One of the most fun things to do at Bronx Zoo is to ride the bug carousel. Yes, that was read right; a carousel of bugs! Instead of horses and the normal animals and features, visitors get to ride on different insects. This ride is fun for visitors of all ages coming to the park.

About The Bronx Zoo & What To Expect When Visiting

The bug carousel is in the middle of the Bronx Zoo. This zoo is over 265 acres and houses more than 8,000 animals. The zoo is in the middle of the Bronx, just north of Manhattan, New York. Throughout the zoo, there are several types of attractions and times to see things. All of these are listed on their website, with times that certain things are happening. Some of these include:

  • Penguin feedings
  • Sea lion feedings
  • Zoo shuttle

Visitors should be sure to research what is happening at what time to make the most out of their visit. These all happen at different times and some things, such as the animal encounters, are scheduled by the visitors. The shuttle travels across the zoo at certain times, so be sure to check when it will be driving through.

With the zoo being so large, it may be overwhelming to visitors who are trying to see everything. Visitors should be sure to give themselves at least a couple of hours in the zoo because there is a lot to see and no one wants to run out of time to see everything. Some of the necessities visitors should bring include:

  • Comfortable shoes and clothes
  • Backpack if carrying things
  • Water bottle
  • Camera
  • Tickets (On a phone or printed)

Since the zoo is currently operating under contactless policies, visitors have to purchase tickets beforehand and either print them out or have them ready to scan on their phones. The Bug Carousel is a separate charge that will be handled in the zoo, as carousel tickets cannot be bought online.

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There are a lot of bugs in the world, but only so many were put onto the carousel. All 64 of these bugs were hand-carved by Carousel Works in Mansfield, Ohio before being put onto the carousel. Some of these rideable insects include:

  • Grasshopper
  • Dung beetle
  • Praying mantis
  • Honey bee
  • Cicada

This bug-filled carousel is 50 feet in diameter, with an 80-foot diameter pavilion surrounding it. It is on the inside of transparent doors to protect it from the elements, meaning that no matter what time of year visitors go, they can always ride the carousel.

Other Attractions At The Bronx Zoo

There are several other attractions in the zoo, making sure that visitors always have plenty to do and never get bored. Some of these attractions include:

  • Nature Trek
  • Treetop Adventure
  • Animal Encounters
  • Run For The Wild
  • Dinosaur Safari

Some of these attractions are seasonal and only run through certain dates or times of the year, so visitors should be sure to check what is available. When checking out with the normal admission tickets, visitors are given plenty of options to add things onto their trips, such as meeting a cheetah or a giraffe.

Animals To See At The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo has over 8,000 animals in it, which means a lot to look at. They are divided up into different lands, which is where they would be found in the wild. Some of these animals include:

  • Eyelash Viper
  • Red Panda
  • Golden Eagle
  • Lions
  • Sea Lions

There is a wide variety of animals to see, and barely enough time to see them all. Visitors should be sure to plan for an all-day trip to fit every animal in and to get to all of the attractions. These animals are all in different exhibits, so visitors should be prepared for a full day of walking around the entirety of the zoo to see every last insect.

Bronx Zoo is an amazing place to go, with a lot of attractions and plenty of animals to see. The Bug Carousel is one of the biggest attractions and one of the best because of how unique it is. There is plenty to see in New York, but this is one of the stops that takes the cake because of how interesting it is. Visitors should be sure to buy their tickets in advance and prepare for a fun day of exploration.

Time And Cost Of Visiting The Bronx Zoo

The zoo does have winter and summer hours, but they are not that much different. What visitors do have to keep in mind however is that the zoo is currently running with limited occupancy, so tickets are required to be bought online, with both the date and entry time reserved.

  • Time: 10am to 4:30pm Nov. 7, 2021-April 1 2022. 10am to 5pm April 2-Nov. 5
  • Cost: $30.95 for adults, $28.95 for seniors(65 and older), $22.95 for children 3-12
  • Carousel Cost: $6 per person

Visitors have to check the website before going to the zoo because if they do not have tickets they won’t be able to go in. The website will also have interactive maps, let visitors schedule wildlife encounters, and give them ideas on where to go next in their tour of the zoo.

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