The Bronx Zoo has long been a favorite of parents and children alike, providing a full day’s worth of wholesome entertainment and education. The zoo, which opened back in 1899, houses over four thousand animals of all shapes and sizes and spans across the better part of three hundred acres. It is a very popular site for tourists and school trips, so  it might be time for you to pay a visit.

The animals of the Bronx Zoo are contained in natural settings virtually unobstructed by barriers and fences. The proximity of the animals to their viewers allows for a much more interesting and educationally worthwhile experience, because some of them are pretty much right on top of you. Moats are the norm, keeping the animals at a safe distance but not really restraining them all that much. Three modes of travel—monorail, cable car, and bus—are available for traversing the zoo’s grounds.

Animals are grouped together in special exhibits, which showcase particular groups or species of wildlife. For example, "Jungle World" features waterfalls, humidity, indigenous plants, and of course large pythons. Other exhibits include "World of Darkness" and "Wild Asia," each with suitable landscape and native animal life. The exhibits really give the zoo’s visitors a sense of the "real world" and what it would be like to wander through these habitats, and the fact that they are well maintained and offer loads of valuable information only add to the experience.

Perhaps the most appealing portion of the Bronx Zoo is the Children’s Zoo. Here, your kids will be able to learn through interactive programs designed just for them, as well as roam through a huge petting zoo and other fun-yet-smart attractions. Take it from us; your kids will be thanking you all the way home. The zoo does a terrific job catering to youngsters, and it shows in the effort they put into this particular program.

The Bronx Zoo is highly recommended for children of all ages and their parents, and for anyone with an appreciation of nature and environmentalism. The zoo is located on the Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road. For more information, please call (718) 652-8400. 

The time and pricing schedule is a bit complicated, but here are the basics: the zoo is open from 10:00 to 5:00 on weekdays (10:00 to 5:30 on weekends) during the April through October season. From November through March, the zoo is open daily from 10:00 until 4:30. 

Pricing is as follows: April-October, Thursday through Tuesday, $6.75. November through March, Thursday through Tuesday, $3.00. All Wednesdays are free admission days, so expect the zoo to be pretty crowded. All tickets for the Children’s Zoo are $2.00, except for Wednesdays, when they are free.

 It all sounds confusing, but it’s really not. The bottom line is that the Bronx Zoo is a marvelous place for you and your family to spend the day, and an interesting diversion from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Summer Safari 2000