Stuff To Do in San Diego: The San Diego Zoo

No trip to San Diego would be complete without a visit to what is commonly regarded as the nation's best zoo, the San Diego Zoo. And if you think if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all - think again!

In addition to being one of the few zoos in the world to house pandas as well as over 800 different species, the San Diego Zoo is also home to a wild animal park (San Digeo Zoo's Wild Animal Park) in which endangered animals from around the globe roam in free-range enclosures. In stark contrast to a typical zoo, in which animals are displayed in cages, the animals of the park are exhibited in their natural habitat. It's as close as you can get to a Safari without leaving the country!

San Diego Zoo Exhibits

• Monkey Trails
  
• Absolutely Apes
  
• Panda Research Station
  
• Polar Bear Plunge
  
• Gorilla Tropics
  
• Ituri Forest
  
• Owen's Rain Forest Aviary
  
• Sun Bear Forest
  
• Reptile Mesa
  
• Kopje
  
• Wings of Australasia
  
• Flamingo Lagoon
  
• Tiger Rive
  
• Children's Zoo

San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park Exhibits

• Journey Into Africa Tour
  
• Lion Camp
  
• Heart of Afirca
  
• Elephant Overlook
  
• Hidden Jungle
  
• Nairobi Village
  
• Condor Ridge
  
• Lorikeet Landing
  
• Kilimanjaro Safari Walk
  
• African Aviary
  
• Harter Veterinary Medical Center
  

Here's what the folks over at TripAdvisor.com have to say about the San Diego Zoo:

The San Diego Zoo is truly one of America's treasures. With it's long history of research and breeding of rare animals, the San Diego Zoo is much more than a Zoo. It is a glimpse in to how zoologists care for thousands of species while giving visitors a unique look at many of these magnificent creatures. Be warned, the habitats are built for the animal's comfort, not the visitors feet. A walk through the enormous park can be a trying experience. Bus tours make this task much easier and is highly recommended. To locals, this Zoo is one of the most important locations in San Diego and one if it's most irreplaceable sites. Don't miss it! The San Diego Zoo is unique by any measure and will leave you much more educated and excited about these magnificent creatures.

Maloo, baby koala, born in April 2001.

A lucky couple gets a visit from a polar bear cub at the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit.

Lions with cubs in the Lion Camp exhibit.

Visit SanDiegoZoo.org for ticket info, schedules, and the latest happenings at the San Diego Zoo!