So, for some reason you decided to search up "how to get through the Bronx Zoo in one day". Well you came to the right place. I myself have been through the whole zoo multiple times and know it very well. So first, a little introduction. The Bronx Zoo is the third largest zoo in the world, and the largest zoo inside of a city. It is in fact, almost as big as your mom. Generally, if you're going you'll want to get there early. You cannot get there in the afternoon, or else you won't have time. The earlier the better, you can spend a whole day looking at animals. The route I use is a very specific one and has been passed down for generations by no one, I am the first person. You'll want to start your journey off on the southwest part of the zoo, in an area known as the Bronx River Gate. This is the one by the... Bronx River and is located near the zoo's wildlife reserve, the Mitsubishi Riverwalk. You can go here if you want to, before or after you go in the zoo itself but it is not necessary. A restroom is located near the bridge which takes you over the river so go if you must, and enter the zoo. Once you pay for your tickets you can go inside and walk down the forest pathway to the first exhibit, the American bison. This large herbivorous ungulate was once found all across North America, including in New Jersey, but it has all been wiped out in a few places. Interesting factoid, most American bison are actually crossbreeds with domestic cattle, which makes actual bison much harder to come across. The zoo has a herd of purebred bison which you can see in their grassy plain. Once you're done looking at the afro cows, the first major exhibit at the zoo beckons you inside. The World of Birds, the zoo's bird house is a massive 2 story building featuring all sorts of birds and other animals from around the world, one of the best exhibits at the zoo. This building is dark inside and some exhibits don't even have glass windows, because birds are attracted to light. After World of Birds, you'll be able to go up the path towards Astor Court. Here you'll be able to see the bison again, but also in the court itself reside sea lions in a large rocky pool. If the dinosaur safari exhibit is there when you visit, go on it. It is definitely a thumbs-up from this author. Anyway, also residing in the Astor Court are a pair of aviaries featuring black-headed ibises and jay-thruses. Behind the old monkey house is an exhibit for white-headed capuchin monkeys (not sure on the species), this is something that I notice visitors tend to miss. Two large exhibits are also in Astor Court, Madagascar! and the Aquatic Bird House/Seabird Aviary. Madagascar! is an immersive journey throughout the island, starting in the dry, desertlike part of the country where ring-tailed lemurs jump around the dead trees. The building also features the only ring-tailed vontsiras in the country, huge Nile crocodiles, rare cichlids, and dumpy tomato frogs, as well as the more attractive-to-the-average-visitor lemurs. The Aquatic Bird House is the next exhibit on the agenda, featuring... aquatic birds. Just outside of the building is an exhibit for Caribbean flamingos. A lot of interesting species can be found here, including the Storm's stork, (one of only two zoos to hold the species), the sunbittern, the scarlet ibis, and penguins. This building is a bit run-down but it is still a joy to visit. Just outside is an aviary for adjutant storks and then, the aquatic bird aviary. This is supposed to replicate the southern coastal region of South America, here you can see penguins darting around in the water as well as terns, which fly around above your head. A looong path goes down the way, past Astor Court and to the next exhibit, the bird of prey aviaries. Here, you can spot animals such as the bald eagle, the burrowing owl, and the king vulture. Going way down the path, you'll end up at the north entrance of the zoo, the Southern Boulevard entrance. You're still on the right path, don't worry. The next exhibit on the agenda is the tortoises and Komodo dragons, which can be seen in a set of yards near the Children's Zoo. The Children's Zoo is conveniently the next exhibit. How convenient. This may seem like a playground that should be avoided, but do not avoid it. This exhibit features a lot of cool areas and species, such as prairie dogs, anteaters, snakes, turtles, fish, monkeys, skunks, and goats. It's a fun time for the WHOLE FAMILY AND YOU WILL ENJOY IT. After the Children's Zoo, direct yourself back to Astor Court and head to the Zoo Center, where a yard for white rhinos can be seen, and inside, monitor lizards, Komodo dragons, and finches are represented. When