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| - Phoenix Zoo is THE best zoo I've been to that I can remember. LA Zoo, Houston Zoo, other large zoos have the animals separated from the visitors by a vast chasm that almost require one to view the animals through field glasses. Phoenix exhibits are "up close and personal". This is what impressed me about this zoo the most. We also had the pleasure of SEEING the animals- they were not closeted away in their sleeping cabins, but out and about within almost touching distance! The great Sumatran Tiger was just on the other side of a chain-link fencing type of enclosure, I could almost reach in and caress it! Now, the exhibits are top-notch, when I wrote "fence" it truly was just a fence, but surrounded by greenery and other things, a very pretty and appealing exhibit. Every animal exhibit we were able to see the animals within just mere feet away, of course the African Lion was within a deep sunken exhibit, but one could see them and photograph them.
The magnum opus of Phoenix Zoo I believe is the just fantastic African Savannah (or Safari?) exhibit which is magnificently displayed right within a short march from the Main Entrance. The landscape engineering and design of the exhibit is truly genius, you feel as if you've been transported into the midst of an African safari- the giraffes majestically and slowly walk among Watusi cattle (if you're lucky, you'll witness the Watusi walking, with it's marked manner of "to/fro" of its head that supports the weighty horns. There are Eland in this exhibit as well and other African safari creatures scattered in this wondrous display. This area you may hop on the tram, it is a short ride around the park with a operator who gives the usual points of interest along the ways.
NOTE: this zoo, like all zoos, require a LOT of walking. Do NOT- and I repeat, do NOT pass up various trails that meander off of the main trek, because if you do, you will miss important and desired animal exhibits you will regret not stopping to inspect otherwise. These various exhibits sprinkled here and there throughout the park are *not* noted with marquis and signs alerting you to their presence, you must investigate on your own, and peek in and walk into each entryway that comes your way, and you will not be happy missing them. I have been to this zoo twice in one month, and still have managed to miss a few animals even though I felt as if we walked 500 miles and viewed everything, no we did manage to miss quite a few. Take your time to be aware of your location, and feel fine walking up off-treks and off-roads to see what animal might be "just up this one incline a bit". So, take your time, if you get tired take a break on one of the benches til you get your second wind. Take your time!! You're here, you paid for it, get your visit's worth.
DO GO on a Sunday, a Saturday: I found that the supposed "workdays schooldays" are THE most crowded and impossibly packed Zoo days, in fact we were forced to park in overflow parking on PIERCE and VAN BUREN (see google maps, we had to walk for 30 minutes from parking space to the Entrance!) TIP: Take the Phoenix Bus system which will conveniently drop you off AND pick you up right at the Zoo entrance! Magic!
BUY AND PRINT ZOO PASSES AT HOME- SKIP LONG LINES.
STOCK UP ON BEVERAGES/SNACKS, PACK IN BACKPACK PRE-ZOO and save tens of dollars. Zoo bottled sodas/water: 3USD per. Food is expensive too- but good quality, decent food here too. But, BRING candies/waters/gatorade/sodas in your bag before you enter. You'll be glad u did- in fact, a great idea is a picnic! You can do this here.
For the collection of animals see their website. Overall I was really delightfully surprised at just how GOOD this zoo is. I do think this zoo has the animals in closest proximity to the people, which impressed upon my memory the most. I was also surprised at the great selection of various creatures Phoenix had on display, honestly Phoenix although purported to be a "big city" it really is not, it's a large "small town" but this zoo should be celebrated, because it is just SO good. The exhibits are designed in such a way that if one animal is behind some obstruction, there is another "back door" viewing perhaps behind a glass enclosure so you can catch the animal if it wanders off onto another area that is blind to your first position- very convenient. I managed to be able to take up close photos of the Ocelot doing its daily bath that was within just inches behind glass, and the orang-utan family closer to me than 2 ft, the lions just below us so close you could see the flies bothering them. There is a cute Prairie Dog exhibit that is only just behind a short knee-length wall! They may as well be in your back yard, so nice.
The "4D Experience" film I think is worth seeing- MISS the cartoon penguin version, it is LOUD, has fast moving strobe/flashing lights annoy. BUY A MEMBERSHIP VISIT AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE!
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