Dallas Zoo is a great day out during your visit to Texas. The number of animals on show (over 2000) from different species and habitats will keep visitors of all ages entertained. With everything from gorillas, to insects, to the only two koalas in Texas – this zoo has it covered.
Dallas Zoo is divided into two distinct areas: the original ZooNorth, which opened in 1888, and the Wilds of Africa exhibit, which was added in 1990. ZooNorth is closest to the zoo entrance and contains highlights such as Travis & Zach’s Birds Landing, where you can feed over two dozen species of hand-raised birds from around the world. The Bug U! enclosure showcases native Texan invertebrates, like the black widow spider. If you don’t like creepy crawlies, head to the Snout Route, home to mountain lions and giant anteaters, or Primate Place to get up to some monkey business.
The Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo in ZooNorth provides plenty of interactive entertainment, including pony treks and camel rides, and has a petting zoo with guinea pigs and rabbits – great for younger family members.
The Wilds of Africa features natives of the continent in their natural habitats – be that desert, mountain, forest or river. The best way of getting to see them all is on the 20-minute Monorail Safari tour. There is a small fee for this, but it’s worth it for the quality of the tour. To make some new friends, buy a bit of lettuce and feed the giraffes.
The zoo has many eateries, from the food court in ZooNorth, which serves up classic fare, to the Serengeti Grill in the Wilds of Africa. This licensed restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the enclosures, so you can admire the noble pride of lions while tucking in to your lunch in complete safety.
The zoo is located five kilometres south of downtown Dallas and is served by its own train station, linked to the main Dallas rail network. On hot Dallas days, the animals seek shade and may not be visible, so it’s a perfect cloudy-day outing.
Dallas Zoo is open daily except Christmas Day.
