Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Trip Planning Help

MOG2012

MOG2012

Well-Known Member
This Saturday, I might visit Brookfield zoo during the afternoon. I’m going to stay for up to 1 and half hours either group of 4. I’m going to take photos, take notes, and group doesn’t want to be rushed. What should I do in the easiest/least complicated layout while also getting the major attractions?
 
An hour and a half isn't nearly enough time to see much of the zoo, so I suggest seeing if it's possible to stay for even just a little longer. I suggest focusing around the west side of the grounds -- Australia House, Habitat Africa, Great Bear Wilderness, The Living Coast, and The Swamp should all be priorities. Tropic World and most of the pachyderm house are closed at the moment. If there are any specific interests or questions you have I could provide further assistance.
 
MOG2012 said:
This Saturday, I might visit Brookfield zoo during the afternoon. I’m going to stay for up to 1 and half hours either group of 4. I’m going to take photos, take notes, and group doesn’t want to be rushed. What should I do in the easiest/least complicated layout while also getting the major attractions?
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"One and a half hours" and "doesn't want to be rushed" are mutually exclusive. At least one of those two is going to not be the case.

What do you consider a "major attraction"? Personally the biggest attraction for me at Brookfield is the pangolin. This is because that is the only place in the western hemisphere where you can see a pangolin of any species. If you are of similar opinion, then be sure to arrive at the African Forest building at 3:20pm because that is when the pangolin gets fed and you can see it moving around and active.

If you consider other animals major attractions then I'd say just make a list of the top 4 or 5 and draw a path on the map to hit those because in an hour and a half, taking time to take photos and notes, that's about all you'll be able to do.
 
The things I want to see are
  • Habitat Africa
  • Great Bear Wilderness
  • Feathers and Scales or Reptiles and Birds
  • The Swamp
  • Desert’s Edge
  • Cloud Leopard Rainforest
  • Possibly Living Coast and the Australia one
I can maybe stretch the time to 1 hr 45 min. What would be the best route (ie, best exhibit order and including nearby exhibits)?
 
MOG2012 said:
This Saturday, I might visit Brookfield zoo during the afternoon. I’m going to stay for up to 1 and half hours either group of 4. I’m going to take photos, take notes, and group doesn’t want to be rushed. What should I do in the easiest/least complicated layout while also getting the major attractions?
Click to expand...
I’d recommend to do a similar route to what I did when I visited previously. Start with Australia and hoofed animals then visit both Habitat Africas. Then visit great bear wilderness and living coast is optional, but I’d recommend it. After that I’d say go to your “reptile” houses if you want; I would not recommend. After that, do the swamp and you will go back to the entrance to visit the desert and clouded leopards. It may be tight but it’s doable. You could also throw in the dolphins if you want.
 
USZOOfan42 said:
I’d recommend to do a similar route to what I did when I visited previously. Start with Australia and hoofed animals then visit both Habitat Africas. Then visit great bear wilderness and living coast is optional, but I’d recommend it. After that I’d say go to your “reptile” houses if you want; I would not recommend. After that, do the swamp and you will go back to the entrance to visit the desert and clouded leopards. It may be tight but it’s doable. You could also throw in the dolphins if you want.
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So what would the exhibit order be specifically?
 
Right now, the entrance isn't decided but the expected exhibit order is (it would be reverse if different entrance;
  • Australia
  • Hoofed Animals/Camels
  • Habitat Africa (Savanna and Forest)
  • Great Bear Wilderness
  • The Living Coast
  • The Swamp
Should I change anything?
 
Unless you’re really into monitor lizards or dwarf mongoose or it’s too cold to see the giraffes outside there’s no real reason to go into Habitat Africa Savannah.
 
The route I take is from Southgate to Swamp - Aviary and Herps
Praire Aviary - Greater Praire Chickens
TW- closed
Reptiles and birds - aviary closed due to HPAI but can see from the outside small passerines
Feathers and Scales - Andean cock of the Rock is nesting in public area, Blue-billed curassow and herps
living Coast - aquatics and penguin exhibit is awesome.
Kopje - Giraffe and the aviary
HA Forest - pangolin off-exhibit
Australia
Fragile Kingdom
Seven seas
If you run you might make it.

The mammal collection is ok and will get better
when the Africa and Australia construction starts but currently the activity is bird, herp and aquatic collection.
 
Right now, I’m on the plane but I’m heavily delayed so I don’t think I can go (at least for the time I wanted)
 
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