Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens covers about 133 acres in Griffith Park at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, California. The zoo houses more than a thousand animals and is set on rolling hillsides, so visitors walk a loop with some steep sections. Adult admission is about 25 to 30 dollars, and child tickets are about 20 to 25 dollars. Highlights include the Elephants of Asia habitat, the Campo Gorilla Reserve, the Rainforest of the Americas and the Red Ape Rainforest featuring orangutans. Other areas present Australian, African and North American wildlife, and the Winnick Family Children's Zoo offers close encounters and a petting area for younger visitors. Animal feedings and keeper talks run through the day, and the botanical gardens contain collections of cycads, palms and native plants. The Sky Safari aerial ride lets visitors cross part of the zoo. A typical visit takes three to four hours, with a full day needed to see everything. Crowds are largest on weekends, holidays and during school breaks, while weekday mornings are calmer and animals are generally more active early in the day. The zoo is open daily around 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but hours may change. Free on-site parking is available. Public transit riders can use the Metro Line 96 bus, and rideshare from downtown takes about 20 minutes. Visitors should bring water and sunscreen since the hillside paths have limited shade in hot weather.