If you’ve followed my adventures for long, you know one of my favorite places in my hometown is the Dallas Zoo. On my most recent trip home, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit this fantastic zoological park and take my niece with me. Last summer when I was home and we visited the zoo together, we saw the construction underway for the new Dallas Zoo hippo outpost. I was so excited! Hippos are one of my favorite animals, and the zoo hadn’t had any for many years.
My niece and I visited the wonderful Giants of the Savanna area to watch the elephants and feed the giraffes. We wound our way along the Gorilla Trail. There, we observed for a while as the silverback and others were eating. We also rode the safari monorail, which has greatly improved since last I rode it.
Simmon’s Hippo Outpost
Of course, the main thing I wanted to see was the new hippo enclosure. I was not disappointed! The new space is natural looking and boasts a large, clean pool. It is surrounded by lovely flower beds with the okapi enclosures wrapping behind it.
A large viewing window lets visitors see right into the water and watch the jolly animals bob gracefully through the water. We happened to be there right before a keeper talk started, so we stayed and listened while they told us about the magnificent creatures and the story of these two. We also watched as they ate. I was giddy. I think nature knew it too because butterflies were everywhere making the time there even more enchanted.
