Bali Zoo is relatively new to the scene; it's only been open since 2002. Yet here is a zoo that goes to great lengths to makes its inhabitants happy. Stroll through the Balinese-themed environments and interact with animals along the way. In all there are over 350. This is the next best thing to being in the jungle.

Feed gibbons, wallabies, and even crocodiles (with the help of expert keepers, of course). Marvel at tropical bird showcases. Take a ride on the back of a Sumatran elephant (there is an extra fee for this experience). Enjoy lunch at the Elephant View Restaurant or Okavango Restaurant, the former of which overlooks the verdant elephant trail. Take children along to the Petting Zoo, where they can meet parrots and rabbits and ride on small horses.

Visitors with a head for heights can brave the Tree Walk, a canopy-level trail of wooden bridges, flying swings, zip-lines and Tarzan nets. Sign up to the Village Trekking walk, which leads you through the rice terraces of Singapadu Village. Gunung Temple (dedicated to Wisnu, provider of water) and its surrounding art galleries make fascinating stop-off points.

You can also attend one of the special A Night at the Zoo experiences. Witness and interact with creatures in their nocturnal habitats; have your picture taken with a Borneo bear cat, meet a freshwater crocodile, and dine in the company of lions.

Live out your dream of being a zookeeper with the Marhout for a Day package; here you'll get to feed, ride, and care for various animals in Bali Zoo. This experience includes meals and drinks of exceptional quality.

Bali Zoo is in Singapadu Village, which takes around 15 minutes by car from Ubud or 20 minutes from Denpasar. Because the zoo is interactive, entry fee depends on the experiences you choose. The zoo is open daily, barring Hindu New Year.