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| - Wildlife World Zoo is one of the best zoos I've seen, and that includes the world-renowned San Diego Zoo. It's far superior to the Phoenix Zoo, with more variety and a less crowded layout. I'm generally not a big fan of zoos (I don't like to see wild animals caged), but at this zoo, the habitats seemed much more natural and open.
My fiance and his 5-year-old son took me to this zoo as a birthday present on a beautiful February afternoon. We had a "buy one, get one free" coupon, which was a great deal. We spent the better part of 5 hours wandering around the zoo - it's huge! They have the usual suspects: giraffes, monkeys, rhinos, and cougars... but it's home to a lot of unusual animals, as well. Kangaroo Island is home to a few different species of kangaroo, and they also have a beautiful white tiger. We were lucky enough to see a few new babies in the "nursery", and we also got to feed the giraffes! (Tip: bring lots of quarters to feed the various animals)
There are a few "rides" that cost extra money: a train, skylift, carousel, and boat. We chose to ride the train, which takes you through a few of the habitats for an up-close and personal look at the animals. The train's driver narrated the short (10 minute) ride, which made it a good educational experience.
After we had fully explored the zoo, we headed over to the aquarium. As far as aquariums go, it was pretty average... but to a scuba diver trapped in the desert, it was heaven! There are basically three buildings, each with a theme. They have a good variety of sea life (including penguins!), and the tanks are designed and lit well. There were a few "touch tanks", with sea stars, urchins, and rays. I was pleased to find that there was no additional fee for this (although feeding the rays does cost extra).
The most unique and exciting part for me was the shark tank, which is located partially inside of a restaurant! Sharks are my absolute favorites, and I can't wait to go back and enjoy a meal there. (Unfortunately, we had to leave early that day.) I
I highly recommend Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium to anyone looking for an outstanding zoo experience, or just someplace fun to take the kids on a nice day.
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