Southwestern America’s
Best Zoos
By Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner, authors of ‘America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families’

 Discover the Best Zoos in the Southwest including Arizona’s Phoenix Zoo, and Arizona Sonora Desert Museum; California’s San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, and Oakland Zoo; Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Denver Zoo; New Mexico’s Rio Grande Zoo; and Utah’s Hogle Zoo.

The United States of America is blessed with many great zoological parks. In our book, America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans & Families (Intrepid Traveler, 2008), we reviewed what we consider to be the 60 best in the nation. Those that we spotlighted from the nation’s southwestern states stand out for their natural beauty, most built right into their surrounding desert or mountain environment. This makes these zoos attractive tourist destinations for visitors, as well as popular daytrips for the local population.

Perhaps none of these zoos typifies the Southwest better than the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) in Tucson. Displaying only animals from the deserts of Arizona and Mexico, it is both a zoo and botanical garden – with over 1,200 plant and cacti species. The new (2008) Life on the Rocks is a fascinating look at reptiles, insects, and mammals (including hog-nosed skunks) from rocky environments. ASDM is famous for nearly-invisible fencing, seen at the coyote and javelina (wild pigs) habitats. Other animals in attractive desert habitats include mountain lions, black bears, Mexican wolves, prairie dogs, and even beavers. The large circular Hummingbird Aviary is especially popular. The Earth Sciences building’s artificial limestone cave is very realistic, with stalactites, stalagmites, and fossils, while another room displays over 14,000 beautiful minerals, including gold nuggets and a genuine moon rock.

A few hours north, the Phoenix Zoo is another desert zoo, but with a more diverse animal collection. In the Forest of Uco, spectacled bears are the feature of a convincing South American villa. Nearby, Monkey Village lets visitors intermingle with cute squirrel monkeys for some great photo opportunities! A surprisingly grassy 4-acre Savanna, with giraffes and giant-horned Watusi cattle, is the highlight of the Africa Trail, while the Tropics Trail features Asian elephants and orangutans. The Arizona Trail displays native animals, including pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, coyotes, and many desert reptiles and birds. In the Desert Lives area, bighorn sheep and Arabian oryxes inhabit sprawling arid habitats with massive red rock buttes for backdrops. The Children’s Trail is among the nation’s best, with a farmyard petting area, animal-themed playground, and many kid-favorite creatures. Children can also cool off in the Leapin’ Lagoon Sprayground, ride a carousel, or pet a ray or shark at Stingray Bay.  

The Rio Grande Zoo is one of America’s most beautiful zoos, with magnificent rockwork, dazzling waterfalls, and Pueblo style buildings. Among the prettier exhibits is Seals & Sea Lions, which resembles a California harbor town. The zoo’s highlight is Adventure Africa, where a winding path alternates between realistic African huts and viewing points of rare and popular animals from the continent, including giraffes, chimpanzees, hyenas, white rhinos, cheetahs, and hippos. Other feature exhibits include: Inukshuk Bay, a large polar bear habitat with underwater viewing; Ape Country, with orangutans and a prolific family of gorillas; and the outdoor Cat Walk, with at least eight different wild felines. In the airy Koala Creek building, plush Victorian koalas are the stars of an impressive collection of Australian animals. Outside, huge saltwater crocodiles will be neighbors to North America’s only exhibit of Tasmanian devils. This zoo is helping to save these ornery creatures from a deadly facial cancer epidemic which threatens the species survival.  

Built on a mountainside above Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo bills itself as “America’s Only Mountain Zoo.” New here in 2008, Rocky Mountain Wild is a set of natural habitats of native animals from the Rockies, including moose, mountain lions, and a huge hillside home for grizzly bears. Felines from the mountains of another continent are seen in Asian Highlands, including snow leopards and Amur tigers. Down at the zoo’s entrance, the sight of over a dozen giraffes roaming African Rift Valley is rivaled only by the beautiful mountain scenery all around. The giraffes (who can be fed) are accompanied by zebras, meerkats, and colobus monkeys. Primate World has indoor/outdoor exhibits for gorillas, orangutans, and various monkeys. Other features include the glass-fronted Lion’s Lair, elephants, and ultra-rare (fewer than 200 remaining on earth) mountain tapirs from the Andean region of Colombia. Already one of the country’s most complete zoos, the Denver Zoo continues to improve.

The newest exhibit is Predator Ridge, a re-creation of a Kenyan national park with up-close viewing of lions and hyenas. Primate Panorama has an amazing 29 different species of monkeys, apes, and lemurs -- including gorillas, orangutans, and rare aye-ayes. Underneath two glass pyramids, Tropical Discovery is an indoor rain forest with over 240 animal species, such as Komodo dragons, cobras, and colorful reef fish. Northern Shores replicates an Arctic Ocean harbor town, with sea lions, arctic wolves, and polar bears. Bird World is among the nation’s best birdhouses. In spacious, tree lined yards are one of the most diverse and interesting collections of hoofed animals, which include dangerous Cape buffalo, shaggy musk oxen, okapis, and goat-like takins.

