Planning a New Zoo Area

The difference between a zoo that "just grew" and one that feels designed is usually planning. Ten minutes of thinking before you build saves hours of deleting later. This is the process I use for every new area.

Step 1: start with the animals

Everything else follows from the animals: the size of the habitats, the theme, the plants and the buildings.

Pick a place, not just a continent. "Africa" is vague. A specific river valley or national park gives you a clear list of animals and a clear look.
Use the Zoopedia's filters to find animals from that region and habitat type. The online version on the official site makes this easy.
Check who can live together. The Zoopedia lists thriving relationships between species. Predators and their prey obviously don't share.
Think about the wildlife reserve too. If the area's animals can be released into a reserve in the same region, your breeding programme gives you credits as well as guests.

Step 2: sketch it

Before you touch the game, sketch the area on paper (or use a simple to-do board if you like being organised):

Where do guests enter and leave?
Where does each habitat go, and roughly how big?
Where are viewing points: above, below water, through a window?
Where do shops, toilets and seating go?
Where's the staff area, and how do keepers reach each habitat without walking through crowds?

It's much easier to move a box on paper than a finished building in game.

Step 3: paths and terrain first

In the game, start with the ground and the paths:

Paint the planned paths with sand first as a guide if it helps.
Set the area's height. You can control path height very precisely and use the paths to create smooth slopes, then flatten the terrain around them to match.
Raise or lower areas on purpose. A slightly raised area lets guests look down into habitats, and a river below lets boat riders look up.
Use terrain stamps to build a berm (a raised bank) around the area, covered in trees. It hides the rest of the zoo and makes the area feel like its own world.

Step 4: habitats before buildings

Habitats have to be a certain size, but shops and staff buildings can squeeze in anywhere. So:

Draw temporary barriers for each habitat in the rough shape you want.
Pin the species to each one and adjust until the size is right.
Only then place shops, toilets and staff buildings in the gaps.

Step 5: think about the guests

Sightlines

What's the first thing a guest sees when entering the area? Make it something impressive, like a waterfall, a big sign or a headline animal.
Give each habitat more than one view. Real zoos do this all the time: an above-water view, an underwater window and a raised overlook. It feels like better value to guests, and animals get spaces away from the crowds.

Accessibility

Use ramps next to stairs, and keep slopes gentle. A tunnel that drops 2 m over 4 m is comfortable; a steep ramp shuts people out.
Add an elevator in multi-level buildings.
Make a wider gate and an accessible toilet at entrances.

Flow

Keep the main path wide. A 4 m path is often too narrow for a busy route.
Put shops in side bays, not in the path.
Give guests a loop, not a dead end, or at least a shortcut back.

Step 6: theme it

Mix architecture styles honestly. An African area doesn't have to be all mud huts. Traditional village buildings next to modern ones feels more real and more respectful.
Repeat details inside and outside the habitats. A stilted hut that appears both on the guest path and inside the warthog habitat ties the area together.
Make a logo. There's now a downloadable Planet Zoo font, and free-text signs make a custom area sign easy.
Add story. A charity partner sign, a donor wall or a "brought to you by" board makes an area feel like part of a real zoo.

Step 7: staff and utilities

One work zone per area, with its own keeper hut, staff room and vet surgery.
Hide power and water filters behind buildings or rocks, but keep staff path access.
Leave room for future expansion, both habitats you'll add later and wider paths for bigger crowds.

A checklist before you open the area

Every habitat at 100% welfare, with no escape routes on the heat map
Every habitat in a work zone
Power reaches every shop and screen
Toilets, food, drink and seating
Bins and recycling bins next to benches
Education boards and donation boxes at every habitat
Ramps for accessibility