San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park in downtown San Diego and has approximately 3,700 animals. The Zoo is Famous for pioneering the concept of a cageless exhibition of wild animals. This at one time unique feature means the animals natural habitats are recreated on the zoo grounds. Designed and built in 1921 with animals left over from the 1915 Panama-California Exhibit it is over 100 acres of land.
Giant Pandas can be seen here for now as a pair of pandas, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, were loaned to the zoo from China in 2024.
The zoo offers a guided tour bus that traverses the park.[34] There is also an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari, providing an aerial view of the zoo. Bring your camera and wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes on your visit. Best time to go is during the week versus the weekend and on sunny warm weekend days it can get a bit overcrowded.