Joburg Zoo is one of the most popular local tourist attractions, situated in the leafy northern suburb of Johannesburg. Other than being home to a wide selection of interesting and unique animals, they also host a wide variety of fun-filled annual events to delight all ages. Here’s what you can expect to find at the Johannesburg Zoo in Parkview.
The Joburg Zoo is open to the public seven days a week, 364 days a year – including Christmas, New Years and Easter holidays. It houses over 320 species of animals, totaling about 2 000 animals. They offer a number of different tours and you can even explore the zoo’s active nightlife by taking the night tour. Bring along your family and a picnic basket, and enjoy the scenery.
They Have A Variety Of Exhibits
From feathery and scaly, to animals from Madagascar to the Amazon, you’re bound to find a wide variety of strange, beautiful, unique and majestic creatures at The Joburg Zoo. Here, you’ll be able to find and explore the follow exhibits:
Reptile House
Located on the Western side of the zoo, this newly built enclosure houses many species of scaly reptiles, such as the Green Mamba, the Puff Adder, and the Dwarf Crocodile. This is the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with these critters safely.
AngloGold Lion Enclosure
Experience the majesty, power and beauty of Africa’s beloved lions at the Joburg Zoo. The zoo is home to 11 lions with three magnificent males and their pride females. The zoo is also home to rare white lions. You can find the AngloGold Lion Enclosure towards the war museum in the northern side of the zoo.
Madagascar Enclosure
At the Madagascar Exhibit, you’ll be able to see and meet some of the worlds most interesting primates, that are only found in Madagascar. Species that you’ll find at their renovated enclosures includes the Black and White Ruffed Lemur, the Crowned Lemur, the Ring-tailed Lemur, the Red Bellied Lemur, as well as the Mongoose Lemur. Visitors can find the Madagascar enclosure just off Lemur Trail, in the central areas of the zoo.
To view what other enclosures you can expect to see at the Joburg Zoo, click here.
Keep An Eye Out On Their Events
Often, the Joburg Zoo hosts a wide range of events, perfect for the entire family. From something special for mo around Mother’s Day and something to get your heart racing, to nighttime strolls through the zoo, there’s something to intrigue all. Keep reading to see what sorts of events are held at the Joburg Zoo throughout the year (pandemic permitting, of course).
Mother’s Day Concert
The Joburg Zoo is known for hosting a lovely event to honour Moms everywhere! Although this event hasn’t been hosted in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, this annual Mother’s Day celebration is usually an exciting must for families. The Mother’s Day Concert at Joburg Zoo brings you a fab lineup of live music performances, which are sure to delight moms and all other guests on the day. To see when the next Mother;s Day Concert will be hosted, visit their Facebook events page.
Zoo Trot
Lace up your running shoes, get active and up that heart rate with the Zoo Trot! Here, you can enjoy an early morning run around the zoo while seeing all of the interesting and unique animal residents along the way. So see when the next Zoo Trot will take place, be sure to follow the Joburg Zoo on Facebook and keep an eye out on their events page.
Open Moonlight Tour
Ever wondered what the zoo is like by night? then don’t miss their Open Moonlight Tours. Experience the nocturnal animals waking up for the evening while also enjoying a lovely picnic under the stars. This is usually a lovely experience during the warmer months of spring and summer, but this event runs throughout the year. To fins out when the next one will be taking place, follow their Facebook events page.
School Holiday Programmes
Looking for something to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays? Then look no further than the Joburg Zoo and their exciting school holiday programmes. Every year, they host something special for the kids when school is out, ensuring they stay out of mischief while having plenty of fun. To see when the next Joburg Zoo Holiday Programme will take place, keep an eye on their Facebook events page.
Festival of Lights
During the December festive season, the Joburg Zoo goes all out with the Christmas cheer! The zoo becomes a busy and merry destination to visit if you’re looking to see some beautiful twinkling festive lights by night to get you into the holiday spirit. To find out more about this event, click here.
There’s Educational Programmes
Perfect for school outings and to education the kids during the school holidays, Joburg Zoo hosts a range of education programmes that’s sure to be exciting and fun.
The Zoo School programme is included in the school entrance fee of R35 (Monday to Friday) per learner and educator with bus parking at R20.
The Johannesburg Zoo-to-You is a living classroom concept, showcasing a variety of animals, birds, reptiles, insects and small mammals. The presentation is based on various topics and includes conservation, animal defense and general information on the animals and their habitats.
Click here for more information on their educational programmes.
Entrance Fees & Trading Hours
Here are the little details to keep in mind before you visit the zoo. From entry fees and trading times at The Joburg Zoo, we’ve got you covered. Don’t forget to take some additional cash along to grab a few refreshments during your visit.
Entrance Fees:
- Adults: R115 per person
- Children (between 3 – 12 years): R68 per child
- Pensioners: R68 per person
- Students (week days only and student card is required): R68 per student
- School groups (Monday – Friday): R42 per child
- Welfare groups (Monday – Friday): R47 per person
- Zoo Trot entry: R68 per person
- Ferry Rides: Weekdays – R5 per person | Weekends – R10 per person
- Parking: Cars and mini-vans – R16 per car | Busses – R27 per vehicle
Trading Hours:
The Joburg Zoo is open 364 days a year.
- Monday to Sunday and Public Holidays (including Christmas and New Years): 08:30 – 17:30.
- Last entry to the zoo: 16:00
Please note: On special occasions, opening and closing times of the zoo will vary.
Some Fun Facts About The Joburg Zoo
- The Joburg Zoo was founded in 1904.
- The original collection of animals at The Joburg Zoo when it opened included one lion, one leopard, one giraffe, two Sable Antelope bulls, one Baboon, one Genet, a pair of Rhesus Monkeys, a pair of Porcupines and one Golden Eagle.
- The Joburg Zoo gets up to 515 623 visitors annually (2019).
- In 1961, visitors over the age of 16 were charged to enter the zoo.
For More Information
For more information about The Joburg Zoo, visit www.jhbcityparksandzoo.com.
You can also contact them on 011 646 2000 for more details.
Don’t forget to follow The Joburg Zoo on their social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram and Twitter — to keep up to date with the latest news, information, events and more.
Address: Corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Upper Park Drive, Parkview, Johannesburg.
