This well-stocked zoo offers the chance to see animals from the four corners of the world without leaving Kansas.
Kansas City Zoo opened over a century ago in just one building. Today it covers over 80 hectares and is home to more than 1,000 animals, with plenty to keep visitors of all ages amused for hours on end.The zoo is divided into different themed areas, focusing on the indigenous wildlife of Australia, Asia, the Tropics and the African Plains. One of the first animals to greet visitors is Nikita, the famous polar bear. Watch the playful antics of the North American river otters before heading off towards the Tiger Trail and the snake pits. Take a walkabout in the Australian bush for close-up views of kangaroos, wallabies and emus in their dusty native environment, then transport yourself to the humid Tropics, where monkeys, lemurs and brightly coloured birds can be spotted through the dripping foliage of the rainforest.Nearly half of the park is given over to a spectacular recreation of the African Plains, the zoo’s pride and joy and one of the best facilities of its kind in the USA. Watch open-mouthed as lions stalk the savannah, elephants gather around the watering hole and fleet-footed zebras kick up the dust. You can enhance your African experience with a train journey across the plains, a boat ride across the lake or a Sky Safari to view the mesmerising scene from on high.The younger members of the family are well catered for at the KidZone, where education is wrapped up in interactive fun. Afterwards they can let off steam in the playground and climbing area of the Discovery Barn, where the air conditioning provides a refreshing break from the heat of the day.Kansas City Zoo is in Swope Park, around 15 minutes by road from the city centre. Free on-site parking is provided, and the metro bus stops right by the park entrance. The zoo is open all year round and there is a small, additional charge for some of the rides.
