Rather than just rank zoos I have been to, I like to rank the best exhibits I have seen at zoos because even some low quality zoos have 1 or 2 good exhibits. While the amount of zoos I have visited is only around 15, I thought I would share what some of my favorite exhibits are an encourage others to do the same.
Favorite Zoo Exhibits
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1. Heart of Africa- Columbus Zoo
My all time favorite exhibit seen is the Heart of Africa. This exhibit is a very realistic savanna and displays a wide assortment of species. Watching hyenas and lions while having a view of giraffes, zebras, hoofstock and birds in the background was a really neat experience and this exhibit truly makes you feel like you are transported to Africa. Overall, the Columbus Zoo is my favorite zoo visited and this is their best exhibit.
My all time favorite exhibit seen is the Heart of Africa. This exhibit is a very realistic savanna and displays a wide assortment of species. Watching hyenas and lions while having a view of giraffes, zebras, hoofstock and birds in the background was a really neat experience and this exhibit truly makes you feel like you are transported to Africa. Overall, the Columbus Zoo is my favorite zoo visited and this is their best exhibit.
2. American Trail- National Zoo
While this one might surprise people, I found this to be an excellent display of native species. The sea lion exhibit was especially impressive and I liked the amount of different points to view exhibits from. Although it is a little dated, I enjoyed the National Zoo's different interpretation of a North America section and I felt this was their most enjoyable exhibit. The species held here include sea lions, seals, pelicans, bald eagle, otters, beaver, and grey wolves. The nearby Andean Bear exhibit was also very enjoyable and is home of the best traditional style carnivore grotto I have seen, as it is filled with grass and things to climb. I feel this exhibit dies great justice to North America and displays a unique array of species in habitats that are high quality, although they are dated. I will add more exhibits to this thread soon.
While this one might surprise people, I found this to be an excellent display of native species. The sea lion exhibit was especially impressive and I liked the amount of different points to view exhibits from. Although it is a little dated, I enjoyed the National Zoo's different interpretation of a North America section and I felt this was their most enjoyable exhibit. The species held here include sea lions, seals, pelicans, bald eagle, otters, beaver, and grey wolves. The nearby Andean Bear exhibit was also very enjoyable and is home of the best traditional style carnivore grotto I have seen, as it is filled with grass and things to climb. I feel this exhibit dies great justice to North America and displays a unique array of species in habitats that are high quality, although they are dated. I will add more exhibits to this thread soon.
For me the most impressive Great Ape complexes I've seen are the facilities at Apenheul (in particular for the orangutans) and at Leipzig. The Leipzig complex was quite amazing, especially the indoor area, although I imagine there might be criticism about the proximity of the different species and their vocalisations (especially the chimpanzees) creating a stressful environment for the others
3. Congo Expedition- Columbus Zoo
Every exhibit at this zoo was very impressive and did a great job of creating a journey to another part of the world. The Congo Expedition displayed gorillas and bonobos in spacious outdoor exhibits, and the complex also featured okapis, a leopard, smaller primates, birds, and many other unique Congo species. I felt this was a very strong exhibit and really showed how great a zoo Columbus is.
Every exhibit at this zoo was very impressive and did a great job of creating a journey to another part of the world. The Congo Expedition displayed gorillas and bonobos in spacious outdoor exhibits, and the complex also featured okapis, a leopard, smaller primates, birds, and many other unique Congo species. I felt this was a very strong exhibit and really showed how great a zoo Columbus is.
If it's ok with you, I'm going to list my favorite exhibits on the basis of species or taxonomic group.
Elephants
Dallas Zoo - Giants of the Savannah - ten elephants on five acres, half an acre per elephant, makes this one of the biggest elephant exhibits in the US. They have lots of space and can mingle with other African wildlife like guinea fowl, giraffes, and zebras.
Apes
Bronx Zoo - Congo Gorilla Forest - A 6.5-acre themed around the Congo Rainforest. It has a large space for a troop of western lowland gorillas with grass, hills, and plants. The area is also home to okapis, mandrills, birds, and herptiles. Worth the separate admission.
Giraffes
Columbus Zoo - Heart of Africa - Alongside zebras, antelopes, and birds, they live in a 23-acre grassy plain in good sized groups. Guests can see them from, among other viewing areas, the food court through a big glass window. Great photo ops!
Reptiles
Tie between Fort Worth Zoo's Museum of Living Art (MOLA) and St. Louis Zoo Herpetarium. Both are large buildings with a diverse array of herptiles. MOLA also has some birds, tamarins, and lemurs. STL's reptile house has two levels. Highlights include Lake Titicaca frogs (both), saltwater crocodile (FW), Aldabra tortoise (STL), and tomistoma (STL).
Penguins
Tie between Detroit Zoo's Polk Penguin Conservation Center and St. Louis Zoo's Penguin & Puffin Coast. Detroit's is themed around Antarctic exploration and has moving water and cool graphic signs. St. Louis has an outdoor Humboldt penguin exhibit and a larger chilled indoor exhibit for gentoo, king, and rochopper penguins. Penguins on all sides of you, it is the first walkthrough penguin exhibit in America. It is followed by a puffin exhibit. The penguins and puffins are so close, your could (but, of course, are not allowed to) touch them.
