The Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia, PA

28 July 2025

It was my first time visiting this zoo and it was a great experience. There are pathways overhead that animals often walk through, and all the exhibits allow for you to see the animals up close. I had never before seen a zoo with overhead pathways for the animals but it is such a great idea! I hope other zoos come to adopt this idea too.

We arrived early and decided to eat lunch. There were quite a few food options at the zoo. We ended up trying the Backyard Kitchen and ordered a Philly cheesesteak, a cheeseburger, and fries. The food was good and the service was fast. There was a large outdoor area with patio tables and picnic tables where one could eat. As soon as we were done, we started our adventure.

Among my favorite exhibits were the giant otters, the hippos, the rhino and zebras, the giraffes, and the red panda. When first entering the otter exhibit area, it looked like a water park! There was a big water slide, toys, and plenty of areas to explore.

This was the first time that I got to see hippos up close. They were happily laying in the pool area of their exhibit. I learned that there is also a hippo experience upcharge if one is interested in being up close and feeding them.

The rhino was housed with two zebras and it was great seeing them so close. The zebras were playful and the rhino was slow and sleepy. He would walk around and sometimes stop at the water hole.

One of my all time favorite exhibits is the giraffes! Of course, I had to participate in the giraffe feeding, and it felt like the giraffes were even closer than at other zoos! We even got an entire small branch to feed the giraffes with. At other locations, I only got the opportunity to feed them with one or two large lettuce leaves. It was not a rushed experience and the workers encouraged picture taking, even after the feeding was over.

We were also lucky enough to be walking by the red panda exhibit and suddenly the red panda appeared over our heads. It was so cute!

The wild cat exhibits were also great, especially if you caught sight of one of the big cats walking overhead, but unfortunately, by the time we got to the exhibits and due to the extreme heat, most of the cats were sleeping. We still saw one tiger sleeping in the overhead pathways, and some sleepy lions during this visit.

The primates exhibit was also large. One can view them from the Primate House or from outside alongside the building. The animals had so much space to explore! They were curious and could be found in their large indoor exhibit, or outside in their spacious area. They had sky pathways as well that even led up large trees.

It was a great experience overall, and the animals really seemed happy. The zoo managed to create exhibits where the animals could feel at home. The landscaping and decorations around the zoo made for great picture opportunities too! It won't be the last time that I visit.

Philadelphia Zoo

3400 W Girard Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19104