SD Zoo Touring Advice
I will be visiting San Diego Zoo on April 23rd, i love to read advice from the experieced members in this forum who have visited this great zoo in the past. It will be my first time going there and i can't wait, i spend about 20 minutes a day on average on San Diego Zoo's website and videos, pictures etc of other people who have visited, i'm completely fascinated by this zoo, and my only fear is that i will not listen to the adviced of the Zoo and the members here.
OK, MZ954, of course I've been to this great Zoo many times -- and in fact, I was just there last week! So I'll give you my best advice. First, however, why are you going there this month (April)? Any chance you could delay the trip to late May? If so, you would then experience their terrific new exhibit, Elephant Odyssey, which is opening on May 23 (I think). I was given a "hard hat" tour of EO and it looks like it will be another truly great SDZ exhibit. If you can't delay your trip, this will give you a good reason to go back.
My advice: Buy the full-package ticket to the Zoo, which includes the Skyfari aerial tram ride and especially the doubledecker bus tour. For a good overview, ride the bus tour first. The Zoo tries to tell you that the view is better from the lower level, but I don't believe it. If you can, ride up on top and at the very back. They tell you that you can stand up to see animals on the other side, but there's always some annoyed fellow rider who will give you grief for standing up -- unless you're at the very back. After this tour, you'll have a better idea what you want to see. First of all, the Zoo's two feature animals are the Giant Pandas and Koalas. Be certain to go see them! My personal opinion is that their best overall exhibit is Ituri Forest, where you'll experience the best underwater hippo gallery anywhere (some people sit there for an hour, watching the hippos), Okapis, and a great multi-species exhibit of African monkeys and otters. Ituri Forest is best seen immediately after touring Tiger River, another great and naturalistic exhibit. Actually, though, great exhibits are all over this Zoo -- Polar Bear Plunge, Sun Bear Forest, Gorilla Tropics, Absolutely Apes, Monkey Trails, and the Kopje are all amazing. Also take in the rare animals scattered all around the Zoo -- the kiwi birds in the hidden Kiwi darkhouse, honey badgers, Corsac foxes, and others. Our book rates this Zoo as America's best for Bears, Primates, Reptiles, and Birds, so take note of these collections. Be sure to walk through the two gigantic aviaries (Scripps and Owens) and to see the large reptile exhibits on Reptile Mesa. The two best views you'll get are from the Skyfari (you'll see all the way to the Ocean) and while eating at the Treehouse. One more note, the Children's Zoo is very worthwhile, even for adults.
Hope this helps!
