Regenstein African Journey — Attraction in Chicago

The African Journey exhibit is one of the more extensive indoor exhibits at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is generally interesting but makes poor use of space, as demonstrated by the atrium at the start that serves no purpose but to gather prior to going through two large, ornate doors (which are not wheelchair accessible, begging the question as to why there are automatic entry and exit doors but several doors in the middle that are not).

You first move through a bird/ape greenhouse before passing the dwarf crocodile enclosure, then the hissing cockroach and ant colonies. Then you walk down a long passageway until you reach the pygmy hippopotamus tank, which has benches to watch her if she is out. Then more long hallways up past the birds to windows looking out on the outdoor giraffe and zebra plain. Then back down past the meerkats and indoor giraffe pen. Don't miss the aardvark window as you move along to the large fish tank - we spend a lot of time sitting on benches here, having a snack when the weather outside is inclement. Finally you go down the hall and through the doors to the outside. You're now near the north end of the zoo, quite far from the entrance you went in, and have to choose to circle back past the polar bears to the east side, or the rhinos to the west. The rhino exhibits are technically attached to the same African Journey building, but I cannot understand why there are no indoor viewing points. Seems like a wasted opportunity.

In the end, this is a great building to spend time out of the elements and see a wide variety of animals. I just really wish there was better use of space as it doesn't do the continent and its animals...

Free admission, nice place to spend a whole day with family. Amazing to see and have an idea of good number of animals and plants of various types.

Family friendly and there are many activities for kids.

Limited food options, so packing your lunch could be a good idea. However, there are a number of restaurants in around 10 mins walking distance.

If coming by car, the parking might be limited unless you look for parking lots around the area which is available for a good price and walking distance.

Please keep in mind while planing a visit that the conservatory (where the plants are found) early close...

Cool! There were outdoor exhibits for wild hogs, rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, ostriches and more! The indoor building is cool where monkeys and birds have a rainforest exhibit. Klipspringers share there habitat with lovebirds, near Dwarf Crocodiles and Pygmy Hippos. Spiders and Hissing Cockroaches have a nearby exhibit and what was really cool is that an open topped Aardvark/Meerkat exhibit was in front of an indoor giraffe yard. A large tank displays colorful...