Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Omaha trip advice wanted

[JVM]

I'm finally making it out to Omaha from November 7-10. I'm planning two days for the zoo at least, possibly a third day depending on factors related to flight and hotel.

I've talked to a few zoochatters who have made the trip and have some information to work from and research to do, but I'm also looking for any tips and advice. A few people gave me tips about the layout and route thankfully. Where to get the best zoo food, things that I might overlook - particularly bird or reptile rarities, non-showy animals, rotational habitats, unique non-animal experiences, how winter affects the zoo, anything else in the area worth checking out... (Lee Simmons Safari Park is not in the cards.) All knowledge is good knowledge to plan around.

My really big specific question is are there any exhibits that might strongly benefit from visits over multiple days? I'm hoping to visit Gorilla Valley each possible day as I know there is at least one rotational primate exhibit there. Possibly two?

EDIT: Well shoot, meant to change the thread title to something a bit more specific (eg 'Omaha Trip Advice') and forgot to fix it. Whoops.

 

[Persephone]

Would’ve been a better title as: Omaha?

I posted most of my thoughts in September, but to recap:

-I liked the Durham Museum a lot, although you might want to check which traveling exhibits are there right now.

-You’ll have to go into the guest services office to get the discounted second day ticket.

-Chairlift ride was just a loop while I was there with no station in Africa.

-Kids zoo is very skippable.

-Mutual of Omaha pavilion is small but very much isn’t skippable. Also thought it had one of the more conveniently located / reliably open bathrooms in the entry plaza.

Almost all of the rarities are indoors so you should be fine regardless of weather.

 

[MGolka]

The Skyfari chairlift loop is closed for the season so it won't be operating.

As the zoo is pretty well covered from travelers on here, if you want other specific information on any other Omaha spots, PM me and I can help out.

 

[JVM]

Thank you first to whichever mod kindly updated the initial title, and to everyone who has offered support so far.

Would’ve been a better title as: Omaha?

I posted most of my thoughts in September, but to recap:

-I liked the Durham Museum a lot, although you might want to check which traveling exhibits are there right now.

-You’ll have to go into the guest services office to get the discounted second day ticket.

-Chairlift ride was just a loop while I was there with no station in Africa.

-Kids zoo is very skippable.

-Mutual of Omaha pavilion is small but very much isn’t skippable. Also thought it had one of the more conveniently located / reliably open bathrooms in the entry plaza.

Almost all of the rarities are indoors so you should be fine regardless of weather.

I actually did just reread your September review yesterday and found it very helpful.

Is the discounted second day ticket still a thing right now? I thought I read somewhere it was only spring/summer. Would be a huge help if it is.

Does the Durham Museum have any permanent nature exhibits? I'll definitely check in on what is there short term.

The Skyfari chairlift loop is closed for the season so it won't be operating.

As the zoo is pretty well covered from travelers on here, if you want other specific information on any other Omaha spots, PM me and I can help out.

Thank you in advance!

 

[JVM]

Well, day one of three or four is finished and I covered about half of the zoo, despite a late arrival - Desert Dome, Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, Asian Highlands, Gorilla Valley, Hubbard Orangutan Forest, Simmons Aviary, Expedition Madagascar and Wild Kingdom Pavilion. I plan to visit every exhibit in the zoo at least twice, so tomorrow will focus on the aquarium, Lied Jungle and Africa sections, and then Sat/Sun will be more freeform.

I did want to triple check three things:
- The orangutans are no longer mixed with any other primate, right?
- Gorilla Valley is the gorilla/colobus mix, the rotating exhibit and the aviary? No additional monkeys besides the rotation spot?
- Is there still an African brush-tailed porcupine to watch for KOTN?

Just checking as I know both ape exhibits were recently renovated and some species have moved to Lied Jungle.

 

[Persephone]

Well, day one of three or four is finished and I covered about half of the zoo, despite a late arrival - Desert Dome, Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, Asian Highlands, Gorilla Valley, Hubbard Orangutan Forest, Simmons Aviary, Expedition Madagascar and Wild Kingdom Pavilion. I plan to visit every exhibit in the zoo at least twice, so tomorrow will focus on the aquarium, Lied Jungle and Africa sections, and then Sat/Sun will be more freeform.

I did want to triple check three things:
- The orangutans are no longer mixed with any other primate, right?
- Gorilla Valley is the gorilla/colobus mix, the rotating exhibit and the aviary? No additional monkeys besides the rotation spot?
- Is there still an African brush-tailed porcupine to watch for KOTN?

