Dallas Zoo Hippo Outpost

If you’ve followed my adventures for long, you know one of my favorite places in my hometown is the Dallas Zoo. On my most recent trip home, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit this fantastic zoological park and take my niece with me. Last summer when I was home and we visited the zoo together, we saw the construction underway for the new Dallas Zoo hippo outpost. I was so excited! Hippos are one of my favorite animals, and the zoo hadn’t had any for many years.

My niece and I visited the wonderful Giants of the Savanna area to watch the elephants and feed the giraffes. We wound our way along the Gorilla Trail. There, we observed for a while as the silverback and others were eating. We also rode the safari monorail, which has greatly improved since last I rode it.

Simmon’s Hippo Outpost

Of course, the main thing I wanted to see was the new hippo enclosure. I was not disappointed! The new space is natural looking and boasts a large, clean pool. It is surrounded by lovely flower beds with the okapi enclosures wrapping behind it.

A large viewing window lets visitors see right into the water and watch the jolly animals bob gracefully through the water. We happened to be there right before a keeper talk started, so we stayed and listened while they told us about the magnificent creatures and the story of these two. We also watched as they ate. I was giddy. I think nature knew it too because butterflies were everywhere making the time there even more enchanted.