see the whole thing and I've been visiting for years.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Get there before the zoo opens. The parking lots fill up quick and then they just close them whether people are leaving or not. I suggest staying away from a weekend day too. Be prepared to go non-stop to see the whole place.
 
Either do the monorail first like Thylo said, or do Congo Gorilla Forest first. The zoo's most popular attraction can get very congested at times with a lot of people, and now that there are gorilla infants, I'd bet it will be more crowded than ever. Plus, it's fantastic to watch all the animals just by yourself (or with only a few people around), and I found the gorillas to be more active, and one even interacted with from behind the glass!
 
BeardsleyZooFan said:
Either do the monorail first like Thylo said, or do Congo Gorilla Forest first. The zoo's most popular attraction can get very congested at times with a lot of people, and now that there are gorilla infants, I'd bet it will be more crowded than ever. Plus, it's fantastic to watch all the animals just by yourself (or with only a few people around), and I found the gorillas to be more active, and one even interacted with from behind the glass!
Click to expand...

Oh yes CGF gets very, very crowded! That glass tunnel path area was completely at a stand still when I was visiting last due to the infants. And yeah I've seen the gorillas interact often from behind the glass.

~Thylo:cool:
 
For Bronx Zoo tips:

Not sure if you are driving in or taking public transportation. If taking the subway you will be entering near Asia so going to the monorail and Jungle World first would just be convenient and for the monorail you will avoid the lines. If you are driving, it will depend when you get there if you park at Bronx River parking by the bison or if they have you park in Asia parking.

I have been going to Bronx Zoo so I have a certain path I always follow and I am usually lucky with animal sightings. I usually go for the tiger, snow leopards, red pandas and lions first since they tend to be awake and active first thing in the AM and then right to the monorail, Jungle World and then the trail to Congo. Depending on my speed (or who I am traveling with) we either eat lunch in Asia before Congo or at Dancing Crane after Congo.

Things to look out for: If you like monkeys also make sure to visit the exhibits alongside the Mouse House which have different New World Monkeys in them. See if you get lucky with the kiwi in the Aquatic Bird Building and in the World of Reptiles and World of Birds it always seems like someone has moved or a new species is on exhibit.

You will be tired after this day, but the zoo is doable in one long day unless you go on a Wednesday. I agree with the poster above that bad things do happen on Wednesday.

As for things to do in NYC: I happen to love Governor's Island- off the southern tip of Manhattan, a quick ferry and you can explore old forts, parkland, views of the city and the Statue of Liberty...it's not incredibly crowded (except for a few parts) and the ferry is only $3 round trip.

Coney Island is fun, but a long subway from Manhattan. But on a hot day it is a great place to be on the beach, ride a roller coaster and see the NY Aquarium.

If you are doing the High Line, make sure you also make a stop at Chelsea Market. It's a little more high end then it used to be, but I like exploring the different shops and grabbing a cupcake at Elaines.

If you had to pick one of the other small zoos to do I would pick Central Park due to convenience and I love penguins, but all the WCS zoos are nice for a quick 1-2 visit.

Have a great trip!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top