The rain from the previous day was gone, leaving in its path weather perfect for a day outdoors. Yay!
I had planned on us stopping by Tartistry on our way to the Toronto Zoo, but, after having tried the butter tart at St. Lawrence Market a couple of days prior, I had not interest in trying any more butter tarts during this trip. But for anyone who is interested, Tartistry has good reviews for their sweet and savory tarts (which I’m still interested in trying in the future.)
For those with dietary restrictions, on their website they state, “It is important for us to cater to customers’ specific needs for gluten free, vegan, sugar free and keto products to name a few. If you don’t see something on our menu that you would enjoy, please call and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.”
Having decided to skip going to Tartistry, we drove straight to the Toronto Zoo.
TORONTO ZOO GENERAL INFORMATION
The Toronto Zoo was included in the Toronto CityPASS. Parking is not included though. When we went in May ‘24, parking was $15 for the day.
Click here for information on the zoo, including tickets, hours, directions, a zoo map, zoo restaurants, and more.
We arrived inside the zoo at around 10:30 a.m. Because we had the admission tickets on our Toronto CityPASS app, we could skip the long lines at the ticket booths. The line for scanning tickets for admittance to the zoo moved very quickly.
The first section we walked through was Discovery Zone, which is for kids. This section of the zoo has Goat World and Kids Zoo. Kids Zoo has a playground area, a few types of birds, guinea pigs and rabbits. We walked through Discovery Zone without checking it out and then discovered something else that turned out to be the highlight of the day for both of us – the Bonsai Show & Sale.
BONSAI SHOW & SALE
The Bonsai Show & Sale was taking place that Saturday and Sunday, May 18th & 19th. I’m so glad we just happened to visit during this event because they had a great selection of very cool bonsai there, as you can see in the photo gallery below.
Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bonsai at the Bonsai Show, Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
EURASIA WILDS
Next we checked out the animals in the Eurasia Wilds section. They have two types of tigers – Siberian (Amur) and Sumatran. The other animals we saw were red panda, Bactrian camel (which has two humps), Steller’s sea eagle, snow leopard and West Caucasian Tur.
Tiger in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tiger in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tiger in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Tiger in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Red panda in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Red panda in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bactrian camel in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bactrian camel in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bactrian camel in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Steller’s sea eagles in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Snow leopard in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
West Caucasian Tur in the Eurasia pavilion at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
AUSTRALASIA
Then we walked to the next section which is comprised of two areas – Australasia and Australasia Outdoor. The animals we saw in this section of the zoo were Southern hairy-nosed wombat, Victoria crowned pigeon, Solomon Island leaf frog (I think that’s what it was), some type of shiny black amphibians, pot-bellied seahorse, moon jellyfish, we might have seen red-necked wallabies, but they might have been kangaroos, and finally, after whichever marsupial those were, we definitely saw kangaroos!
Southern hairy-nosed wombat in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Victoria crowned pigeon in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Victoria crowned pigeon in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Possibly a Solomon Island leaf frog in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Amphibian in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Pot-bellied seahorse in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Moon jellyfish in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Kangaroos or red-necked wallabies in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Kangaroo in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Kangaroo in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Kangaroo in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Crossing a bridge over a water feature between Australasia, Eurasia and Tundra Trek in Australasia at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
GREENHOUSE
We crossed a bridge over a nice looking water feature to get from Australasia to Tundra Trek. But before checking out that section of the zoo, we walked over to the nearby Greenhouse. My husband had seen enough plants on this trip, so he sat outside while I quickly explored the greenhouse. They had a great orchid section and plenty of other types of plants as well that I thoroughly enjoyed seeing.
The Greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
The Greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
The Greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plant with red blooms at the Greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Attractive plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Attractive plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orchids in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orchids in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orchids in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orchids in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Various plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Various plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Various plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Various plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Various plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Orchids in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Pretty orange flowers in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants on a wall in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Plants in the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Dark orange and yellow tulips outside the greenhouse at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
TUNDRA TREK
We crossed a bridge over a nice looking water feature to get from Australasia to Tundra Trek. While in Tundra Trek we sat at a table in the outdoor seating area for the restaurant and ate the lunch we had brought with us.
In Tundra Trek is Tundra Air Ride, a ride that you can do for an additional fee. It’s like a zip line, but instead of being in a harness that’s hooked to a zip line, it has a two seater thing hooked to the cables so you’re seated while zipping over part of the zoo.
My favorite animal that we saw in Tundra Trek was the Polar bear – they are so adorable! One of them was walking around right in front of the glass next to where we were standing. I hope they’re being well cared for and that their environment does not get to warm for them. The one we saw certainly looked well fed and appeared to be happy, but I’m not an expert on Polar bear expressions and behaviors.
Another animal I really enjoyed seeing in Tundra Trek was the Arctic Wolf. I think they had seven of them when we were there, and all of them were sleeping the afternoon away. Near the Arctic wolf exhibit is a fun tunnel thing for small children to climb through and at one point a few kids were having a blast climbing through it.
The other animals we saw in Tundra Trek were Lesser snow geese and caribou.
