The San Diego Zoo Kids Area, also known as the Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, is a 3.2-acre site that offers a state-of-the-art, multi-ecosystem experience for visitors of all ages. Located at the site of the former children’s zoo, Basecamp is included with admission to the zoo and is designed to inspire visitors to become future caretakers of the planet.
Exploring the Zones of the San Diego Zoo Kids Area
Basecamp is made up of eight different buildings and habitats in four separate zones: Rain Forest, Wild Woods, Marsh Meadows, and Desert Dunes. Each zone offers unique interactive opportunities and up-close encounters with a variety of species.
Rain Forest Zone
The Rain Forest zone includes a 10,000-square-foot building where visitors can interact with and learn about invertebrates such as leaf cutter ants, spiders, scorpions, stick insects, and other crustaceans, arachnids, and insects. Visitors can experience fragrant honeycombs and watch a working beehive in action, as well as observe butterflies, grasshoppers, and more.
Wild Woods Zone
The Wild Woods zone allows visitors to interact with squirrel monkeys, coatis, and other animals native to South and Central America. This area features a 20-foot-tall treehouse, a suspension bridge, and a net tunnel to a spiral staircase, as well as a waterfall, stream, and splash pad, and a bluff area with boulders for exploration.
Marsh Meadows Zone
The Marsh Meadows zone features swamps and estuaries filled with frogs, fish, and other wildlife that call this habitat home. This section revolves around a two-story building with 7,000 square feet of digital media, classroom spaces, and immersive environments. Wildlife in the building includes snakes, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and the endangered Fijian iguanas. The neighboring Ambassadors Headquarters includes a two-toed sloth, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, and more.
Desert Dunes Zone
The Desert Dunes zone features a dry desert theme with boulders to climb and explore, reptile sculptures, and petroglyphs hidden among them. There are shaded caves where guests can experience what it’s like to be a prairie dog, burrowing owl, or fennec fox.
Interactive Experiences and Exploration Opportunities
In addition to these zones, Basecamp also offers interactive play areas, shade-covered picnic areas, and hands-on exploration opportunities for kids and kids at heart. The area is designed to encourage wildlife exploration, learning about nature, and developing an empathy for wildlife.
Visiting the San Diego Zoo Kids Area
Visitors can access Basecamp during regular zoo hours, which are currently 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily. Admission to the San Diego Zoo includes access to Basecamp and all other exhibits and attractions.
Conclusion
The San Diego Zoo Kids Area, or Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, is a must-visit destination for families and wildlife enthusiasts. With its immersive zones, interactive experiences, and opportunities to learn about and connect with nature, Basecamp is a unique and engaging way to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom.