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Exploring the zones and habitats inside San Diego Zoo

Quick overview

Explore 100 acres of habitats inside the San Diego Zoo, home to thousands of animals from around the world.

  • Must-sees: Polar Bear Plunge, Elephant Odyssey, Africa Rocks, Lost Forest, and Koalafornia Boardwalk.
  • Family favorites: Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, Kangaroo Bus Tour, and Skyfari offer interactive experiences and easier ways to explore the Zoo.
  • Pro-tip: The Zoo’s trails cover a large, hilly area, so plan your priority zones in advance and use the bus or Skyfari strategically to save time and walking.

What to expect inside San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo takes you across recreated habitats from around the world, from African savannas and tropical forests to Arctic landscapes and Australian bushland. A visit to the zoo combines close-up wildlife viewing, immersive habitats, conservation stories, and family-friendly attractions.

Explore African habitats

Africa Rocks and Urban Jungle take you through a variety of African landscapes, from coastal habitats and forests to highlands and savannas.

  • Africa Rocks: See African penguins, lemurs, baboons, geladas, leopards, meerkats and other species across six themed habitats.
  • Urban Jungle: Get close to giraffes and Soemmerring's gazelles in a savanna-inspired setting.
  • What to look for: African penguins swimming, giraffes browsing and geladas moving across the rocky Ethiopian Highlands habitat.

Discover tropical forests

Follow shaded trails through Lost Forest and Asian Passage, where dense vegetation and naturalistic habitats recreate the environments of forest-dwelling wildlife.

  • Lost Forest: Encounter gorillas, monkeys, pygmy hippos, and tigers along forested trails.
  • Asian Passage: Explore Asian rainforest-inspired habitats featuring sun bears and other Asian wildlife.
  • What to look for: Primates moving through elevated spaces, tigers in their wooded habitat, and sun bears climbing around their enclosures.

Meet cold-climate wildlife

Northern Frontier brings visitors into habitats inspired by the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with polar bears as the main attraction.

  • Polar Bear Plunge: Watch polar bears swim and play in a large pool.
  • Underwater viewing: See the bears from below as they move through the water.
  • Polar Play Area: Younger visitors can explore a polar-themed play and learning space.
  • What to look for: Watch the polar bears underwater, where their swimming behavior is easier to observe up close.

See elephants and other large animals

Elephant Odyssey combines wildlife viewing with exhibits exploring prehistoric animals, conservation, and the natural history of Southern California.

  • Elephant habitat: See elephants in a spacious outdoor setting and observe their social behavior.
  • California condors: Look for these endangered birds in the surrounding habitats.
  • Fossil displays: Discover connections between today's animals and prehistoric species.
  • What to look for: Watch elephants interact with their environment, then explore the area's prehistoric-themed exhibits.

Get closer to Australian wildlife

Outback recreates the dry, wooded landscapes of Australia, with koalas at the center of the experience.

  • Koalafornia Boardwalk: Walk along an elevated path for closer views of koalas in their eucalyptus habitat.
  • Koala habitat: Look among the branches for koalas resting or feeding on eucalyptus.
  • Australian wildlife: Continue through the area to discover other species associated with Australia's diverse ecosystems.
  • What to look for: Check the higher branches carefully, as koalas may be resting quietly among the leaves.

Make time for interactive experiences

San Diego Zoo also combines wildlife viewing with attractions that help you cover the large grounds and experience the animals from different perspectives.

  • Wildlife Explorers Basecamp: Explore interactive habitats featuring reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and other smaller wildlife.
  • Skyfari: Ride the aerial tram for views over the Zoo and a convenient way to travel between sections.
  • Kangaroo Bus Tour: Take a guided bus ride through the Zoo for an overview of its habitats and wildlife.
  • What to look for: Use the bus early in your visit to understand the layout, then use Skyfari strategically when moving between distant areas.

Top zones and highlights at the San Diego Zoo

Silverback gorilla standing on grass in a natural habitat setting.
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Lost Forest

A lush, tropical zone of shaded trails and forest habitats built around primates and other forest-dwelling wildlife.

