National Zoological Garden Travel Guide: Top Sights in South africa,

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National Zoological Garden- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Educational & Science; South Africa; 5 Reviews

+3 Photos

Suggested Duration: 6 hours

The National Zoological Garden of South Africa, an expansive 80-hectare sanctuary in Pretoria, stands as a pivotal landmark in both the conservation and education landscapes of the country. Established in 1899 amidst the turbulence of the Second Boer War and emerging as the nation's official zoological garden by 1916, this facility has grown to rank among the world's eight largest zoos. Its diverse terrains, bisected by the Apies River and connected through artful bridges, offer a varied experience from flat expanses to hillside slopes, ensuring a unique backdrop for its inhabitants and visitors alike. The sanctuary's infrastructure facilitates an immersive exploration with over 6 kilometers of pathways, optional golf cart rentals for ease of traverse, and a cable car to effortlessly conquer the altitudinal divide. Home to a rich array of species, from the enchanting walk-through aviary to expansive savannah habitats mimicking the African wild, the zoo prioritizes educational engagement and conservation. Exhibits feature a myriad of animals including penguins, seals, leopards, and flamingoes, leading up to regal African big game species. It's not just the living exhibits, the zoo boasts aquatic wonderlands and a specialized reptile park, ensuring a comprehensive encounter with the natural world.

Operators offering tours in South Africa

Attractions in Pretoria

Voortrekker Monument

4.8

Paul Kruger Statue

4.2

Freedom Park

Union Buildings

4.6

Pretoria National Botanical Garden

4.6

Reviews of Pretoria Zoo

Nontobeko Ncube

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-20

Lovely place. But it is very big, took about 3 to 4 hours to see at least most of the animals. There are places to buy ice cream inside and also have picnics. Overall lovely experience. And oh they take a picture of you when you come in and the album costs R250. The photos are beautiful like the one of my friend and I, that one is studded with watermarks cause we didn't pay for them.
Monica Fritz

1
Reviewed: 2024-08-18

Wow, wow, wow! I’m shocked and appalled at the state of PTA zoo. When we arrived we found it strange that it was so quiet in comparison to JHB zoo - we now understand why. Majority of the enclosures are closed and dilapidated and the enclosures that are actually open look unkept. Please, get animal welfare involved and re-home these animals. 100% wouldn’t recommend.
Zak Pooe

3
Reviewed: 2024-08-04

What a beautiful place (it used to be). I remember travelling from Mpumalanga with fellow primary school mates and teachers to see all the fauna and flora. Sadly it hasn't held up to its former standards but still a nice place to visit, especially for the little ones. As an adult I just can't help but compare everything to what it was before
chanelle jacobs

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-10

Animals were all in good condition. Not as bad as some reviews make it to be. Some construction still in process and signage a bit of an issue. We could not find the leopard or sloth and the owls' cages were empty, but we had a great day and the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Took a photo at the gate and was able to purchase a photo book with different backgrounds on our photo. Littering seems to become an issue later in the day at picnic spots, but it was clean in the morning so the Zoo caretakers need help from visitors to clean up after themselves. Was a great experience for us
Seif K

3
Reviewed: 2024-05-05

It's a nice zoo to picnic. Alot of enclosures are empty. This zoo has such wonderful potential yet seems it's very neglected. It's really sad to see. It has a river passing through it but has so much waste inside. This could be the most beautiful zoo in the whole county if treated better. Must use the golf cart its the best 300 to spend for two hours. Half a day here is enough to enjoy it. I hope to go there in future to see it improvements.