Our visit to the zoo started at the Rain Forest, which is in a two floor enclosed building. The rain forest was designed very beautifully. The atrium had a 25-foot waterfall surrounded by ancient temple ruins and dense foliage, and the second floor was designed to give an atmosphere of a research center in the tropics. The first floor exhibited bats, reptiles, crocodiles, primates and amphibians. I found the second floor more interesting as bigger species were on display.

After the rain forest exhibit, we entered the main zoo This years main attraction was the dinosaurs. Eleven species of life-size dinaosaurs were on display. The dinosaurs roared and moved as if they were alive and awed and scared the kids and the adults with kid spirits.

Our next stop was the Australian Adventure. As we were tired we took a train tour around this park ($1.50 per person) and got to see the wallabies real close. Later we made a walkabout and discovered that this place was designed more for kids than for adults. There was a tree house, petting zoo, and camel rides.

We took the blue tram to the exhibit of Primate, Cat and Aquatics. We saw various lemurs, chimpanzees and gorillas from Asia and South America. Howler and Spider Monkeys were off interest to us as we had previously seen them in Costa Rica in nature. The Aquatic part included beautiful tropical fish and corals.

We wanted to visit the Northern Experience, however, as it was close to the closing time, the red tram was not working. We toured some parts of the African Safari, but most of the animals were taken inside. Even the Butterfly Exhibition was closed. I suggest that you tour the rain forest last, as this part of the zoo closes at 6:30pm, while the outdoor part of the zoo closes at 5pm.

The ticket to the zoo enables you to get a $2 discount on The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (5/15/03-9/1/03).

The monkey enclosure is two levels high, so that you can observe them from different angles. Like in the wild, the monkeys spend most of their time high up, however, you can see them from the first floor by looking up. Also, their encosure encourages activity. They played and appeared to interact naturally. In another exhibit, a thunderstorm occured inside and briefly rained on the animals. The spectators remain dry. Kids will enjoy the ant exhibit and the challenge of seeing the animals as they blend in with their surroundings.

The rest of the zoo is designed so that the animals have larger than normal enclosures that provide a more natural look. The seals are interesting because visitors can buy two small fish for $1 to feed them. Thus, an opportunity to appropriately interact with the animals.

The walk from one end of the zoo to another can be lengthy, and catching the trams by the entrance can be a source of annoyance. We arrived to se one tram fill up, and were told we would have to wait 15 minutes for the next. So we walked one way and caught the tram back.

The bathrooms in the rainforest exhibit were very clean and the snack shop served pretty good pretzels. I observed other snack areas in remote parts of the zoo that were closed up. So don't assume that you will always have access to food in all parts of the zoo.

This zoo offers several opportunities for its visitors to interact with the animals. At the seal exhibit we purchased fish to feed the seals. It cost $1 for two fish. The seals swam up on the side of their pool and called out to be fed when they saw a fish dangling for them. Animals of various breeds roam freely together in the African Savanna. Even though you are outside of the fences, you can walk through the path appearing as if you are on a true safari. Ostriches run right next to resting giraffes while birds fly overhead. We even saw a nest of ostrich eggs. In the Wolf Lodge you have to look closely, but you can see wolves resting in the foliage of their own forest. The Australian Adventure allows you to take a train ride through the animals. With the open sides of the train, you are right next to the wallaby hopping around their yard. You can purchase a cup of nectar for $1 and walk into the Lorikeet Aviary to feed parrots. Most of the birds fly over and stand on the fence or a branch, but some visitors were even trying to get the birds to sit on their arms as they fed them. Butterfly Magic is offered in the summer. You enter a hothouse filled with a wide variety of flowers and plants. Butterflies hatch from their cocoons at various times during the summer and flutter around inside. You can also see their cocoons and watch newly hatched butterflies before they find their way to a home in the trees.

Experience the jungle in the Rainforest. This amazing section of the zoo has over 600 animals (not including thousands of insects), and over 10,000 live flowers, trees and shrubs all native to tropical rainforests in Africa, Asia and South America. Wander through and see creatures you have never even heard of before. We saw porcupines that lived in trees, hissing cockroaches, exquisite monkeys, the clouded leopard, giant anteaters, sloths, fishing cats, and much more. Two animals that struck me were the Prevost squirrels and Francois’ langurs. The tri-colored fur of the Prevost squirrel has a black back and head, deep chestnut-red legs and belly, and those two colors are separated by a thick white stripe along the middle of his body. Francois’ langurs are inquisitive looking monkeys with a white stripe between the corners of their mouth and their ears.

The zoo has picnic areas with picnic tables, so bring in a cooler. Grills are prohibited. Or ty the food court located in the Welcome Plaza, featuring Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and Safari Snacks. There is also Crocodile Cafe in The Rain Forest, Treetops Cafe near the Primate Cat and Aquatics Building, Matilda's Grill in Australian Adventure, Wilderness Grill, and Grin N Bear Eats in Northern Trek, Wade Hall near Waterfowl Lake, and Savanna Watering Hole near Giraffe Exhibit. Trams run daily though the zoo and are FREE.

The zoo is broke down into several different areas. Northern Trek where you see camels, bears, seals, and seal lions. Australian Adventure: Koala Junction to see the koalas of Gum Leaf Hideout, then the lorikeet aviary. Hop aboard the Boomerang Line (tickets are $1.50) to is see a mob of kangaroos, wallabies, and wallaroos, a nineteenth century ranch house containing animatronic animals and interactive displays, and the animal barn and contact yard. Then it's onto the wool barn where the sheep shearing equipment and wool bails are stored. Finally, you'll pass the dingo fence. Primate, Cats, and Aquatic features red pandas, snow leopards, and a variety of primates including lemurs, chimpanzees, and 45 other species of primates.

Three male gorillas roam the Outdoor Gorilla Exhibit during the warm weather months. Nearby, Aldabra tortoises spend the summer in a large, outdoor exhibit area. Sharks, Australian lungfish, and more can be seen in 35 displays of salt and fresh water sea life in the Aquatics Exhibit. Wolf Wildernes has exhibits with gray wolves, beavers, bald eagles, rattlesnakes, and a variety of wetland species and aquatic life. A 3,000 square foot Wolf Lodge, reminiscent of a 19th century trapper's cabin, serves as an orientation/education center and features fascinating graphics, video, and controllable remote cameras. There is also a large observation area that offers a variety of sight lines, including underwater viewing of beaver and various aquatic life. This area includes a 65,000 gallon pond with stream and waterfall, a wetlands display, and a gift shop. It's a jungle in there!

The rainforests have two indoor acres and is home to more than 600 animals representing 118 different species (not including thousands of insects and other invertebrates). It showcases 10,000 live flowers, trees, and shrubs of 360 different varieties all native to one of the three major tropical rain forests represented in the exhibit - Africa, Asia, and South America.