The San Diego Zoo’s Nighttime Zoo is in full swing! The event will run until August 10th, so there is plenty of time to experience the fun.
 

From 3:30 pm to 8 pm every night, the Zoo holds performances, live music, educational activities, and opportunities to see the Zoo’s nocturnal animals. Most events run every hour, so you have plenty of opportunities to see everything you want, and the wide range of activities makes the event perfect for all ages. Jambo Dunia!, the most popular event from the Nighttime Zoo, returned this year, wrapping up every evening with music, dancers, and giant animal puppets. Filling Front Street with color and East African-inspired music, the parade is as interactive as it is fun—you aren’t only able to see the performers and their vibrant costumes up close, you can actually interact with them! The Skyfari also remains open, making for a great opportunity to see the sunset.

Many animals remain on display during the extended hours, like those at the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, including fennec foxes and caimans—both of which are nocturnal. Many of the viewable animals are more active at dusk and at night, so this unique opportunity allows you to experience the Zoo in a new way! The new Denny Sanford Panda Ridge, which is four times larger than the original panda habitat is also open during the Nighttime Zoo, allowing guests to see the Zoo’s giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, in an environment featuring plants and bamboos native to the pandas’ homes in the Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces of China. This is a great opportunity to see the pandas when the park is less crowded and during one of their most active times.

Whether you stay late after a daytime visit to the Zoo or make a special trip in the evening, the Nighttime Zoo is a great event for anyone who wants to enjoy the Zoo in a new way! If you enjoy the Nighttime Zoo, make sure to keep your eye out for more extended Zoo hours this winter during Jungle Bells!