Just checking as I know both ape exhibits were recently renovated and some species have moved to Lied Jungle.

There was a brush-tailed porcupine in with the night monkey and armadillo in September. Can’t remember if it was African or Asian.

 

[MGolka]

Well, day one of three or four is finished and I covered about half of the zoo, despite a late arrival - Desert Dome, Mahoney Kingdoms of the Night, Asian Highlands, Gorilla Valley, Hubbard Orangutan Forest, Simmons Aviary, Expedition Madagascar and Wild Kingdom Pavilion. I plan to visit every exhibit in the zoo at least twice, so tomorrow will focus on the aquarium, Lied Jungle and Africa sections, and then Sat/Sun will be more freeform.

I did want to triple check three things:
- The orangutans are no longer mixed with any other primate, right?
- Gorilla Valley is the gorilla/colobus mix, the rotating exhibit and the aviary? No additional monkeys besides the rotation spot?
- Is there still an African brush-tailed porcupine to watch for KOTN?

Just checking as I know both ape exhibits were recently renovated and some species have moved to Lied Jungle.

Answers to questions:

• Correct, Orangutans are not mixed with any other primate.
• Correct, just that rotating exhibit to the side of the indoor exhibit with colobus are where the only other primates other than gorillas are.
• When I went for Croctoberfest at the end of September there was still an African Brush-Tailed Porcupine in the first African exhibit with the Springhaas and others. I mainly see it along the very right side of the exhibit. There is a Prehensile Tailed Porcupine in the South American exhibit but he likes to hide in the very back center along the wall, might be difficult to see.

 

[JVM]

Thank you both again for so much help!!

Today was amazing. Lied Jungle, Scott Aquarium, African Grasslands, Insectarium, Sea Lion Shores -- all done! I've loved all four mega-buildings immensely. Lied reminded me what I love about zoo buildings in particular and brought to life ideas I'd dreamed about for Tropic World as a kid but hadn't known existed elsewhere until so much later. Look forward to the next two days revisiting things one more time.

Are the Wolf’s guenon and Stuhlmann’s blue monkey still on display in Lied Jungle anywhere? I didn't even remember to look for them today until I'd finished again. From what I can tell there's only a couple terrariums between the Squirrel and Spider Monkeys where construction is going on right? Also any tips for the Indian Crested Porcupine or the Nile softshell turtle? I get the vibe neither are easy to find on a good day either? The African wildcat and goral are also common misses, right? The wildcat is one I'd like to see most.

Are there still meant to be Lesser Kudu in African Grasslands? I didn't see signage for them, could have overlooked it. No sign of them or the zebra today, but the elephants, impala and rhinoceros were out. I think it's been explained the giraffes still are afraid of the rhinoceros so they don't mix? Such a shame for the rhinos, they're a bit hard to see where they are.

I guess the macaws at Garden of the Senses are normally just held there on sticks and are off for the season? I sort of figured this but wasn't sure if there might be an aviary of some kind.

Man, does Omaha have a good 'former species' thread actually?

Answers to questions:

• Correct, Orangutans are not mixed with any other primate.
• Correct, just that rotating exhibit to the side of the indoor exhibit with colobus are where the only other primates other than gorillas are.
• When I went for Croctoberfest at the end of September there was still an African Brush-Tailed Porcupine in the first African exhibit with the Springhaas and others. I mainly see it along the very right side of the exhibit. There is a Prehensile Tailed Porcupine in the South American exhibit but he likes to hide in the very back center along the wall, might be difficult to see.

Thank you for answering so quickly!

I felt a little bad about the orangutan question as not long after asking I found your mentions about the Agile Gibbon moving in the 2024 thread. Bit of a shame as I'd been looking forward to seeing a gibbon/orangutan mix but if the zoo were going to get more Agile, I imagine it'd be done, and Hubbard Orangutan Forest is great.

Gotcha about Gorilla Valley.

Thank you, I'll check the Africa mixes when I get there again this weekend. I know springhare is in both the Potto exhibit and the later exhibit with Bushbaby. I did see the prehensile-tailed porcupine and night monkey, they seemed to almost be in competition for some food, which was neat. The agouti was the one in that mix I didn't see, and possibly the nine-banded armadillo. (I did see three armadillo zooming around but I believe they were both from the other two species, and I got a good look at one individual in particular that was definitely not a nine.)

There was a brush-tailed porcupine in with the night monkey and armadillo in September. Can’t remember if it was African or Asian.

Brush-tailed was in there or prehensile-tailed?

