How to Enjoy a Trip to the Oakland Zoo
- 1). Listen to the beat as you enter through the main entrance. African music is gently piped through the speakers as you approach, getting you in the mood for a visit with exotic elephants, growling tigers and leaping monkeys of all kinds. Admission fees are nominal and a membership pays for itself very quickly.
- 2). See the famous flamingos as you first enter the zoo. Pause for a moment to be sure you've got your map and then head to the right and over the train tracks to see the lions, camels, reticulated giraffes, zebras and elephants. Check the zoo information for feeding times for the elephants--always a fun time for the kids.
- 3). Double back to the train tracks to head down towards the many varieties of monkeys, chimpanzees and other primates. Be quiet in this section as the zoo is working hard to maintain a calm environment for these sensitive creatures. You can also pause before you get to this section and head into the African Savannah area to see meerkats and other creatures.
- 4). Continue to the Children's Zoo. This newly constructed area is chock full of turtles to see, turtle sculptures to climb, bats to view, insects and tree frogs to appreciate and places to run. It's a well designed combination of education, fun, running around space and sensory experiences for the kids.
- 5). Hike back up the hill to the cafe and gift shop. The cafe isn't much to shout about, but it's got a reasonable selection of the usual grilled fare and you can see the train as it goes by. The gift shop has a good selection of items and members receive a discount.
- 6). Exit the park (get a hand stamp to re-enter) and head left to the rides. There's the aforementioned train that goes all around the perimeter of the zoo, a merry-go-round and other rides perfectly proportioned for the under-12 set.