Calgary Zoo
If you love animals, walking around, being outdoors, or just need a place to take the kids, visit the Calgary Zoo. The zoo is open 9-5pm every day except for December 25 and is located at 1300 Zoo Road NE in Calgary. Prices range from $8-16 and rentals are available for wagons, wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs. Several Calgary hotels offer special room and ticket packages too.
The Calgary Zoo is home to more than 1100 animals and 289 species and is the only facility of its kind to contain a zoo, botanical garden and prehistoric park. Kids can ride the zoo train and utilize the playground with animal-themed slides, tunnels, mazes, and more. When you get hungry you can dine at the Kitamba cafe for a variety of hot food, beverages and confection items including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries, chocolate bars, chips, Nestlé novelties, sandwiches, salads and more. There are also various kiosks on the zoo grounds. When you're done absorbing the sights, sounds, and smells of its denizens, you can shop for souvenirs on one of three gift shops.
Group tours are available and the zoo informs and entertains their visitors through formal, scheduled, interpretive programming (led by the naturalist staff) in several amphitheatres on the grounds and throughout the Zoo. There are also tons of educational programs for kids, adults, students, and families as well as opportunities for teacher professional development.
Upcoming special events:
Easter Eggstravaganza Good Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Singles Safari Vegas Baby! Saturday, April 14 6:00 pm to Midnight
Party for the Planet! Sunday, April 22 - Earth Day 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Singles Safari Cinco de Mayo Saturday, May 5 6:00 pm to Midnight
Super Spider Weekend May 12 and 13, 2007 10:00 am - 3:00 pm each day
Mother's Day Brunch Sunday, May 13, 2007 3 seatings left: 9:00 am 11:30 am 2:00 pm
Father's Day Brunch Sunday, June 17, 2007 2 seatings available: 9:00 am 11:30 am
An Evening at the Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre August 5, 2007 6.30 PM to Dusk
Other reasons to visit the Calgary Zoo are that Maharani and Ganesha (aka Spike) are expecting a baby in July or August, 2007. Also opening this summer, the newly expanded Elephant Crossing exhibit! Plus, Shirley and Lorenzo, two amazing Andean Condors, made their debut on March 15 2007. Or how about seeing Richard, Mardi's calf who was born on November 15, 2006 at 2:25 am; Richard is the 14th giraffe born at the Calgary Zoo. You could visit the Musk Ox in the Canadian Wilds; the River Otters in Cequel Energy Lodge; the gorilla troop in the Rainforest of Destination Africa in the African Savannah; the snow leopards or Siberian tigers in Eurasia or take in the wonderful orchids and butterflies in the Conservatory.
For more information about the zoo go to http://www.calgaryzoo.org/ or (403) 232-9300 and have a wild time!
