The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Outdoor habitats, African penguins, and Maryland-native animals make a hilly Druid Hill Park zoo a substantial half-day outing.
Artwork inspired by Aaron Sopher
The Maryland Zoo occupies a wooded, uneven landscape within Druid Hill Park, so the walk between habitats is part of the visit. African penguins provide a particularly revealing contrast between awkward-looking movement on land and powerful swimming. Other areas connect large African mammals with animals and habitats closer to Maryland home.
Keepers’ talks can turn a sighting into an account of diet, enrichment, breeding, or conservation work. Choose a few of these encounters rather than judging the day by how many animals appear at once. Shade, indoor retreats, and changing weather influence visibility, while the terrain means that a practical route should include rest stops as well as favorite species.
- Urban park
- Druid Hill Park
- Penguin species
- African penguin
- Included rides
- Train and carousel
Quick guide
- Plan the hills
- Choose a route and rest stops before setting off.
- Hear a keeper
- Build one scheduled animal talk into the visit.
Know before you go
- Watch underwater
- Compare penguins’ swimming with their movement on shore.
- Read the habitat
- Look for shade, shelter, and enrichment before searching for an animal.
- Allow quiet time
- A resting animal may become visible without anyone tapping or calling.
- Check the daily schedule
- Talks and feeding narration add context to a habitat stop.
Good to know
African penguins inhabit temperate southern African coasts. An outdoor penguin habitat here is not an attempt to recreate an Antarctic ice landscape.
Notice these
- Penguins swimming below the surface
- Wooded park slopes
- Maryland habitat interpretation