Tanganyika Wildlife Park is a zoo with a hands-on and up-close approach located in Goddard, Kansas, which is a city located directly to the west of Wichita. The zoo houses over 300 animals, including some of the most rare and endangered species in the state, in an intimate and family centered setting. Tanganyika is known for the interactivity of its exhibits and as such is an ideal day trip for families and nature enthusiasts. The zoo is also popular with school groups due to the knowledge of the Tanganyika staff and its four meeting rooms are perfect for conferences and events.
Best and worst time to go to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The best time to visit Tanganyika is during the morning between the beginning of May and Labor Day weekend. During this stretch the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the combination of intense Kansas sun and animal activity makes the morning the best time to visit. This will also lessen the chance that you will bump into large school groups. Tanganyika is closed from the second weekend of November until spring break week in March. It also runs limited weekend hours in April, September and October, so if you are visiting during these months it is best to check ahead.
Must see/do at Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Lemur Island: This exhibit is the most unique feature of Tanganyika as visitors are able to come face to face with Ring-tailed Lemurs. Assisted by a zoo guide, guests sit on one of the rocks in the lemur habitat and are given food to hold as the lemurs crawl onto your lap and take the snack for themselves. Tanganyika is one of the only places in North America where this experience is available.
- Feeding Kangaroos: Tanganyika takes the concept of the petting zoo to the next level with an open area where you can walk among, pet and feed kangaroos.
- Baby animals: One of the first areas you encounter when entering the park is a baby animal nursery. Here you can look through the windows into the various cages and see anything from baby snow leopards to baby honey badgers as they are cared for at the zoo.
Admission to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Admission is free for children two and under and adults 90 and over. Admission for others is between $15 and $18, with discounts for seniors and children under 12. Tanganyika also offered a military discount of 15% for service members. The gate is also the best time to buy passes to feed and interact with the animals at a discount as opposed to buying food in each area.
Parking and Public Transportation to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
The zoo is located just of off of Highway 54/US 400 to the west of Wichita. Public transportation to this area is limited, so people are encouraged to drive to the zoo where free parking is offered on its expansive parking lot. From Wichita just take Kellogg/US 400 west toward Goddard and Tanganyika is signposted from before the city limit.
Food at Tanganyika
The zoo allows guests to bring their own food so save money by packing a lunch and eating at one of the many picnic spots provided. The only rules for food brought into the park is that there must be no alcohol and no glass. The zoo also has a concession stand which sells deli sandwiches, hot dogs and other concession style food. Pepsi products and Gatorade are also available for purchase.
Insider tip for visitors to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Visit on a "Wild Wednesday" during June and July. The park will be open until dusk with free child admission with a paid adult and live music from some of the best local bands being played from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Author's bio: Michael Wright has lived in Wichita for 10 years and is a frequent visitor to the Old Town district. He writes for a living and loves to instill a passion for traveling into others.
The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a 12-acre park and petting zoo designed to depict scenes from a family farm at the end of the 19th century. Visitors can see vegetable and flower gardens and nearly 200 farm animals and fowl, plus prairie dogs, longhorn steer, bobcats, bison and birds of prey. There are also several mini-playgrounds throughout the park.
Parking and Public Transportation to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
The farmstead is located just south of the Overland Park Soccer Complex. Enter the complex and travel south past the last soccer field to the Farmstead parking lot. Or, take Switzer south from 135th and turn west past those soccer fields to the entrance to the parking lot. Parking is free.
Admission to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Admission is free Monday through Thursday. Cost is $2 per person Friday through Sunday and holidays. Children younger than age 2 are free. Additional costs for pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, fishing, and a bottle of milk to feed baby goats are about $5 or less each. A combo pack for fishing, mining, a bottle of milk for the baby goats, pony and wagon rides is available around $12 at the entrance to the park. No pets.
Best and worst times to go to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Visit on weekdays for free admission. This is an outdoor venue, so check for good weather. Weekends during youth soccer season may make parking challenging. Cow milking demonstrations are held at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Dairy Barn. The schoolhouse and Native American encampment are usually closed for history tours Monday through Thursday mornings.
Must see/do at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Look for the bison in the east end of the park. Sift for "gold" in a mining trough under the windmill just west of the country schoolhouse. (Purchase a bag of sand and genuine gemstones at the site.) Feed and pet the goats and other animals throughout the park. Get a handful of animal feed from small red vending machines throughout the park for 25 cents. (Bring quarters.)
Food at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
No outside food is allowed inside the park, however visitors can picnic in the Community Park at 13700 Switzer Rd., north of the east parking lot. Inside the farmstead, food and snacks are available at the east entrance, Alex & Emily's Ice Cream Parlor, the Dairy Barn and General Store. Lunch specials, including drink, are under $6, sandwiches under $4, snacks, drinks and desserts in the $2 range.
Other places to visit near Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is nearby at 111th and Quivira Rd.
Insiders tip for visitors to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Check for recorded weather delays or cancellations at (913) 895-5020, Option 3.
Author's bio: Mary-Lane Kamberg is a professional writer and native Kansas Citian. She often took her own children to the farmstead and now takes her grandchildren there.