  • Gorilla Tropics: See gorillas in a lush, heavily planted rainforest setting, alongside the walk-through Scripps Aviary with African forest birds, waterfalls, and dense vegetation. 
  • Monkey Trails: Walk through the tree canopy to spot colobus monkeys, capuchins, Wolf's monkeys, lesser spot-nosed monkeys, and northern black-crested mangabeys. 
  • Hippo Trail: Explore forest and wetland-style habitats with species including spotted-necked otters, swamp monkeys, red river hogs, and forest buffalo. 
  • Tiger Trail: Look for tigers in a wooded Asian habitat, another major wildlife experience within Lost Forest. 

Reptile Walk

A dedicated area for reptiles and amphibians, combining indoor exhibits with planted outdoor habitats.

  • Komodo Kingdom: See Komodo dragons, the world's largest living lizards, in a dedicated habitat. 
  • Reptile House: Discover reptiles and amphibians from different parts of the world in an indoor setting.
  • Reptile Mesa: See green iguanas among unusual plants selected to recreate a suitable basking and climbing environment. 
  • Amphibians: Look for frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians adapted to aquatic, forest, and tropical environments.
  • Hummingbird Habitat: Spot small, fast-moving hummingbirds in a planted outdoor setting near the reptile exhibits. 

Wildlife Explorers Basecamp

An interactive wildlife zone designed around discovery, smaller animals, and hands-on family experiences.

  • Rainforest: Explore a multilevel outdoor habitat with caimans and tortoises, along with opportunities to meet wildlife ambassadors. 
  • Cool Critters Reptile House: See species such as Fijian iguanas, South American lungfish, axolotls, and Chinese giant salamanders in an underwater-inspired environment. 
  • Spineless Marvels Invertebrate House: Enter a greenhouse filled with butterflies, grasshoppers, bees, and other invertebrates, including a leafcutter ant colony.
  • Wild Woods: Explore a giant oak-themed play and discovery area with rope bridges and climbing elements.
  • Tree of Dreams: Climb around a giant-tree-inspired play structure while learning about forest ecosystems. 

Northern Frontier

A cold-climate zone centered around Arctic wildlife and the Zoo's polar bear habitat.

  • Polar Bear Plunge: Watch polar bears swim and play in a large pool, including from the underwater viewing area, where they can come right up to the glass. 
  • Polar Play Area: Children can explore a polar bear den, compare their size with life-size bear models, and learn about Arctic wildlife. 
  • Northern wildlife: Look for other North American species associated with the region, including grizzly bears and smaller cold-climate animals. 

Asian Passage

A densely planted zone recreating tropical and temperate Asian environments with forests, streams, and waterfalls.

  • Sun Bear Forest®: Walk through a Southeast Asian rainforest-inspired habitat with waterfalls, streams, and thousands of exotic plants. 
  • Asian wildlife: Depending on the route and habitat, you can encounter species such as sloth bears, Asian leopards, and other animals from the region. 

Elephant Odyssey

A large-animal habitat centered on elephants, conservation, and connections between modern and prehistoric wildlife.

  • Elephants: See elephants in a spacious habitat and learn about their behavior, social structures, and adaptations. Asian elephants naturally inhabit scrub forests and rainforests, while African elephants use habitats ranging from forests and floodplains to woodlands and savannas. 
  • California condors: Look for these large, endangered vultures in the area alongside other wildlife. 
  • Fossil connections: Explore displays and activities that connect modern animals with prehistoric species.

Africa Rocks

A six-habitat journey through Africa, spanning coastal landscapes, forests, highlands, woodlands, and rocky terrain.

  • Cape Fynbos and Kopje: See African penguins in a coastal setting, with spotted leopard sharks and native South African plants nearby. Explore rocky formations inhabited by klipspringers, rock hyraxes, dwarf mongooses, meerkats, and bateleur eagles.
  • Forest: Meet lemurs and look for West African dwarf crocodiles, Gaboon forest turtles, agama lizards, and colorful cichlid fish around a lush forest and wetland landscape.
  • Woodland and highlands: See leopards, South African vervet monkeys, and colorful African birds among grasses, shrubs, and acacia trees. Watch hamadryas baboons, geladas, and Nubian ibex navigate a rugged, mountainous landscape. 