Polar Bear at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Polar Bear at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Polar Bear at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Polar Bear at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Lesser snow geese at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Arctic wolf at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A fun area for kids to climb through near the Arctic wolf exhibit at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Caribou at Tundra Trek in Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
AMERICAS
After Tundra Trek we visited the Americas section, which is comprised of two parts – Americas Pavilion and Americas Outdoor Mayan Temple Ruins.
A North American river otter kept swimming right next the glass viewing area. It swims so fast that it’s a challenge to get a photo of it that’s not blurry, but I tried the best I could.
The other animals we saw in the Americas section were American flamingos, capybara, a few different types of turtles, boa constrictor, reptiles, North American river otter, caiman, American alligator, prehistoric fish, green surf anemone, golden lion tamarin, some sort of cute primate that I can’t identify, great horned owl and two-toes sloth.
American flamingos in Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Capybara in Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A waterfall on the way to the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Near the waterfall on the way to the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A turtle in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A turtle in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A turtle and a fish both swimming in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Boa constrictor in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A reptile in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A reptile in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Reticulate gila monster in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
North American River Otter in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
North American River Otter in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf caiman) or American alligator in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf caiman) or American alligator in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf caiman) or American alligator in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf caiman) or American alligator in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Spotted turtles in the Americas Pavilion in the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Prehistoric fish in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Green Surf Anemone in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Red-tailed boa in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Golden lion tamarin in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
A primate in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
An owl in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Two-toed sloth in the Americas Pavilion at the Americas section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
AFRICA
From the Americas section we walked over a fairly long wooden bridge that winded through a forested area and led us to the Africa section. This section has two parts to it – African Rainforest Pavilion and Africa Savanna. I’m almost certain that the Africa section has the largest variety of living creatures and it looks like it’s possibly the largest section of the zoo, with the Canadian Domain appearing to be possibly about the same size but with less animals.
I was surprised to not find any elephants at this zoo, in either the Eurasia Wilds section or the African section; I googled to see why. Zoocheck, with additional support, helped to get the last three surviving elephants at the Toronto Zoo moved to a sanctuary in California. I was happy to read that two of the three elephants are living happy lives in that sanctuary.
While there were no elephants, for good reason, there were lots of other animals in the Africa section. The gorilla exhibit was the saddest gorilla exhibit I’ve ever seen.
Some of the other animals we saw in the Africa section were African penguins, Ankole-Watusi cattle, spotted hyena, lions, greater kudu, olive baboon, ostrich, zebra, white rhinoceros, Common eland, warthog, giraffe, I’m pretty sure a snake that was a royal python, aldabra tortoise, I’m pretty sure a grey-necked crowned crane, Nile soft-shelled turtle, ring-tailed lemur, pygmy hippopotamus, radiated tortoise, naked mole rat and veiled chameleon.
Bridge that winded through a forested area and led us to the Africa section from the Americas section at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
African penguins in the African Rainforest Pavilion at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Ankole-Watusi cattle at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Ankole-Watusi cattle at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Spotted hyena at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Lions at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Lion at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Greater Kudu at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Olive baboon at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Olive baboon at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Ostrich at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Zebras at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Zebras at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
White rhinoceros at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
White rhinoceros at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Common Eland at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Warthog at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Giraffe at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Possibly a royal python at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Aldabra tortoise and possibly a grey-necked crowned crane at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Nile soft-shelled turtle at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Ring-tailed lemur at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Pygmy hippopotamus at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Radiated tortoise at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Naked Mole-rat at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Possibly a veiled chameleon at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Possibly a veiled chameleon at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Possibly a veiled chameleon at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Gorilla at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Gorilla at the African section of the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
CANADIAN DOMAIN
The Canadian domain was about the same size at the Africa section, but there were far less animals. The animals I saw were a raccoon, wood bison, a cougar that was sound asleep in a hammock just how a domesticated cat will lazily spend its afternoon and trumpeter swan.
Raccoon in the Canadian Domain at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Wood bison in the Canadian Domain at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Cougar in the Canadian Domain at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Trumpeter swan in the Canadian Domain at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
Pretty flowers in the Canadian Domain at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto, ON, Canada
From the Canadian Domain we walked to the exit of the park. The walk was surprisingly long because work was being done on the bridge that connects the Africa section to the Indo-Malaya section (which was closed during our visit), so we had to walk through part of the Africa section back over the long bridge that winds through the forested area that we had walked through earlier, go through the Americas section again, walk through part of Australasia, walk through the Discovery Zone and then through the park entrance area before we could exit. That surprised us, but with zoos it’s not always possible to have cut throughs in some sections because animal exhibits could be in the way.
In all we spent about four hours at the zoo, but you could easily spend much more time. We weren’t rushing through the zoo but we also weren’t lingering at any of the exhibits. Plus we did not spend time in Discovery Zone, and the Indo-Malaya section was closed when we were there.
From the zoo we stopped to grab a quick meal for dinner to eat in the car then drove to Montreal to stay the night in Montreal and then left for our home the next day.
We both enjoyed this trip. Niagara Falls is a one of a kind place to visit with a number of beautiful things to see. And Toronto can keep you busy with a number of cool things to see and do while keeping your taste buds happy as well.
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