Johannesburg Zoo
Johannesburg Zoo
4
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Johannesburg Zoo and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
524 within 5 kms
Attractions
178 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1Â 179 reviews
Excellent
332
Very good
503
Average
232
Poor
75
Terrible
37
Gabriella E
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Unfortunately we choose to go to the zoo in a Saturday and there was a special fee tarif because of the zoo’s anniversary. More than 2h queue to get inside, no priority line, really bad organized. Full of people making lound sounds, stressing the animals, kids with noise toys everywhere, drunk people, not enough security staff, toilets in a really bad conditions, no paper, no soap.
No Wi-Fi. I have my doubts if the animals are well treated, really bad conditions for the visitors. I not recommend.
No Wi-Fi. I have my doubts if the animals are well treated, really bad conditions for the visitors. I not recommend.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aileen W
7 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Wow what a zoo.
Clean spotless extremely well kept
Animals where very content happy
Cages spotless
The whole zoo was really quite amazing and excellent value for money .
Really must visit this special place.
Clean spotless extremely well kept
Animals where very content happy
Cages spotless
The whole zoo was really quite amazing and excellent value for money .
Really must visit this special place.
Written 10 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alison S
6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Unorganised unhelpful staff ,toilet blocks need a lot of work to make fit for purpose, no seats no water available in sinks for handwashing no soap or sanitizer no facility's for drying hands ,pay for a ticket to use the bus but not able to use sufficiently as buss doesn't run to a time table or return to pick up area even when the driver informed us what time to be there ,we had kids & pensioners with us , spent money on parking entrance fees bus tickets & buggy hire ,cages looked like need updating & more cleaning, this place needs more investment if it wants to attract tourists
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PETER N
32 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
FOR A ZOO , GREAT AREAS FOR MOST ENCLOSURES , YOU NEED PATIENCE , WE SPENT 8 HOURS THERE , GREAT STAFF AND FOOD We especially liked the nocturnal cat exhibits
Written 8 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seaside61400759806
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Friends
There was a lot of animals and we were used our phones to took some pics we scared also because of dangerous animals. Amazing
Written 11 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hassaan
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
Try to bring water and come early as it is pretty big.bring snacks and tissues as there aren't food stands everywhere.This is a great place for children and animal lovers. If can't or don't want to walk you can rent a golf cart. There are washrooms available . It is great place to go to with family or alone. You will find all kinds of animals there.If you want to have a picnic table here it's a nice place not the worse
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim B
Newcastle, UK1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Business
Fun place for the whole family. One can hire a golf cart to get around. The staff and most especially park managers are amazing. I can’t thank them fir their kindness after a problem.
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liaquat A
Durban, South Africa29 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
The Zoo was clean and well maintained unlike other zoos in South Africa Namely Mitchell Park Zoo in Durban) it was once a beautiful place and as normal the corrupt municipal authorities neglected it and I don’t want to expand more, as you know the truth)
Back to Johannesburg Zoo, they advertise feeding time and we asked many staff at the zoo and they have no idea where the animals are. They advertised feeding of the Gorilla, apparently it had sadly passed away a while ago.
More details and directions will help and make it a much better experience.
Back to Johannesburg Zoo, they advertise feeding time and we asked many staff at the zoo and they have no idea where the animals are. They advertised feeding of the Gorilla, apparently it had sadly passed away a while ago.
More details and directions will help and make it a much better experience.
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jdewitt7108
Milnerton, South Africa117 contributions
Sept 2022 • Family
Was a fun day out with the family, kids had a lot of fun and learned a lot, just many cages was in maintenance. Always liked the jhb zoo and the kids had a real good experience of it as well
Written 29 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billbobbird
Johannesburg, South Africa18 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Fantastic day out. The restaurant there is excellent! Great value for money and excellent service. Worth going to the zoo just for the restaurant. You can hire carts if you don’t fancy walking. Loads to learn really great
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you have a thing that goes through the zoo that you can ride on for the day and how much will it cost for a group of 9 adults 2 kids 1 elderly person
Kwame224
Accra, Ghana41 contributions
There is a truck that drives you from the entrance round the zoo. It is optional and costs should not exceed 50.00 R per head.
gilmar p
Sandton, South Africa
Si eu posso ir sozinho e quanto custa para entrar no zoológico
I would like to know how in 2019 we are still believing that any animal is ok to have been taken from its family or troop/ tribe, taken from its origional surroundings to live in a small enclosure. How is this still possible? And please I seriously would like an answer.
