A trip to the Johannesburg Zoo

Posted in Day Trips | Family Fun | Tourism | Tourist Attractions

A must-do activity is a day at the Zoo for the whole family.

The Johannesburg Zoo is one of the most popular tourist attractions situated in northern Johannesburg and has gained international respect for maintaining a high standard of animal welfare. An easy hour and a half drive on the N17 will get you to the Johannesburg Zoo. The Zoo covers 81 hectares of land, with plenty trees, beautiful walks and water features.

The entertaining animals at the Johannesburg Zoo.

Let’s get started!

On your way to the enchanting Johannesburg Zoo one can have a pit stop at Carnival City, For an incredible blend of Italian coffee At the Fego Café. Sure to wake you up one can enjoy a hearty Italian breakfast.

Contact details: 011 915 2583

Trading Hours

Sunday – Thursday : 08h00 – 22h00

Friday – Sunday : 08h00 – 00h00

The Zoo

In 1904 a small public park was opened with an odd mixture of animals, including a female leopard, male lion and a male baboon, the Johannesburg Zoo has now grown to become the most popular public venue in the city

Now visitors get to see tigers, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, sable antelope, bat-eared foxes, polar bears, wild dogs, vultures and crocodiles, among the 2 070 animals.

While its core business is the medical care, enrichment, husbandry and accommodation of the wild animals, the Johannesburg Zoo also offers a variety of entertainment and educational programmes. The Zoo offers feeding-time visits and talks as well as smell, hear, touch and feel programmes.

Trading hours

Monday – Sunday : 8:30am-5:30pm

Open on puplic holidays : Christmas and new years

Entrance fees:

Children : R50-00 (3 -12 years)

Pensioners : R50-00 (60 years and older)

Adults : R80.00

Parking : R10-00

Here is a map of the Johannesburg Zoo.

Johannesburg Zoo offers three types of day tours

Ferry Tour – a 90 minute tour on a ferry, stopping at 5 main animal complexes. The tour guide gives three of the many animals treats. You can bring your own picnic basket to enjoy your lunch on one of the many beautiful manicured grass lawns.

Tour hours

weekdays : 9:30am, 11:30am & 2pm

weekends : 10am, 12pm & 14pm.

Cost per person : R85 (for 15 0 20 people), R75 (for 21 – 34 people) and R65 (for over 30 people).

Senior Citizen Tour – is a tour for the senior citizens includes a ferry tour, an animal interaction with tea and biscuits.

Tour hours

weekdays : 9:30am – 2:00pm.

Cost per person : R45.00

Behind the Scenes tour – Go where only the staff are allowed to go! You get to see how the Zoo runs while getting close to the wild animals.This is a tour on foot and includes two animal nocturnail rooms, the hospital and kitchen.

Tour hours

Weekdays : 9:30am – 2:00pm

weekends : 9:00am – 10:00am.

cost per person : R85.00 This tour is not recommended for children under the age of 7 years.

Contact Lebo Moalusi 011 66 2000 (ext 216) Email.

Lunch time

The Zoo’s restaurant Café Fino provides affordable, scrumptious meals to suit all occasions from mouth watering sandwiches to pizzas.

There are also several ice-cream stands and other vendors situated in various points around the Zoo.

Self Catering is permitted and visitors can make use of open picnic sites that are available. No braaing is permitted.

Things to do at the Zoo

While at the Zoo one of “the things to do” is view the Top 5 Animals which include, The Top 5 Endangered Species, Top 5 Nocturnal, Top 5 Fierce and Top 5 Record holders. I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Things to do while at the Johannesburg Zoo.

The Reptile House– can be found on the western side of the zoo, following Seal Street and turning right onto Cat Walk. At this enclosure you will find some scary reptiles such as the Green Mamba, venomous Puff Adder and Dwarf Crocodile. There are also a host of fresh water fish and the interesting Pygmy Hippo.

Madagascar enclosure -can be found in the central areas of the Zoo, just off Lemur Trail. You can find some of the worlds most unusual primates found only in Madagascar. Species include Crowned Lemur, Ring-tailed Lemur, Black & White Ruffed Lemur, Red Bellied Lemur and Mongoose Lemur.

The Farm Yard– can be found very close the zoos Upper Park Drive entrance, opposite the Bandstand.The Farm yard is great for children to see and touch, friendly farm animals such as Bapedi and Nguni sheep. Children can also play at the zoos play grounds.

The Cheater Slops– Can be found on the Eastern side of the Zoo, there you will Meet Aficas fastest carnivore the Cheetah, take a stroll to the African Wild Dogs and newly introduced Ethiopian Jackal.

The Ape House-can be found in the South Eastern side next to Café Fino. Visit three of mankind’s closest endangers relatives, the chimpanzee, gorilla and orang-utan.

The Anglogold Lion Enclosure– can be found on the northern side of the zoo. You can find 11 lions with 3 magnificent pride males and their pride females. The Zoo also holds the rare white lions.

Dinner time

With all the exercise, you might feel like a good meal or a sweet treat! Zoo lake, located across the road from the Johannesburg Zoo, is great for a dinner or a snack before hitting the road home.

There is a number of restaurants which are located next to the beautiful lake where you can enjoy your meal.