Frommer's Review
More than 4,000 creatures reside at this celebrated, influential zoo, started in 1916 and run by the Zoological Society of San Diego. In the early days, the zoo's founder, Dr. Harry Wegeforth, traveled around the world and bartered native Southwestern animals such as rattlesnakes and sea lions for more exotic species. The zoo is also an accredited botanical garden, lavished with more than 700,000 plants; "Dr. Harry" brought home plants from every location where he acquired animals, ensuring what would become the zoo's naturalistic and mature environment.
The zoo is one of only four in the United States with giant pandas -- including the most recent arrival, Zhen Zhen, who was born here in 2007. Many other rare species are here as well, including Buerger's tree kangaroos of New Guinea, long-billed kiwis from New Zealand, wild Przewalski's horses from Mongolia, lowland gorillas from Africa, and giant tortoises from the Galapagos.
Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is the largest, most elaborate habitat in the zoo's history, re-creating a wooded forest full of endangered species such as the mandrill monkey, clouded leopard, and pygmy hippopotamus. An elevated trail through the treetops allows for close observation of the primate, bird, and plant life that thrives in the forest canopy. Absolutely Apes showcases orangutans and siamangs (black-furred gibbons) of Indonesia, while next door is Gorilla Tropics, where two troops of Western lowland gorillas roam an 8,000-square-foot habitat. Despite the hype, I find the Giant Panda Research Center not worth the hassle when a long line is in place. (Lines are shortest first thing in the morning or toward the end of the day.) More noteworthy is Ituri Forest, which simulates a central African rainforest with forest buffalos, otters, okapis, and hippos, which are viewed underwater from a glassed-in enclosure. At the Polar Bear Plunge you'll find a 4 1/2-acre summer tundra habitat populated by Siberian reindeer, yellow-throated martens, and diving ducks, as well as polar bears. The Children's Zoo features a nursery with baby animals and a petting area where kids can cuddle up to sheep, goats, and the like. There's also a sea lion show at the 3,000-seat amphitheater (easy to skip if you're headed to SeaWorld).
If a lot of walking -- some of it on steep hills -- isn't your passion, a 35-minute Guided Bus Tour provides a narrated overview and covers about 75% of the facility. It costs $10 for adults, $7 for children 3 to 11; it's included in the so-called "Best Value" admission package. Since you get only brief glimpses of the enclosures, and animals won't always be visible, you'll want to revisit some areas. Included in the bus ticket is access to the un-narrated Express Bus, which allows you to get on and off at one of five different stops along the same route. You can also get an aerial perspective from the Skyfari, which costs $3 per person each way, though you won't see many creatures. An ideal plan is to take the complete bus tour first thing in the morning, when the animals are more active (waits for the bus tour can be long on a busy day). After the bus tour, take the Skyfari to the far side of the park and wend your way back on foot or by Express Bus to revisit animals you missed.
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