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Location
Accessibility
Animals may not be visible at all times to promote positive animal welfare
Best time
Arrive at zoo opening time and head directly to the Regenstein Center for African Apes first. This ensures quality viewing time with gorillas and chimps before crowds arrive and animals retreat to private areas.
Visitor tip
The exhibit features large, air-conditioned glass viewing areas with naturalistic settings including fallen logs, water features, and artificial vines. Plan to spend substantial time here as it's described as an excellent and popular must-see exhibit.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Main Exhibits
- Chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas
- Habitat Features
- 5,000 feet of artificial vines, termite mounds, water features, naturalistic design
- Indoor/Outdoor
- Both
What visitors say
Not to be missed. It is an excellent and very popular exhibit. The best thing to do is get to the Zoo at open and go straight there. You will get some quality time with the gorillas and chimps before everyone else arrives. Well worth…
We love hanging out with the apes, especially when there are babies. Things have changed a bit since covid but it's still a nice place spend time with the primates. As others have mentioned, if you go later in the day, the apes…
Excellent exhibit! Large glass viewing areas, air conditioned and lots of history of the Apes in the Chicago zoo. Top notch exhibit!
From 90 Google reviews
Did You Know?
- The Regenstein Center features naturalistic habitats with termite mounds designed to replicate chimpanzee natural behaviors, including specialized structures for foraging and exploration
- The exhibit prioritizes animal welfare by providing spaces out of public view, allowing gorillas and chimpanzees to take breaks from human interaction during peak visiting hours
- The center maintains both Western lowland gorilla and chimpanzee habitats with large glass viewing areas in an air-conditioned facility at the free Lincoln Park Zoo
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