Wander at your leisure from South America to Africa, passing botanic gardens and dinosaurs as you go.
Situated on St George's Island and along the banks of the Bow River, Calgary Zoo is home to everything from pumas to dinosaurs! It's easy to get here – just hop on the C-train from the city centre – so you have no excuse for missing the safari brunch held in Destination Africa every Sunday. This is the best possible way to start your adventurous day, and fill your stomach for the activities ahead.Your first stop after brunch should be the Penguin Plunge in the Antarctic area of the zoo. There are four different species that call this area home: the Humboldt, gentoo, rockhopper and king penguins. After you've had a good giggle at the penguins' antics, head for the dinosaur park also located on this side of the river. This enclosure contains myriad life-size replicas of a variety of different dinosaurs in their recreated prehistoric habitat. The Canadian Wilds habitat, meanwhile, will give you the chance to get close to a number of local species of moose, bear and much more that are increasingly difficult to catch a glimpse of in the wild.Leave this side of the water via the footbridge and head over to St George's Island. This section of the zoo is home to animals from Eurasia, Africa and South America. Keep an eye out as you go for the adorable baby animals scattered around here. The red river hogs that live in the African Savannah are particularly known for producing young, while the zoo also has a successful gorilla breeding programme. Highlights of the Eurasian habitat include the Amur tigers, snow leopards and red pandas, while the monkeys are the stars of the South American section.Another essential stop on your visit to the zoo is the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. Stretching over 2.4 hectares, this botanical garden boasts a number of native flora species, as well as a variety of invertebrates and birdlife.Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland. It's just a few minutes from the city centre by car, and there is plentiful on-site parking which is charged on a daily basis. The zoo is open every day except Christmas Day and there is a charge to enter.
