Visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, DC

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No tour of Washington, DC would be complete without a visit to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. This is one of the best zoos in the country, and visitors will find it a friendly place where you not only view animals, but get to know them on a first name basis.

There is a huge variety of both indoor and outdoor exhibits to see at the National Zoo. Although the large animals in outdoor habitats tend to steal the show, indoor exhibits such as the Invertebrate Exhibit and the Reptile Discovery Center are just as fascinating to explore.

Touch tanks, impromptu talks and demonstrations make visits to the indoor exhibits fun and educational. Talk to one of the friendly zoo keepers at the Invertebrate House, and you will discover the giant red Octopus here not only has a name, but a personality! On alternate days, you can also watch as hissing cockroaches, brittlestars and other invertebrates are fed.
If you like elephants, you will enjoy meeting the Asian elephants at the National Zoo. A big conservation effort expansion for the Zoo’s Asian elephants is currently underway, but you can still meet Shanti and her young, baby male elephant, Kandula. Although Kandula is maturing, he has a large ball he still occasionally enjoys playing with in his yard. You can watch as Kandula and the other elephants bathe, cool off and play in their water pool, as well.

Three of the most popular residents at the National Zoo are Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and baby Tai Shan. Tian Tian and Mei Xiang are the Giant Pandas that millions of visitors enjoy seeing every year at the Zoo. In 2007, Mei Xiang gave birth to male baby Tai Shan. The Pandas have access to a state-of-the-art Giant Panda Habitat at the Zoo that is carefully patterned after Pandas’ natural environment in China. Grottoes, dens, water pools and streams, trees and bamboo are all included in their indoor room and outdoor yards.

At the Great Ape House, you can learn about and observe the six lowland Gorillas that live at the Zoo. Zookeepers are happy to share information about each Gorilla, including their names, histories and personalities. You can meet Haloko and Mandara, two mother Gorillas, as well as Kwame and Kojo, two males born at the Zoo. Watching the large but graceful Gorillas is entertaining and relaxing.

There are thousands of other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians to see at the National Zoo. You can also learn about and view a variety of interesting fish and even a Giant Anteater at the Amazonia exhibit. A friendly and fun atmosphere makes seeing and learning about all of the animals at the National Zoo a very special and memorable experience.