Inside The New Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo

 

Wildlife Explorers Basecamp

Looking for yet another reason to put San Diego on your short list of travel destinations? The San Diego Zoo just opened Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. If you know the zoo, this area is located where the old petting zoo was situated for years just to left of the main entrance. 

Inside The New Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo

Now it is still dedicated to children, but with a number of exhibit halls like a butterfly garden, reptile and insect house and a play structure with rope bridges and lots of water spray areas.

Wildlife Explorers Basecamp play area

The play area takes center stage in the Explorers Basecamp. There are rope bridges, spiral staircases, a waterfall grotto, spray zone and rainfall showers. And if the kids get too wet, there are space age dryers available for $3. 

Space age dryers

Inside The New Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo

There is also a display with monkeys in the middle of the play area to remind you that you are actually at the San Diego Zoo. 

San Diego Zoo

The exhibit halls include the Cool Critters Reptile House complete with microscope stations, Spineless Marvels Invertebrate House, a two-story greenhouse, Rainforest with caiman and tortoises, and Marsh Meadows with crocodiles. 

It's fun for all ages. I enjoyed walking around the area and checking it all out. It was very crowded, but I was there on opening day. You might want to avoid the peak morning hours if you aren't fond of crowds and screaming children. 

Be sure to buy your tickets for the San Diego Zoo online ahead of time to save a few bucks. The zoo offers value days which are any weekday so you can save a few more dollars off the regular price. Parking for the zoo is FREE. 

Inside The New Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo

You might also want to take a look at the membership prices for the zoo. A child membership is $67 so if you think you may visit the zoo on multiple days during a year, it might be worth it to buy the pass. The regular child price for the zoo is $57 for an anyday pass and $55 for a weekday only pass. The annual pass is also good for the zoo and the Safari Park so if you are planning to do both during your trip to San Diego, you might want to buy the pass. 

Inside The New Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo

There are also zoo memberships for adults. The Wildlife Protector membership includes both parks, two 50% off admission coupons, FREE parking and one guest pass. It is priced at $139. Since the regular day pass adult ticket price is $65, that could be a real savings.  

Remember to purchase the pass with a credit card that gives you a bonus for travel like Chase Sapphire Preferred or with a credit card where you can erase travel purchases like Capital One.