Lowery Park Zoo

By William E. Males

One of Tampa Bay's greatest attractions for family is the Lowery Park Zoo. It is a 56 acre park full of beautiful vegetation with seven unique natural habitats areas. There is even a water park area for the kids. One of the best ways to get a real appreciation for the zoo is to ride the "Treetop Skyfari," a 45-foot-high aerial ride that travels over the park  where you can see the Asian Domain, Primate World, Manatee and Aquatic Center, Florida Wildlife Center, Free-Flight Aviary, Wallaroo Station children's zoo, and the new Safari Africa. 

Both in 2004 and 2009 the Lowry Park Zoo was ranked the #1 zoo in the country by Child Magazine,  Parents magazine and has received the prestigious recognition by the State of Florida as a center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity. The zoo also serves as a center for conservation of endangered wildlife both locally and from around the world. This impressive zoo is an all day affair if one truly wants to get the full benefit of what the zoo offers its guests.

Originally, the zoo was located on the Hillsborough River back in 1930 with just a small collection of local animals, including an aviary, but as the zoo grew in size in 1957 it was moved to its present location of Lowry Park. Since then the park has continued to grow with upgraded habitats. Today it is an impressive zoo park with a first-class zoological garden, free flight aviaries, an incredible petting zoo and unique Jungle Carousel with handcrafted figures of animals for the kids to ride on. For those wanting to escape the heat - and not afraid of a little water  - there's the “Gator Falls,” a water flume ride with a 30 foot drop over an albino alligator exhibit.

One of the more interesting features of the park is an interactive area with hands-on displays, exhibits, artifacts and videos. It even has a small insect zoo, too. A trip to Stingray Bay will please the kids as they get the opportunity to pet and feed stingrays in a huge pool designed for easy petting of the sting rays as they swim by. 

When the legs get a little weary, there are the frequent shows at the Zoo's amphitheaters. They have a "Reptile Encounter" program. My favorite was the "Birds of Prey" amphitheater which was constructed to allow visitors to soar with a variety of owls, hawks, eagles and falcons. There’s a Key West deck for viewing manatees right off the Paradise Cafe where refreshments may be purchased. A great addition by TECO Energy is the Manatee Amphitheater complete with a boardwalk where visitors may walk up and see into the manatee hospital - the only nonprofit facility of its kind in the world. 

But - there is something about the Zoo's "Safari Africa" - the largest exhibit opening since Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo reopened its doors in 1988. Everyone loves seeing these African species roaming around. The size of the elephants and rhinos is always amazing to see. There is even a place where visitors can get eye to eye with the giraffes and feed the gentle giants. For the adventurous one can enjoy the gentle sway of the camel with the safari rides attraction. Visitors can even touch and feed a white rhinoceros from South Africa. The Zoo also has a guided tour with a behind-the-scenes Safari Ride where riders are given a 15-minute narrated ride with photo opportunities of dozens of unique and endangered species, including a trek between the Zoo’s two elephant yards where passengers can see and photograph the elephant herd.

 And of course, there's Primate World where one can see a huge Bornean Orangutan and chimpanzees as well as several other species. Lowry Park Zoo is certainly one of Tampa Bay's greatest treasure, from the  2.5-acre elephant habitat, zebras giraffes, warthogs, various antelope, crowned cranes, cheetahs, white tigers,  pygmy hippos and more! Bring the whole family, and don't forget the camera.