Visit Johannesburg Zoo for fascinating encounters with exotic wildlife from around the world. Spread across 136 acres (55 hectares) are approximately 2,000 animals representing more than 300 species. They are housed in several themed areas. Among the highlights are lions, leopards, hippos, crocodiles and rhinos.
Get around the zoo by following the well-marked trails or travel between the exhibits on the monorail. Find Amazon jungle natives, such as spider monkeys and pumas, at the Amazonia exhibit. See chimpanzees, a gorilla and a Sumatran orangutan in the Ape House. Watch cheetahs, African wild dogs and Ethiopian jackals roam around the Cheetah Slopes enclosure. Venture into Crocodile Country to see crocodiles being fed. Observe a magnificent pride of lions, including the rare white lion, at the Lion Enclosure.
Head to the Madagascar area to spot primates, such as the endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur. Step inside the Temple of the Ancients to discover a host of amphibians, arachnids and reptiles. If there are young children with you, take them over to the Farm Yard, where they can pet sheep, ponies and horses. In the Education Centre, which is open on the weekends, they can have their photos taken next to stuffed animals.
The zoo is a 10-minute drive from downtown Johannesburg and there is a large metered car park on-site. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the zoo’s natural setting or purchase drinks and snacks from the on-site café.
Johannesburg Zoo is open every day of the year and a small admission fee applies. There are discounts for students, pensioners and children aged between 3 years and 12 years. For a supplementary fee, you can experience the zoo’s tour packages, including a behind-the-scenes tour, moonlit tour and an overnight camp.
You might also want to visit the National Museum of Military History, which is located in the zoo’s grounds. There is a separate admission fee for this attraction.