More Adventures in Toronto, Canada: The Toronto Zoo

We've all heard variations on the same theme: when all the world's animals are extinct then what will we do? Hopefully that day will never happen. Fortunately at the Toronto Zoo - in addition to being just a totally awesome animal habitat with over 5,000 animals representing nearly 500 species - you get the full package: an interactive environment where the animals actually thrive in their simulated natural surroundings and don't just mope around feeling imprisoned.

Off to the African Savannah

I admit it, when it comes to animals I'm just a big kid at heart. Maybe it's because living in the inner city I never had the exposure to the great outdoors, so you can imagine how exciting it is to literally pick a direction at the Toronto Zoo and find yourself in a different part of the world. The African Savannah for example, in addition to being my favourite area, is home to wild kingdom' s big ticket items like the African elephant, lion, cheetah, giraffe and a host of others. But don't worry, maybe you're interests lie in other areas and with other animals that's why the Zoo is divided into seven zoogeographic regions, which according to torontozoo.com and my zoo map are: Indo-Malaya, Africa, the Americas, Australasia, Eurasia, Canadian Domain and the Tundra Trek. It doesn't stop there. Animals are also displayed indoors in tropical pavilions and outdoors in as natural an environment as possible with viewing locations at a variety of angles and levels.

Size IS important

When it comes to the Zoo (any zoo not just this one) I'd venture to say that size IS important. The King of the Jungle needs to feel like the King of the Jungle and not the closet. The animals need room to walk around and the zoo's visitors need to manuever as well. Which is why the Toronto Zoo has over six miles of walking trails and is spread out over an impressive 710 acres, which makes the Zoo one of the largest in the world.

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You

There's so much to see and do at the Toronto Zoo you may find one visit just doesn't do it justice. I personally think it's planned that way. But in case your time is at a premium I'd recommend the following: the 10-acre Tundra Trek (complete with a 5-acre Polar bear habitat and underwater viewing area), the Gorilla Rainforest (home to the Western Lowland Gorilla), the Great Barrier Reef, and the Kids Zoo. Is there more? Of course there is and it's up to you to discover it all.

Getting There

The Main Entrance is located on Meadowvale Road and north of Highway 401 (Exit #389 eastbound and westbound). If you're travelling from the US just get on the QEW and head to Toronto and follow the signs which pop up as soon as you near the city.

The Toronto Zoo proves that animals aren't just for kids but rather for the child in all of us!