Cats
Lion: Franklin Park Zoo - Kalahari Kingdom - classic moat exhibit. Pretty big space with two males. Shady and lots to do.
Tiger: Bronx Zoo - Tiger Mountain. Large and lush space for Amur tigers. Conservation messages surround the visitor.
Misc. cats: Snow leopard - Bronx Zoo - Himalayan Highlands - lots of rocks and vertical space.
Ocelot - Buffalo Zoo - Rainforest Falls - Spacious, especially vertically.
Bears
Polar: Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life or Buffalo Zoo's Arctic Edge. Both have large dynamic spaces for their bears, but Detroit is the largest of the two. ARoL is also home to seals.
Brown or grizzly: Akron Zoo's Grizzly ridge or Bronx Zoo's Big Bears. Both have large spaces with water, plants, and rocks for grizzly and brown bears, respectively. Bronx has a large rock feature for their bears to climb on.
Misc. species: Queens Zoo - spectacled bear. Big space with climbing opportunities, hills, and water.
National Zoo - giant panda. Very hilly, perfect for these mountain-dwelling bears.
Marine mammals
Cetaceans: Shedd Aquarium - Abbot Oceanarium - large naturalistic spaces for Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.
Pinnipeds: Tie between Bronx Zoo's Sea Lion Pool and St. Louis Zoo's Sea ion Sound. Both have large spaces. STL is more dynamic and has an underwater tunnel, but clear blue water (not good for their eyes), and they share with harbor seals. Bronx has no underwater viewing, but is also large and provides some privacy.
Elephants
Dallas Zoo - Giants of the Savannah - ten elephants on five acres, half an acre per elephant, makes this one of the biggest elephant exhibits in the US. They have lots of space and can mingle with other African wildlife like guinea fowl, giraffes, and zebras.
Apes
Bronx Zoo - Congo Gorilla Forest - A 6.5-acre themed around the Congo Rainforest. It has a large space for a troop of western lowland gorillas with grass, hills, and plants. The area is also home to okapis, mandrills, birds, and herptiles. Worth the separate admission.
Giraffes
Columbus Zoo - Heart of Africa - Alongside zebras, antelopes, and birds, they live in a 23-acre grassy plain in good sized groups. Guests can see them from, among other viewing areas, the food court through a big glass window. Great photo ops!
Reptiles
Tie between Fort Worth Zoo's Museum of Living Art (MOLA) and St. Louis Zoo Herpetarium. Both are large buildings with a diverse array of herptiles. MOLA also has some birds, tamarins, and lemurs. STL's reptile house has two levels. Highlights include Lake Titicaca frogs (both), saltwater crocodile (FW), Aldabra tortoise (STL), and tomistoma (STL).
Penguins
Tie between Detroit Zoo's Polk Penguin Conservation Center and St. Louis Zoo's Penguin & Puffin Coast. Detroit's is themed around Antarctic exploration and has moving water and cool graphic signs. St. Louis has an outdoor Humboldt penguin exhibit and a larger chilled indoor exhibit for gentoo, king, and rochopper penguins. Penguins on all sides of you, it is the first walkthrough penguin exhibit in America. It is followed by a puffin exhibit. The penguins and puffins are so close, your could (but, of course, are not allowed to) touch them.
Cats
Lion: Franklin Park Zoo - Kalahari Kingdom - classic moat exhibit. Pretty big space with two males. Shady and lots to do.
Tiger: Bronx Zoo - Tiger Mountain. Large and lush space for Amur tigers. Conservation messages surround the visitor.
Misc. cats: Snow leopard - Bronx Zoo - Himalayan Highlands - lots of rocks and vertical space.
Ocelot - Buffalo Zoo - Rainforest Falls - Spacious, especially vertically.
Bears
Polar: Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life or Buffalo Zoo's Arctic Edge. Both have large dynamic spaces for their bears, but Detroit is the largest of the two. ARoL is also home to seals.
Brown or grizzly: Akron Zoo's Grizzly ridge or Bronx Zoo's Big Bears. Both have large spaces with water, plants, and rocks for grizzly and brown bears, respectively. Bronx has a large rock feature for their bears to climb on.
Misc. species: Queens Zoo - spectacled bear. Big space with climbing opportunities, hills, and water.
National Zoo - giant panda. Very hilly, perfect for these mountain-dwelling bears.
Marine mammals
Cetaceans: Shedd Aquarium - Abbot Oceanarium - large naturalistic spaces for Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.
Pinnipeds: Tie between Bronx Zoo's Sea Lion Pool and St. Louis Zoo's Sea ion Sound. Both have large spaces. STL is more dynamic and has an underwater tunnel, but clear blue water (not good for their eyes), and they share with harbor seals. Bronx has no underwater viewing, but is also large and provides some privacy.