It’s a Jungle Out There, So Plan Your Visit Carefully

Sundays are the busiest days at the zoo. Spring is the busiest season. And, as with Disneyland or the beach, holidays can be crowded.

So, zoo officials say, plan trips for off-days. Try to visit in the afternoon, avoiding school and camp groups that can clutter the paths with scrambling children each morning. The animals often sleep in the midday heat but if you hang around till afternoon, they come back to life.

When all else fails, try a reverse strategy.

“Don’t start with the exhibits near the entrance. That’s where most of the people are,” said Deborah Pollack, a spokeswoman. “Go all the way into the zoo and work your way back to the front.”

Make it even easier on yourself: Take the tram to the rear of the grounds. The return walk is downhill. “You’re working with gravity.”