A Tour of Hattiesburg’s Kamper Park and Zoo
Located in the heart of the city on Hardy Street, Kamper Park and Zoo is open Wednesday through Sunday, am until pm. Children 3 and under get in free while admission for children ages 4-12 and senior citizens is $1.00. Adult tickets are $2.00. The zoo also has two rides: a train and a carousel. To ride each is $1.25, and tickets can be purchased at the zoo entrance.
Besides the zoo, Kamper Park is home to tennis courts, a walking trail, a spacious pavilion, a picnic area and a playground. The playground, Adam’s Place, is located near the pavilion as well as the picnic area. Adam’s Place is a playground designed for all children, even those with disabilities. There is no cost to enjoy the park; the zoo is located in the park and is the only area that cost money to enter.
A short walk from the park is the entrance to the zoo. The entrance is beautifully landscaped and has a souvenir shop as well as meeting rooms. The train station is located just inside the entrance, and the carousel is hard to miss; it’s right outside the zoo. The train circles the 12 acre zoo and gives riders a glimpse of life from the perspective of the animals.
The animals at the zoo include native species from Africa and South America. The African Veldt is laid out like an African village, complete with colorful huts that are used for various activities during the year. Emus, tortoises, and many other beautiful animals call this home. Because of damage from Hurricane Katrina, the South American area is pretty much closed until the summer. The prairie dog habitat is a zoo favorite. While it suffered hurricane damage, the exhibit is open but partly closed. The tunnel that goes under the exhibit and allows visitors to a prairie dog view via a dome is temporarily closed. Another zoo must-see is the Siberian Tigers. There is a two-story observation deck that gives you a great view over the tigers’ domain.
Kamper Park and Zoo houses many different species of animals in environments that have been built to closely resemble the animals’ natural habitat. The zoo has made vast improvements throughout the years. It’s not more evident than with the alligators’ habitat. Years ago, these poor creatures had only a small cement swimming pool but now they have a lovely man made water feature which they share with other animals in the zoo. It is obvious from visiting the zoo that great care and thought has gone into the beautification of this Hattiesburg landmark.
While walking around the zoo, some animals have free reign like the peacocks. You’ll certainly find these colorful birds near the concession stand hoping to find a snack for them. Maybe you’ll even catch these proud birds displaying their feathers; they love attention.
If you are planning to spend a lot of time at the Zoo, consider joining the Hattiesburg Zoological Society. The fee is $25 and you get into the zoo for free. So you’re not only helping out but you get a nice bonus as well. Kamper Park and Zoo is a wonderful choice for spending a day in Hattiesburg, MS. It’s easy to find, parking is plentiful, and the price is reasonable.
