An interesting observation for myself is that this zoo actually seems to get worse the further one progresses into it. I quite like Cleveland Zoo and would rank it as the #2 zoo in the state of Ohio (behind Columbus and just ahead of Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron) but there are definitely some hit-and-miss sections. The RainForest complex in the bottom right-hand corner of the map is one of the better rainforest buildings in America and I'm a major fan except for the all-indoor orangutan enclosure. There is a fantastic reptile collection within that complex and most of the exhibits are above average.
Moving through the zoo there is the above average and extensive 8-acre Australian Adventure zone, the new African Elephant Crossing and the solid but unspectacular African Savanna. So far so good and at that point one would argue that Cleveland is a fantastic zoo. However, the two areas at the top of the map are poor and in dire need of an upgrade. Northern Trek has a brilliant wolf/beaver exhibit near the entrance but the rest of the area is mainly made up of old bear grottoes. The Primate, Cat & Aquatics section is accessed via an incredibly long and strenuous set of ramps and once a visitor arrives at the top they are greeted by a badly outdated building that has a hodgepodge of everything inside. Primates, fish, small cats and various other mammals (even two gorillas in a tiny yard!) combine to create a mess of what was surely a decent zoo facility decades ago.
Cleveland Zoo's 6 main sections:
RainForest = excellent
African Elephant Crossing = very good (although it was not open during my 2010 visit)
Australian Adventure = very good
African Savanna = solid but unspectacular
Northern Trek = disappointing (except for Wolf Woods)
Primate, Cat & Aquatics = terrible
There ends my mini-review of America's 7th oldest zoo! Cleveland definitely has an impressive community support as for more than 20 consecutive years it has maintained over 1 million annual visitors.