you leave the Zoo Center and go on the right path you'll eventually end up at the Dancing Crane Cafe. Stop here to eat if it's lunchtime or you're hungry. After that you can go further through the zoo, to the massive pond which the zoo's Chilean flamingos call home. You might also see Coscoroba swans here if the zoo still keeps them. Right next to the flamingos is a set of aviaries, don't skip it! You can see many cool birds, such as magpies, parakeets, and turkeys. Assuming you're still on the right path, your next destination will be Congo Gorilla Forest. This is a masterpiece of an exhibit, which goes around in a massive loop and features animals from Africa's forest interior. You can see all sorts of animals, including gorillas, okapis, tarantulas, peafowl, and the smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset. When you leave the forest, your next stop is African Plains, featuring more familiar savannah animals. The animals you'll see walking down the west path are giraffes, ostriches, wild dogs, hyenas, zebras, and gazelles. A building which is called the Carter Giraffe Building is also here. Go inside. Two exhibits are in here besides the giraffes, one holding aardvarks and scops owls, the other holding mongooses and I believe hornbills. Then, you might see an archway which says "Wild Asia". This is our next stop. Here, you might see camels in their pen, which is used for camel rides and an aviary for the critically endangered waldrapp ibis, make sure to see both of these. Quickly, get on the Wild Asia Monorail before it departs!!?!!?!?! YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TIME!?!?!?!?!1/1//1't?!?/?!? Ok, but seriously go on the monorail, it is worth it. You'll have a chance to rest after nonstop walking and standing and view many animals from all over Asia, including deer, wild horses and pigs, elephants, tigers, and antelopes. Once you get off of the monorail, head to the exhibit adjacent to it, JungleWorld. This is a large tropical house which houses animals from Asia. You can see monkeys, snakes, otters, tree kangaroos, gharials, tortoises, fish, crayfish, and slow lorises, AND EVEN MORE. BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET! Quickly, go up the path and head to the rest of the African Plains exhibits, the mixed savannah exhibit, the other smaller pen, the lions, and the gazelles. Make sure to stop by the baboon reserve, you can see some of the only geladas in North America, as well as ibexes and hyraxes. Go upwards to the World of Reptiles, the Mouse House, and the Butterfly Garden (don't forget the exhibits on the side of the Mouse House). Swing back around through the baboon reserve to the bears and dholes, down to Himalayan Highlands, Northern Ponds, and to cap it all off, Tiger Mountain. Congratulations! You made it through the whole zoo in a day! You'll become a celebrity overnight. Go back to your car through the NY traffic and go home and watch The Zoo.
Always fun to see how people do the zoo. Personally, I follow the following route: Enter through the Bronx River Gate and visit the bison, WoB, and Tiger Mountain first. Then turn left along Northern Ponds and make your way to the nyala enclosure, visiting the Dholes and Himalayan Highlands along the way. Take a quick detour to see the nyalas and Lions before backtracking slightly and heading to Wild Asia. Ride and monorail and visit JW. Exit Wild Asia and turn left to see the left half of African Plains heading towards CGF with a slight detour into the Carter Giraffe Building. Visit CGF and then continue to the Pheasantry and the Dancing Crane Cafe courtyard. Turn right after the cafe and pass the carousel to WoR. After the house, continue left to the Brown Bears and turn right to head towards Baboon Reserve. Now complete the right half of African Plains ending by the giraffes. Turn right again to visit the Mouse House and Butterfly Garden. Cut through the Dancing Crane Cafe courtyard and head towards the Zoo Center. Cut through the Zoo Center, visit Madagascar!, and checkout the sea lions and old bird house aviaries. Then head down the stairs towards the ABH but go right to enter through the SeaBird Aviary first so your walk back to this point is filled with birds. Visit Birds of Prey and wrap around the back of the Children's Zoo, past the pelican pond. Check out the outdoor giant tortoise and Komodo Dragon yards before heading into the CZ. After this, cut across Astor Court again to visit the capuchins and rhinos before heading heading back towards the parking lot. ~Thylo
The length isn't the problem it's the fact you haven't discovered the existence of paragraphs and line-breaks!