In contrast to the desert and mountain zoos, Utah’s Hogle Zoo is a canyon zoo, built into Salt Lake City’s historic Emigration Canyon. The landmark exhibit here is the new (2006) Asian Highlands, a re-creation of a Himalayan village with many intimate viewing points of five different Asian cats – including Amur tigers, snow leopards, and Siberian lynxes. Also fairly new is Elephant Encounter, one of the better natural habitats for elephants and rhinos. The zoo is also known for its variety of primates, including gorillas and many monkeys. Discovery Land is an impressive western-style children’s area with many North American animals to touch and see, plus a replica 1869 steam locomotive to ride around the area.

A major transformation is underway at California’s world famous San Diego Zoo.  The latest project, Elephant Odyssey, opens in mid-2009 and will uniquely display animals similar to those which roamed Southern California during prehistoric times, including lions, jaguars, condors, and of course, elephants. The zoo specializes in rare animals, as it is the only place in America to see both giant pandas and koalas.  Four panda cubs have been born here, and there can be more than two dozen koalas to adore. Other rare species include kiwi birds and okapis.  Our book rates this zoo as the best for displaying primates (with spectacular exhibits for gorillas, pygmy chimpanzees, and orangutans); bears (Polar Bear Plunge and Sun Bear Forest are wonderful multi-animal exhibits); birds (with two enormous walk-through aviaries, plus many other feather-filled exhibits); and the best Reptile House (with Komodo dragons). Also notable are the Tiger River walk-through rain forest and two very popular underwater hippo exhibits. Fun activities are in abundance, including great animal shows, a high-flying sky ride, and zoo tours on London-style double-decker buses. ()

A sister facility to the Zoo (see above), the enormous San Diego Wild Animal Park is found 32 miles north, out in the desert with rolling valleys and rocky hills. The main adventure is its Journey Into Africa tour aboard an open-air tram. This 25-minute tour takes riders to panoramic views of an unparalleled collection of African hoofed animals, most of them living in herds. The tour also passes Lion Camp, the best exhibit of these regal big cats in America. The most zoo-like exhibit (and one of the best) is Heart of Africa, where a winding path passes natural habitats for okapis, cheetahs, more antelope, and a pretty flock of over 100 flamingos. Up on a high hill crest, Condor Ridge has a different theme, displaying animals from the American Southwest, including desert bighorn sheep and critically-endangered California condors. Nearby, Elephant Overlook gives a view of a herd of African elephants, living in an expansive open habitat. Among the many fun offerings is the Balloon Safari, a giant yellow helium balloon taking riders 400 feet in the air. The park’s many different animal shows are among the best anywhere.

In the middle of the USA’s second-largest city is verdant Griffith Park, home to the Los Angeles Zoo and other urban attractions. Formerly one of the most beautiful zoos, it is currently a construction zone, with three major exhibits underway. Opening in the next couple years are: Pachyderm Forest, a sprawling natural Asian elephant habitat; Rainforest of the Americas, an indoor/outdoor South American jungle; and a spectacular new Reptile House. In the next few months, golden monkeys will arrive, making this the only North American zoo to exhibit these beautiful blue-faced primates. Most of the zoo’s huge collection of animals is housed in unique C-shaped wire-mesh enclosures called “roundhouses.” Among the many rare animals seen around the zoo are okapis, mountain tapirs, bald-headed uakari monkeys, Komodo dragons, and koalas. In the heart of this massive collection are three newer natural habitats for gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees.

Northern California’s best zoo is clearly the Oakland Zoo, home of the Valley Children’s Zoo, the best of its kind in the southwest. Filled with colorful and imaginative opportunities for kids to climb, hop, and learn, the area also has great views of otters, alligators, frogs, bats, and even the interesting Bug House insect exhibit. Much of the zoo has an exotic atmosphere, with the African Village near meerkats, hyenas, green monkeys, and a large habitat for lions. Next door is the trend-setting 6-acre African elephant habitat, considered one of the best in the nation. Also featured are a large sun bear exhibit, chimpanzees, tigers, and a sky ride, the only way to see the bison and elk.

 

 

 

Authors Allen Nyhuis and Jon Wassner were featured guests on Vacation State online radio show airing January  23, 2009 from 9am – 11am PST. To meet the rest of the guests and listen to the show, please click here. To listen to Allen and Jon's interview, please double click on the Play Button below.