News and Stories

Travel to the Gardens of Southern England, the Galapagos Islands, Botswana and Tanzania with the Cincinnati Zoo in 2019!

CINCINNATI – (October 19, 2018) If you have a passion for travel, exotic destinations, or wildlife, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has the perfect adventure for you! The Zoo is offering four unique destinations and experiences in 2019, all led by seasoned and knowledgeable Cincinnati Zoo staff.

Ready to pack your bags? See booking information below.  Interested?  Attend a complimentary Travel Evening in February to learn more about the 2019 trips to London, the Galapagos Islands & Africa. Check the Cincinnati Zoo website for details.

2019 Trip Details

London, May 18 – May 25, 2019

Led by Director of Horticulture, Steve Foltz.

The garden has long been a staple of English culture. From the sprawling and opulent royal gardens, framing castles and manor houses throughout the realm, to the eruptions of color and scent cultivated outside of each modest cottage in the countryside, the art of gardening is a quintessentially English past-time. Delve into the most beautiful and renowned gardens of Great Britain on this horticultural tour and trip to the Chelsea Garden Show. Whether you’re learning to identify medicinal plants in the 350-year-old Chelsea Physic Garden or enjoying Beth Chatto’s gardens, this is an experience that will continue to blossom in your memory forever.

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands, June 21 – July 1, 2019

Led by Manager of Horticulture Brian Jorg.

Journey to the enchanted isles of the Galapagos, where Charles Darwin redefined our understanding of life itself. Begin on the mainland, immersing yourself in the culture of Ecuador. Spend your days discovering UNESCO World Heritage marvels in Quito, gazing at snow-capped mountains, or shopping in the indigenous markets of Otavalo. Feel your heart race in anticipation as you step onto your motor yacht, Isabella II, and home for the next four nights in the Galapagos Islands, a place filled with creatures found nowhere else on Earth. You’ll come within steps of these rare animals and hike the unique and storied vistas of the islands accompanied by your expert naturalist guides. Allow yourself to be swept away by this land of discovery and natural wonder.

Botswana, July 23 – Aug 2, 2019

Led by Christina Gorsuch Curator of Mammals – Africa

Adventure is wrapped in luxury in Botswana, where you wing your way from camp to camp on small planes. First stop, the Kalahari Desert and the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where a glowing, white expanse of natural salt deposits create glittering mirages that seem to reach out into the horizon endlessly. Then back on the plane for the most spectacular view over the Okavango, a wetland wilderness of looping channels and islands forested with palms and wide grassy floodplains. The Delta is home to a magnificent array of iconic birds and animals, from lion and elephant, to the ‘spirit of the Delta’, Pel’s Fishing Owl. Explore this natural paradise in open 4X4 vehicles, on foot, and in mokoros (dugout canoes).

Tanzania, November 4 – 14, 2019

Led by Doug Feist, Volunteer Education Program Manager

In Tanzania the Maasai have shared the endless plains of the Serengeti with lions and elephants for centuries. Journey into the dawn of time as you pass the stoic, red-robed Maasai boy herding his cattle and descend 2,000 feet by Land Rover beneath the cloud cover into Ngorongoro Crater, Africa’s ‘Garden of Eden.’ The amazing wildlife you will see crossing the diverse terrain is only enhanced by a visit to Oldupai Gorge, where Mary Leakey discovered one of the earliest fossils of humankind. Home to both humans and beast since the beginning of time. The magic of the Serengeti continues to thrill.

More exciting details about each travel option will be available at the information session in February. To RSVP for the complimentary presentations or for additional information on travel opportunities provided by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, please contact Christina Anderson at 513-487-3318.