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The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo, and has played a monumental role in educating the public about exotic animals, and providing recreational opportunities for families. The Zoo now has state of the art animal exhibits, award-winning education and conservation programs, recreational opportunities, and scientific accomplishments. The Zoo is Philadelphia's leading family attraction, with more than a million visitors a year.

The Philadelphia Zoo has more than 1,600 rare and exotic animals from around the world, all on 42 acres of Victorian gardens, outstanding art and historical architecture. The PECO Primate Reserveis designed to tell a story of species survival through interactive exhibition, featuring ten species of primates including Sumatran orangutans, lowland gorillas, lemurs, langurs and gibbons. The Rare Animal Conservation Center, has interactive graphics and up-close views of some of the world's most endangered animals, including Giant Rodrigues fruit bats, naked mole rats, blue-eyed lemurs and tree kangaroos. The Reptile and Amphibian House features the Zoo's newest interactive adventure path to see giant tortoises up-close and personal, and 87 species of amphibians including the venomous king cobra. The Carnivore Kingdom houses giant otters, snow leopards, red pandas and clouded leopards in unique naturalistic environments. The Treehouse is an activity-oriented discovery center, which features larger-than-life replicas of animal habitats. There is also some of the most popular African species: warthogs, sable antelope, Mhorr gazelle, reticulated giraffes, hippos and zebras; and exotic South American animals, such as giant anteaters, capybaras (the largest rodents in the world) and giant bearded pigs.

Featured Attractions at the Zoo include:

Boscov's Safari Quest
Available May-September
The Zoo's most exciting adventure, you can experience the sights, sounds and cultures of Africa in the heart of the Philadelphia Zoo! Boscov’s Safari Quest is a completely different Zoo experience; there are new African animals, safari guides, live entertainment and a marketplace filled with fun activities-all designed to immerse you in the sights, sounds and stories of Africa.

Amoroso’s Soaring Safari
Available April-September
Here you can see Ruko, the African fish eagle, and dive in free-flight from the Channel 6 Zooballoon, in this new and amazing free-flight bird show. You will see Ruko take wing from the Channel 6 Zooballoon and dive almost 400 feet to the crowd below. You will learn all about the amazing things birds do and why they do them. Other birds you will see are Ruppell's Griffin vulture, African augur buzzard, tawny eagle, trumpeter hornbill, African grey parrot and southern ground hornbill.

Channel 6 Zooballoon
Available April-October
From 400 feet in the sky, see a bird's-eye view of the Zoo, Philadelphia skyline and beyond. You will rise high above the treetops of the Zoo and overlook giraffes and zebras. Voyages last approximately 15 minutes.

Birds of Australia
Available April-October
An outdoor aviary full of colorful lorikeets that will feed on nectar right from your hands. An open-air exhibit where colorful creatures will surround you and give you a tropical, treetop encounter that you will never forget!

Camel Safari
Available May-October
You can take a ride through Kito Chete, the African marketplace, and explore the culture and animals of Africa, all on a camel's back. You will tower over the crowds. Camels big feet allow them to walk on top of soft sand without sinking, but probably the incredible adaptation is the hump; most people think it's filled with water, but it's actually filled with fat, and camels use that fat to survive when water's hard to find.

Elephant and Pony Rides
Available April-October
An entire family can fit on one gigantic African elephant, the elephant rides are part of a Zoo tradition that's more than 100 years old; the first elephant rides were given in the 1880s. If want something a little more Western, saddle up on a pony, which is considered any horse less than 5 feet tall at the shoulders.

Swan Boat Rides
Available April-October
You can actually paddle around the real Bird Lake featured in E. B. White's the Trumpet of the Swan in the Zoo's Victorian swan boats, each one built for two to three people. You can also explore the jungle surrounding Bird Lake on the African Queen, which can support up to four.

Tortoise Trail
Available April-October
Come face-to-face with the oldest residents at the Zoo, the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises. During your expedition, make sure to meet Mommy, which is believed to be one of the oldest living Galapagos tortoises in any U.S. zoo, she recently celebrated her 70th anniversary at the Zoo.

Treehouse
Available year-round
Treehouse, a unique educational exhibit, features seven habitats where visitors of all ages can use their imagination as they explore. You enter a magical place where you can ride a giant caterpillar, hatch from an egg, gather honey with fellow bees and become a rain forest explorer inside a four-story fichus tree. The whole building's a stage, and you're in the spotlight.