Panda Trek

Panda Trek path early Saturday morning seen from the Skyfari Aerial Tram.

What is in the paddock on the right?

Red Panda on the left, Sichuan Takin on the right.

Thx Ituri, i was also thinking the red panda enclosure looked a little cramped for giant pandas.

Also, the building below the red panda has Manshan pit vipers.

I think that the concept of Panda Trek is excellent, as previously visitors would line up for tremendously long periods of time looking at nothing but fellow humans while shuffling forward doing the "panda conga". Now there are cool looking little red creatures on the right, bizarre ox/deer/antelope hybrids on the left, and snakes with funky names in the middle. On my 4 visits to San Diego Zoo in the past 6 years I've always headed straight for the giant pandas, perhaps glancing at a few exhibits along the way. If you visit the star attractions first then there is next to no line-up, as later on in the day the lines are insanely long.

I always take 2 days to see the zoo. I take Tiger River up to the Ituri Forest and then finally Panda Trek with no line at all! That is definitely the smartest way to see the zoo because you can see the tigers, fishing cat, okapi, and pandas running around and active.