Kansas City Zoo covers over 200 acres in Swope Park — one of the largest urban parks in the United States — making it one of the bigger zoos in the country. The Africa section is the centerpiece: a sprawling re-created savanna with giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and zebras in large naturalistic habitats. A train tour loops through the Africa section and is the most popular way to see it, though walking the trails gets you closer to the animals.
The Australian section — with kangaroos you can walk among — and the polar bear exhibit are other highlights. The zoo is well-maintained and the animal habitats are among the more generous you will find. A full visit with children takes most of a day; adults without kids can do the highlights in three to four hours. Admission is moderately priced, and the park surroundings make the approach pleasant.