Urban Jungle

An open, savanna-style zone focused on African herbivores, particularly giraffes.

  • Masai giraffes: Get close to giraffes as they feed from low stations and elevated branches, using their long tongues to reach foliage. 
  • Soemmerring's gazelles: Look for these smaller African antelope sharing the giraffe habitat.
  • Savanna setting: The landscape reflects the open grasslands, scattered shrubs, and trees characteristic of African savannas. 

Outback

An Australian-inspired zone of dry woodland and scrubland habitats centered on koalas and other native wildlife.

  • Koalafornia Boardwalk: Follow the raised pathway through the koala area for closer views of these tree-dwelling marsupials.
  • Australian wildlife: Look for other species associated with the Australian region as you continue through the Outback area. 

​Learn more about the animals at the San Diego Zoo →

How to explore San Diego Zoo

  • Get an overview by bus: Take the guided Kangaroo Bus Tour to cover major areas of the Zoo while learning about the habitats and animals along the route.
  • Save walking time: Use the bus as a practical way to move between sections when you want to cover more of the Zoo without walking every connecting trail.
  • See the Zoo from above: Ride Skyfari Aerial Tram for elevated views of the habitats and landscaped grounds.
  • Use both strategically: Combine the bus and tram with walking trails to reduce backtracking and make it easier to reach distant areas.
  • Explore with a guide: Choose a separately ticketed guided experience for deeper insights into animal behavior, habitats, conservation, and the Zoo's work.
  • Go behind the scenes: These tours provide access to areas or animal experiences beyond the standard admission route.
  • Book ahead: Guided experiences have separate availability and requirements, so check the details and reserve your preferred experience before your visit.
  • Accessible routes: Use the Zoo's accessibility map to identify accessible paths and plan around the site's hills, slopes and stairs.
  • Wheelchair access: Accessible facilities and routes are available throughout the Zoo, with assistance available for visitors who need it.
  • Rest and dining stops: Restaurants, cafés, snack stands, and seating areas are distributed around the Zoo, making it easier to plan breaks between zones.
  • Family facilities: Look for designated areas and facilities that make a full-day visit easier for families with young children.
  • Information points: Use guest services and map information to check routes, facilities, schedules, and current visitor information during your visit.
  • Follow animal-viewing rules: Stay on designated paths and follow posted instructions around animal habitats and viewing areas.
  • Do not feed the animals: Feeding wildlife is not permitted unless it is part of an officially supervised Zoo experience.
  • Keep food and belongings secure: Follow posted restrictions on food, bags, and personal items in individual exhibits and attractions.
  • Respect photography guidelines: Follow signs and staff instructions regarding photography, especially around close-contact or specialized animal experiences.
  • Check attraction requirements: Transport services, tours, and certain experiences may have specific operating schedules, accessibility provisions, or participation requirements.
  • Start with your priorities: Pick the animals and zones you most want to see before building your route, as the Zoo's large grounds can make it difficult to cover everything.
  • Use transport between distant areas: Save time and energy by using the Kangaroo Bus Tour or Skyfari when moving between sections rather than walking back along the same route.
  • Plan around animal activity: Check the day's animal presentations and scheduled experiences before setting your route so you can fit them into nearby zones.
  • Explore by zone: Group nearby habitats together instead of crossing the Zoo repeatedly; this reduces unnecessary walking and backtracking.
  • Allow time for breaks: Build dining, rest, and shaded stops into your itinerary, particularly if you plan to spend the full day at the Zoo.

Frequently asked questions about what is inside the San Diego Zoo

The Zoo is organized into themed zones based on geographic regions and habitats, so you can move from tropical forests and African landscapes to cold-climate environments and Australian bushland as you explore.