Los Angeles Zoo

Los Angeles Zoo review

The LA Zoo's greatest asset is its location, in the isolated hills of Griffith Park. It's a pretty popular place, but the zoo's size - 80 acres, plus a huge parking lot - means that, like the park itself, it rarely feels busy.

The list of the zoo's highlights is headed by the new Campo Gorilla Reserve, which opened in November 2007 and now serves as a home for six great apes, and the rather smaller Spider City, which comes with an agreeable schlock-horror theme and suitably dim lighting. Elsewhere, a herd of flamingos flop and flutter in a pond close to the entrance, while a nearby meerkat stands guard over proceedings. Sea lions slither and swim, an Indian rhino named Clara carries herself with hilariously little grace, and a snoozy jaguar takes another nap. Still, as a visitor attraction, it's all a bit forlorn; you can't question the motives of the staff, but this is a slightly despondent place.

If you do want to visit, it's worth bearing in mind that some of the larger animals may seek shady refuge from the extreme heat on warm summer days, and by no means all of them will be visible. Also, some of the animals are led inside from 4pm.