- Size: 100 acres (40 hectares)
- Location: Inside Balboa Park, one of the country’s oldest recreational regions.
- Operational since: 1920s
- Distance from Downtown San Diego: 2 miles
- Known for: Its pioneering design and layout, with open habitats that mimic the species’ natural environment.
- Key attractions: Koalas, giant pandas, Elephant Odyssey, and the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.
San Diego Zoo on a map | Explore the habitats before your visit
The San Diego Zoo is divided into themed zones that recreate different ecosystems and geographic regions, making it easier to explore. Each zone brings together species adapted to similar climates and surroundings. Use this map to help you navigate the zoo and understand its layout before your visit.
Overview
San Diego Zoo map
San Diego Zoo | Understanding the zones and habitats
Lost Forest
Lost Forest recreates the dense, tropical environments of Africa and other forest regions, with lush vegetation, shaded trails, and habitats built around natural behaviors. It is one of the Zoo's main areas for primates and forest-dwelling animals, and its elevated trails give you different perspectives of the wildlife.
Key highlights:
- Gorilla Tropics
- Monkey Trails
- Pygmy hippos and the Hippo Trail
- Tiger Trail
Reptile Walk
Reptile Walk focuses on reptiles and amphibians, combining planted outdoor habitats with indoor exhibits. It is a good area for seeing species that are often hidden or difficult to spot in larger mammal habitats.
Key highlights:
- Komodo dragons at the Komodo Kingdom
- Reptile House and Reptile Mesa
- The Hummingbird Habitat
Wildlife Explorers Basecamp
Wildlife Explorers Basecamp is designed around hands-on discovery, with outdoor habitats and indoor exhibits offering an interactive, kid-friendly environment that is focused on smaller animals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Key highlights:
- Rainforest habitat
- The Cool Critters Reptile House
- Invertebrates
- Wild Woods discovery area
- The Tree of Dreams play zone
Northern Frontier
Northern Frontier transports you to cold-climate habitats, with wildlife adapted to Arctic and North American environments. The zone is best known for its polar bear habitat and opportunities to observe these animals both above and below the water.
Key highlights:
- Polar bears in an Arctic habitat
- The Polar Play Area
- North American wildlife
Asian Passage
Asian Passage brings together wildlife and plant life from tropical and temperate parts of Asia, with forested trails, water features, and densely planted habitats.
Key highlights:
- Sun Bear Forest®
- Forest landscapes
- Tropical plant life
Elephant Odyssey
Elephant Odyssey is centered on elephants and other wildlife associated with North American and African landscapes, while also incorporating prehistoric connections through fossil displays and educational elements. The area combines large open habitats with opportunities to learn about elephant behavior and conservation.
Key highlights:
- Elephants and the Elephant Care Center
- California Condors
- Fossil displays
- Elephant Play Yard
Africa Rocks
Africa Rocks takes you through six distinct African habitats, highlighting a variety of species and the adaptations that help them survive in very different landscapes.
Key highlights:
- African penguins
- Madagascar and West African Forests
- Ethiopian Highlands
- Acacia Woodland with leopards and grassland species
Urban Jungle
Urban Jungle focuses on large African herbivores in open, savanna-style surroundings, offering close-up views of animals that are adapted to grasslands and woodland edges. It is known for its giraffe habitat and opportunities to watch these animals feed.
Key highlights:
- Masai giraffes and feeding
- Large herbivores and gazelles
- Savanna landscapes
Outback
Outback recreates the dry, wooded, and scrubland environments of Australia, with a strong focus on koalas and other Australian wildlife. Its planted habitats reflect the eucalyptus-rich landscapes that support many of Australia's native species.
Key highlights:
- Koalas and koala care
- Australian wildlife and habitats
- Koalafornia Boardwalk
Key facilities and features at the San Diego Zoo
- Skyfari: Skyfari is the San Diego Zoo’s aerial tram, offering a quick way to travel between the Zoo’s upper and lower areas while seeing the grounds from above. The ride gives you a bird’s-eye view of the landscaped habitats and surrounding park, making it both a convenient transport option and a sightseeing experience.
- Kangaroo Bus Tour: The Kangaroo Bus Tour is a complimentary guided bus ride that makes a loop through the Zoo, helping you cover more ground while learning about the animals and habitats along the route.
- Guided tours: San Diego Zoo offers guided tour experiences that provide a closer look at its wildlife, habitats, and conservation work. Depending on the tour, visitors can explore selected areas with a knowledgeable guide and learn more about the animals and the Zoo’s approach to their care.
- Dining and shopping: San Diego Zoo has multiple dining venues, cafés, snack stands, and shops spread across the grounds, so you can take breaks without leaving the Zoo. Dining options range from quick snacks and drinks to sit-down meals, while gift shops offer animal-themed souvenirs, apparel and other merchandise.
Highlights at San Diego Zoo
Kangaroo Bus Tour
Ride through the Zoo on a guided bus tour and see a variety of animal habitats along the route.
Visitor tips
- Start with the Guided Bus Tour: The narrated 35-minute bus tour boards near the entrance and covers the Zoo grounds, making it a useful way to get oriented before choosing which areas to explore on foot.
- Use Skyfari to cross the Zoo: Skyfari connects the eastern and western sides of the Zoo, so use it to avoid retracing your steps when moving between areas such as Lost Forest, Northern Frontier, and the entrance-side zones.
- Group nearby zones together: Reptile Walk, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, Outback, Urban Jungle and Africa Rocks are concentrated toward the entrance and lower sections, while Lost Forest, Asian Passage, Northern Frontier and Elephant Odyssey extend farther into the Zoo. Grouping nearby habitats reduces unnecessary backtracking.
- Allow extra time for Lost Forest: Trails within Lost Forest branch away from the main routes, including Monkey, Orangutan, Tiger, and Hippo trails. If you want to cover the area thoroughly, treat it as a dedicated section rather than a quick pass-through.
- Don't plan every exhibit in one loop: The Zoo has multiple branching trails and significant changes in elevation. Pick a few priority habitats or animals, then build the rest of your route around them rather than trying to cover every path in a single circuit.
