Zoo Atlanta set up shop in 1889 after a traveling circus rolled into town and stayed indefinitely. With the help of concerned citizen G.V. Gress–who believed Atlanta needed a zoo–the city adopted the animals and converted a part of Grant Park into what is now Zoo Atlanta.

Since those early days, many animals have found their home at Zoo Atlanta, from giant pandas to the nation’s largest zoological collections of gorillas and orangutans, to elephants, rhinos, lions, tigers and more. All in all, more than 1,500 animals currently roar and romp in their respective enclosures, meeting up once a night to dish over visitors’ summer outfits.

A typical journey through the Zoo begins at Flamingo Plaza, from which visitors can choose one of two paths: They either take the left path and come face to face with elephants, warthogs, and lions, or they can choose the right and find themselves amid a flurry of exotic birds and excited children at the KIDZone playground. The new Scaly Slimy Spectacular exhibit invites guests to check out a variety of amphibians and reptiles. Visitors can walk at their own pace and follow their own path, still watching otters play, orangutans swing through trees, and pandas pretend like they don’t care people are watching them sleep.