JUSTINE-JESSE
Pretoria, South Africa732 contributions
Some (not all) zoos play an integral role in breeding programmes especially with endangered animals and also with educating rural people (especially in South Africa) as to how to work together with wild animals instead of just killing them for food. Im not sure where you come from, but not all societies are educated and have food like in countries like Europe. I have been to both good and bad zoos. Until you visit a zoo and see what the place is involved in, you cant judge! Many animals at zoos in South Africa were born in captivity or are in captivity because they would have been killed (for hunting or food) or would have been endangered by development in their "natural" environments due to houses being built or deforestation, in other countries. Not sure if you live in South Africa, but countless wild animals are killed due to roads and towns being built all over the place. Just a couple of weeks ago a perfectly healthy leopard killed a small child in a rural village, and was in turn shot by a vet as it would have continued to catch easy prey in the same place. Conversely, money from zoos in this country is also used for nature conservation. Not all zoos have small enclosures! Some zoos have such big enclosures you cant even get to see the animals! Again, I know that all zoos are far from ideal!
Stewart S
5 contributions
good monday to you,
I have two guests from Dubai in Cape Town, are interested in visiting the Johannesburg or Pretoria zoo's.
we will be flying to JHB. on friday, probably morning, and will be visiting around late morning.
Do you have guided tours for small (3 max), ? and what is the cost
How much is the cost per day for family of 5(2 adults, 3 kids, age 10,4 & 3)?
Sunita Vij
Noida, India98 contributions
Sorry for a very late reply. But I think it was R90 for adults and R55 for child
Ruth M
Bournemouth
How much does it cost to hire a wheelchair or golfcart as we have an elderly relative who would love to come but nowhere can I find the cost
Brett H
Johannesburg, South Africa140 contributions
Hi Ruth
Just called to find out for you - there do NOT have the golf cart tours available anymore but do have wheelchairs for hire (R100 per day).
Hope this helps.
Is it posible to meet and get a picture with a baby gorilla or a lion getting inside their cages?
NielsInder
Johannesburg, South Africa427 contributions
If you do not mind being eaten or roughed-up and hospitalised shortly thereafter...maybe, but at your own risk and cost... So the official answer to that question would be a resounding "NO"...the zoo would certainly distance itself from such a request due to the risk of personal injury and legal consequences. If you would like to take a personal picture with an animal, I suggest or am aware that the lion park has special days or times when they have wild-life officials inside the park who oversee and support such pictures with baby cubs. This may be a much better and safer alternative ;-)
Is it posible to meet and get a picture with a baby gorilla or a lion getting inside their cages?
Elna L
Roodepoort, South Africa291 contributions
Hi Gustavo the answer is no. Even if they in cages it's still wild animals.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingJOHANNESBURG ZOO: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Johannesburg Zoo
- Hotels near Johannesburg Zoo:
- (0.28 km) Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch
- (0.36 km) Protea Hotel Fire & Ice Johannesburg Melrose Arch
- (0.54 km) African Pride Melrose Arch, Autograph Collection®
- (0.29 km) Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg, Melrose Arch
- (0.23 km) Chez Hotel Inn
- Restaurants near Johannesburg Zoo:
- (0.00 km) Cuppabake
- (0.00 km) Cafe Simo
- (0.12 km) Free Food
- (0.09 km) Nando's Corlett Drive Thru
- (0.16 km) Chef Micky's Thai Dining
- Attractions near Johannesburg Zoo:
- (0.37 km) The Melrose Gallery
- (1.18 km) Wildside Tours and Safaris - Day Tours
- (0.50 km) Melrose Arch
- (1.73 km) HintHunt
- (0.16 km) Johannesburg Distilling Company