We all know that the Zoo is huge! There are lots of people moving about and lots of animals to see. It seems like it’s almost impossible to see the entire Zoo in one day and see all of your favorite animals. Of course, the San Diego Zoo realizes this and has set up a bus tour system so you can see all of your favorite animals and more!
The bus tour starts from the loading dock, which is near the entrance of the Zoo. The bus is a double decker, and passengers can choose to sit either on the bottom or the top (with a nice view, I might add) and it can hold 104 passengers. The bus then goes through Tiger River, where you can see plants and animals from Southeast Asia, then goes through Ituri Forest, which is modeled after the central African rain forest (of the same name). From Ituri Forest, it goes through Panda Canyon (my favorite part of the tour), and then Bear Canyon. After looking at the bears in Bear Canyon, the bus goes up through Camel Road to the outskirts of Elephant Odyssey (which is under construction and is scheduled to be open in the Spring of 2009). After you see the construction site of Elephant Odyssey, the bus goes down into Cat Canyon where you can see nature’s big cats such as the Siberian lynx (which are featured on Animal Planet’s Growing Up Lynx). Last but not least, the bus goes to Elephant Mesa, where you can see three elephants and two Indian rhinos. 
The bus was a great opportunity for me and the other interns to see about 70 percent of the Zoo in half the time it would have taken to see it on foot. During the bus tour we got to see everything from the giraffes to meerkats. The driver, Rachel Gould, (who also acted as the guide for the tour) was extremely helpful during the tour. She pointed out all of the animals that we saw on the tour (like the bears and the otters) and told us interesting facts about them. She also made sure that we got to stop at prime locations to see the Zoo’s most featured animals, like the tigers and the pandas.
To me, the bus tour was the best way to see my favorite animals and find new favorites, thanks to the extensive knowledge of the tour guide. Since you can see so much of the Zoo with the bus tours, it’s easy to forget just how big the Zoo really is because you see so many animals. It’s nice though, because while you’re on the tour you can see all of your favorite animals and more and remember where they are so you can go back and spend more time with them later. For example, when the bus tour went through Ituri forest, I saw the spot-necked otters, the okapis, and the river hippos. Well, I just fell in love with the river hippos, and even though the tour had to move on, I remembered that I could go back to my beloved hippos but would still have the satisfaction of knowing that I had seen all of the other exciting animals at the Zoo. 
The Tour is about 35 to 40 minutes long and is a great way to see the most of the animal collection that the Zoo has to offer. The Guided Bus Tour also offers seating for those who are disabled as well as a shuttle service. Your bus ticket also gives you the privilege of the Express Bus, where you get on and off at certain points of the Zoo and see your beloved hippos!
Laura is a high school intern at the San Diego Zoo.
we have been on this bus tour and highly reccomend it! it was the first thing that we did and it was very enjoyable! we then went back and walked around to see the animals that we wanted to spend more time viewing. we also went on the sky lift which takes you on an over-head view of the whole zoo. great..!
do it all, you will enjoy everything. before we went to the zoo, I was a little worried about so much walking with my bad feet (arthritis)! not to worry at all people, they think of everything to make the zoo assessable to everyone of ALL AGES! regardless of any disabilities, age, wheel chairs, etc. enjoy!
I’m not a kid any more, but I still love the zoo!!!!!!!!
There is a special handicapped-accessible van (free) with a hydraulic lift for people in wheelchairs and scooters, as well as those who can’t walk very far. It stops at several convenient places in the zoo. All you have to do is ask a zoo staff member and they will call for you. Be sure to ask where the nearest van stop is. I found that it’s very easy to use and a great service for those of us who need it.
Moderator’s note: Thank you, Cathy. One of the shuttle’s drivers wrote a blog about the service: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/shuttle-service/
Are there any future plans to convert all or any of the tour and express buses to biodiesel? Not just for environmental reasons, but for health reasons of visitors, employees and animal residents. Sometimes I do get a little nauseous while on Bear Canyon, for example, when the buses either pass by or stop and idle in front of exhibits.
Our Transportation Department responds: We are reviewing the tour vehicles for future replacement, and a more eco-friendly vehicle will be a primary concern.
I also was very disturb by the bus tours in regards to the pollution that affects us, the animals and the environment. I was really disappointed actually and do not plan to return to the zoo until this problem has been fixed. I appreciate the tour being available for those who have issues walking, limited time at the zoo or small children but is it worth the health of the animals that are already compromising their lifestyles by living in a zoo? A smaller fleet of electric or hybrid’s should be considered while the zoo does away with the cancer causing buses that are used now. It really ruined my experience there and made me sad that they would expose those animals to such things when they know the consequences to their quality of life.
Please San Diego Zoo make this change quick before more animals, and people, suffer. These animals do not have a voice. I intend to follow this issue closely until it is resolved.
Thank you for your time!
The San Diego Zoo responds: The bus tour at the San Diego Zoo has a long tradition, beginning with bus tours given to school groups in our community. For the past few years our operations staff has been working to find a way to continue to offer these tours in a way that better matches our conservation mission.
I went to the San Diego Zoo and went on the best tour EVER!! The Guy Zoo man was Great!! It was called the lighter side tour AKA The Comedy tour. It picked us up at the UNloading dock on Saturday at 1:45 and they do Sundays at the same time. I wish I knew about this before when my family was in from New York they would have loved it, I can’t find anything about the comedy tour on the San Diego Zoo Web site. I was glad that a Zoo employee told us about it on the way in. He was so funny and we learned so much about the Zoo. Insted of a 35 min tour it was more than an hour long, my sister and I will be going back next weekend with her kids.
I strongly suggest this tour for anyone visiting The San Diego Zoo.
Thank you,
Trisha Jones
Moderator’s note: We’re glad to hear you enjoyed this special themed tour. We’ve only been offering it a few weeks.
Hello Moderator:
I took my sister back to the Zoo with my nephews and we all had a blast. The Lighter side Comedy tour with Chris Clobber is a great idea I will tell as many people as I can about it.
Thank you so much for responding to my comment and have a wonderful week.
Trisha Jones
I went to the zoo yesterday with my daughter (2 years old) and niece (8 years old) for about the 100th time this year. It was a very hot day, fortunately for us the “ZooMan” who I believe his name was Chris found us at the entrance as we were leaving and told us about the “Lighterside Tour”.
This was the best tour we have ever taken at the zoo. I believe the tour is every day at 2pm, not sure exactly how you get picked. We will be going back int he next week and I hope we can find Chris again.
I could not find any information on the zoo website about this tour. I hope the zoo continues to offer it.
Moderator’s note: Your comment has been forwarded to our Transportation Department.