San Diego Zoo welcomes around 5 million visitors every year, and it’s easy to see why. Spanning a huge site, the zoo houses about 4000 animals from over 650 different species and subspecies. All of these creatures live in realistic habitats, with most exhibits out in the open air.

See water buffalos and hogs among the native animals of Africa, or watch tropical bird species fluttering around two different aviaries. You can even see tigers, elephants and gorillas up close.

San Diego Zoo specialises in protecting endangered species and runs a successful breeding programme. Some of the most famous inhabitants are the giant pandas—watch them sleep, eat and play at the walk-through Panda Trek exhibit.

For a great overview of the entire zoo, board one of the tour buses for a 35-minute trip and narrated introduction to the zoo. For a more playful approach, head off on the 50-minute comedy tour. Express buses are a great way of cutting the walking time between the different parts of the park—with five stops spread around, pick up a day ticket and hop off where you like. For a birds-eye view of the zoo, get on the Skyfari, a gondola ride carrying you high above the park.

If you arrive early you’ll not only be able to beat the crowds, but will have a chance of seeing the animals at feeding time. And don’t worry if the sun isn’t shining—unlike human visitors, the animals are more likely to come outside on cloudier days, rather than hiding in the shade.

With 10 food outlets including cafés, fast food stalls and a restaurant, you have plenty of dining options. San Diego Zoo is open daily, including during public holidays. Opening hours are extended during some holiday periods and over the summer.