Miami Metrozoo - Miami trip planner - Travel Miami Beach
This zoo is a great place to educate young children, and to inculcate values that support the conservation of wildlife and natural species. Different animals like tigers, rhinos, elephants, hunter dogs, gazelles, crocodiles and more wild animals can be observed at close quarters. Attend education programs, such as behind-the-scenes adventures, daily presentations in the Ecology Theater, and weekend programs. Different sections at the zoo have different timings. For example, the Amercian Bankers Family Aviary remains open from 10a-5p, the Children's Zoo is open from 10a-5p.
Miami MetroZoo is fast becoming one of the best zoos in the nation. Its climate allows it to keep a wide variety of animals from Asia, Australia and Africa like no other zoo in the country. One of the first free-range zoos in the country, the exhibits are entirely cageless. Animals are grouped according to their geographic territory and animals that live together peacefully in the wild are placed in exhibits together. Other animals in the area are separated by moats. Looking out across the African plains, for example, you see the animals apparently co-mingling much as you would on a safari. The trees, foliage and even soil mimic as closely as possible the native habitat of the animals.
Isolated and never really crowded, it's also completely cageless -- animals are kept at bay by cleverly designed moats. This is a fantastic spot to take younger kids (the older ones seem bored and uninspired here); there's a wonderful petting zoo and play area, and the zoo offers several daily programs designed to educate and entertain. Mufasa and Simba (of Disney fame) were modeled on a couple of Metrozoo's lions. Other residents include two rare white Bengal tigers, a Komodo dragon, rare koala bears, a number of kangaroos, and an African meerkat. The air-conditioned Zoofari Monorail tour offers visitors a nice overview of the park. One of the zoo's newer and more fun exhibits is the interactive Wild Earth Jeep Simulator in which you climb aboard an actual jeep and go on a virtual, simulated safari. Rides cost $5 per person. The zoo is always upgrading its facilities, including the impressive aviary. Note: The distance between animal habitats can be great, so you'll be doing a lot of walking here. For this reason, there are benches and shaded gazebos strategically positioned throughout the zoo so you can rest when you need to. Also, because the zoo can be miserably hot during summer months, plan these visits in the early morning or late afternoon. Expect to spend about 3 hours here.
General Information:
Miami Metrozoo
Address: 1 Zoo Boulevard (12400 SW 152 Street), Miami, FL 33177
Phone: (305) 251-0400
Fax: (305) 378-6381
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