 

[JVM]

Oh, last question I swear, but is there any arboreal or flying animal meant to be in the Amazon tank at the aquarium?

I also meant to ask about Bearded Saki and Paca but did a quick search and it looks like they've been gone for some years! Which island used to belong to these guys?

I'll stop after this, sorry!

 

[Persephone]

I believe I mistook the prehensile for brush-tailed. I did see both, though, just mistook the exhibits.

The blue monkeys were behind a partially opaque barrier in Lied Jungle right by the tapirs when you first leave the cave. Just keep looking at the outer wall as you go. Won’t get a great view, but you can see them.

I had to stare at I believe the howler monkey moat for a very long time to see the adult softshell. They were hiding under some sort of log if I remember correctly and only left after around fifteen minutes. Thankfully the howlers were charismatic enough for it to be a pleasant wait.

I’m unsure if I ever did see the wildcat and I didn’t see the goral. With sundown coming earlier it might be a good idea to hit the desert first or last to see the crepuscular or nocturnal species like the wildcat. Not sure exactly when the building closes, though.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Are the Wolf’s guenon and Stuhlmann’s blue monkey still on display in Lied Jungle anywhere

Both the guenon and the blue monkeys are in an exhibit on the right side of the canopy pathway, right after the small cave after leaving the tapir exhibit. The exhibit is covered with dark mesh, but you can just barely make the monkeys out through the mesh. If you walk to the elephant shrew exhibit and look back toward the monkey exhibit, there is see-through mesh at the top of the exhibit, so it is possible to get good views if the monkeys are in some of the exhibits trees.

Also any tips for the Indian Crested Porcupine or the Nile softshell turtle? I get the vibe neither are easy to find on a good day either?

I didn't realize it was difficult to see the softshell turtle in Lied Jungle, as I have seen it on every visit. If you can't find it in Lied Jungle, there is a second Nile softshell in the beaver exhibit in Kingdoms of the Night (which is not signed). The porcupine likes to sleep under some hollow logs in its exhibit, and occasionally you can make out some quills poking out from under the log.

The African wildcat and goral are also common misses, right? The wildcat is one I'd like to see most.

The wildcat is also something I see on every visit. If it is not out and about, it likes to sleep in a crevice on the wall on the left side of its exhibit. There are some rocks that you can stand on that look directly into the rock crevices, and it is usually sleeping there.

I guess the macaws at Garden of the Senses are normally just held there on sticks and are off for the season? I sort of figured this but wasn't sure if there might be an aviary of some kind

The macaws are taken off exhibit for the season and won't return until next summer.

I'll check the Africa mixes when I get there again this weekend. I know springhare is in both the Potto exhibit and the later exhibit with Bushbaby

The brush-tailed porcupine is in the larger of the two springhare mixed exhibits, the one right next to the aardvark exhibit.

but is there any arboreal or flying animal meant to be in the Amazon tank at the aquarium?

The Amazon tank used to have squirrel monkeys and then most recently toco toucans, but both species are no longer kept in that tank.

I also meant to ask about Bearded Saki and Paca but did a quick search and it looks like they've been gone for some years! Which island used to belong to these guys?

The saki and paca both lived on what is now the squirrel monkey island in the jungle.

 

[JVM]

I spent the afternoon at the zoo and made it home safe!

The bad -- the African Wildcat stood me up a sixth or seventh time. I tried to follow @DesertTortoise ' advice but couldn't confirm if the cat was in the crevice. The plant blocked some of the view, there was also a coardboard box the cat could have been in. Definitely disappointing.

Also missed on the kudu and zebra; would have been so nice to see the elephant-zebra mix but I had heard they get uncomfortable around each other. Lesser kudu often seem bad luck to me. No sign of the sloth bear or echidna, both of which we have in Brookfield so not a huge deal, but still might have been nice to see.

I was a bit late for lunch, they apparently turn the grill off at 3pm, and the indoor elephant viewing absolutely has room for a bench or two. Love that Gorilla Valley has places to sit.

The good -- today had a chance to see orangutan and siamang outside as well as several more of the gorillas. It was a great day for primates. I did briefly see one of the colobus come to ground indoors to grab food before moving back high up. Brief view of the gray mouse lemur and the previously missed lion. Better view at a very active blue-eyed black lemur. Seeing the elephants inside this time. Took my time by Sea Lion Shores this go around to better appreciate it.

Just in general was nice today to feel like I had the layout down and was choosing what I wanted to do rather than trying to finish off the checklist of having seen everything once. but also really wish I could've done one more Lied Jungle run!