Pensacola The Northwest Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens

Frommer’s Review

Situated in a 50-acre forest 15 miles east of Pensacola, this zoo, formerly known as, well “The Zoo,” has more than 700 exotic animals — including tigers, lions, rhinos, and lowland gorillas — living in landscaped habitats. Japanese gardens, a giraffe-feeding tower, and a petting farm make for a fun visit. A Safari Line train chugs through a 30-acre wildlife preserve with free-ranging herds. The 2003 birth of a Pygmy hippo and a sable antelope here garnered national attention for the zoo on the Animal Planet cable channel. Set aside 3 to 4 hours to cover the entire park. Part of the zoo family is a 110-pound, 6 1/2-foot Komodo dragon named Ivan who resides in the new Dragon World exhibit. The newest additions to the zoo are a baby Common Waterbuck, born in April 2006, and Honeysuckle, a precious baby spider monkey, born in June 2006.