Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo, at 2000 Meadowvale Road in the Rouge and Scarborough area of eastern Toronto, is Canada's largest zoo, spread across about 287 hectares of Rouge Valley land. Thousands of animals are organised into geographic regions, including the African Savanna, Indo-Malaya, the Americas, Eurasia, Australasia and the Canadian Domain, which features species native to Canada. Highlights include giraffes, rhinos, lions, tigers, polar bears, gorillas and pandas in some periods, along with indoor pavilions and a children's area. The grounds are large and hilly, so visitors typically walk long distances, though a seasonal Zoomobile tram service and a walkable route help. A visit usually takes a half to a full day, and arriving at opening time at about 9:30 AM gives the best chance to see active animals before the afternoon heat. Adult admission is about CAD $30 to $35, and parking costs extra. Weekday mornings in spring and autumn are the calmest, while summer weekends and school holidays are crowded. In winter, some outdoor exhibits are closed, but indoor pavilions and cold-climate species remain on view. Photography is allowed without flash, and the best images of large animals often come from the early morning. Transit access is longer than for downtown sites: from Kennedy station on Line 2, bus 86A Scarborough takes around 50 minutes to the entrance. The zoo, in Toronto, Ontario, also runs conservation and breeding programs, and its extent means comfortable shoes and planning a route in advance are valuable.