National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
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
About
The large cages at this renowned zoo are home to an expansive collection of animals from all over the world.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.0
645 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
230
Average
109
Poor
40
Terrible
32
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Meander48962930001
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Couples
What we thought would be a wonderful day out at the National Zoo in the Capital city turned out to be emotional and left us distraught. Besides no restaurant or take away, an excuse for a food truck and litter everywhere, hardly any animals, the Zoo is in shambles. The cages have little to no water. If there is water its disgustingly green and full of litter. Booze bottles are strewn around every corner and even broken glass pieces in the cages of the animals. There was a big stage being setup and people entered from 9am drink in hand. The Zoo should not allow alcohol or glass or cooler boxes of any kind on site. The patrons should support the Zoo restaurants and food truck and thats why the place is run down. Only R100 entry and it seems you can bring booze, food and loud music. I compared this to Gold reef city, also recently visited. Immaculate. The restaurants make a living and the place is pristene. Its shocking how badly the Zoo is kept and the gardens look disgusting with decorated litter, yesterdays leftover and beer bottles everywhere. I would like to plead for everyones assistance in pulling a once Spectacular Zoo back into shape. We stayed 1hr. It broke my heart. No walk in avery, no animal shows, broken delapidated cages. No water. Fires made on the edge of the bridge side by the once farm animal area. I dont want to believe that this is how we showcase our National Zoo let alone our Capital city.
Written 26 September 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.
Tracy Maistry
Springs, South Africa2 contributions
Sept 2020 • Family
Really disappointing experience. A lot of the cages we empty, yet the website advertised several various species the zoo is very neglected. The animals looked under nourished and there pens were dry and looked desolate and dilapidated The non existent aquarium was a shame, I pity the seals as the pool was damaged and almost empty. It's a real shame as back in the day the Pretoria zoo was breathtaking but now on the brink collapse. Poor animals.
Written 26 September 2020
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.
Stay55704468881
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
I'd like to stress the need to be cautious of recent positive reviews, as the zoo's current state is far from its former glory. Beginning with Primate Row, where an enclosure has collapsed, the decline continues. The Australian habitat, once vibrant, now lacks koalas, with only three kangaroos on display. Moving on to the Gorilla enclosure, there might be gorillas, but the grass is overgrown, and the building hasn't seen a paintbrush in at least two decades.
The bear enclosure stands empty, and the once spacious open cages for zebras and rhinos have dwindled to just two out of five. Oukapi is no longer part of the zoo's vocabulary, and several smaller habitats are marked as "under construction," accompanied by an unpleasant stench. In the area housing porcupines and warthogs, not only are the animals present, but their fecal matter has accumulated in the water over weeks.
The seal enclosure is nothing short of a joke, with broken windows further adding to the unsettling sights. The reptile section has only one empty enclosure, and while the aquarium is mostly full, the notable shark tank is, once again, "under construction." Despite 40% of enclosures being populated, I wouldn't recommend this as a family trip due to the overall state of disrepair and neglect.
The bear enclosure stands empty, and the once spacious open cages for zebras and rhinos have dwindled to just two out of five. Oukapi is no longer part of the zoo's vocabulary, and several smaller habitats are marked as "under construction," accompanied by an unpleasant stench. In the area housing porcupines and warthogs, not only are the animals present, but their fecal matter has accumulated in the water over weeks.
The seal enclosure is nothing short of a joke, with broken windows further adding to the unsettling sights. The reptile section has only one empty enclosure, and while the aquarium is mostly full, the notable shark tank is, once again, "under construction." Despite 40% of enclosures being populated, I wouldn't recommend this as a family trip due to the overall state of disrepair and neglect.
Written 9 January 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.
debbie l
Durban, South Africa27 contributions
Jan 2022 • Friends
Very disappointing trip to what boasts to be the largest zoo in SA. My last visit was 15 years ago & it has definitely degraded since. The gardens, enclosures, tanks & facilities are poorly maintained with many being uninhabited. There is zero Covid protocol being policed with many people crowding together unmasked. I would not recommend this place to anybody who is actually wanting a positive & enjoyable visit to view animals & reptiles
Written 6 January 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.
Zanellubbe
Pretoria, South Africa1 contribution
Nov 2020 • Family
Half of the enclosures are empty and the cages with actual animals in them are neglected. The animals deserve better care honestly it is upsetting! The zoo can might as well close down the animals will be better off! Experience is most definitely not how we used to remember the zoo. Extremely disappointed
Written 15 November 2020
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.
Jackie H
8 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Although the zoo has clearly seen better times ( empty cages, lack of signs, nothing available to eat except a drink. Ice cream and crisps….. ) the animals are healthy and mainly in decent enclosures. It is a big place with plenty of staff trying to clear up and building new enclosures. Yes, there is a litter problem. But no different to the rest of Pretoria. We went on a Monday and it was empty apart from a few school groups. Nice place to walk, amazing trees and landscaping and views of the city. For 100 rand entry per adult it was a great value day . We needed 4 hours to see everything. Worth a visit if you have time .
Written 11 September 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.
Matt S
Krugersdorp, South Africa207 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
So the summary of this trip would be enclosure is empty... This is really sad. More than half the cages where empty. The once big bird cage is empty and the roof falling apart. No bears... This was really disappointing to pay full price for half the animals!
Written 28 September 2020
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.
Da-mien Bezuidenhout
Pretoria, South Africa6 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
A once beautiful zoo has turned into such a sad attempt to entertain people. The cableway did not work and was in terrible state. The Australian themed section was permanently closed. There was a lot of animal displays missing. The Pretoria Zoo can be an incredible experience if maintenance could just attend properly. Despite all the issues above, we did have a nice picnic on beautiful green grass. There is a lot of food stalls to buy a quick bite or drink. The restrooms is usable. Try to get there early to park near the zoo, because the street is super dangerous to park in.
Written 7 January 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.
Sunshine46115743998
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Family
The zoo was derelect and litter everywhere. The zoo housekeeping staff collected litter and dumped it into the neighbouring river. The neighbouring river is full of litter. Needs serious attention and conservation effort.
Written 28 September 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.
Silke H
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
Just horrible and disturbing!
Visiting this zoo is more like visiting a Lost Place than a zoo. But for this "lost place" admission is still demanded and animals neglected - no almost tortured!
Most buildings and enclosures are closed or stand empty. In the enclosures where "life" can still be found, the animals are not kept according to species and appear sick and disturbed. The leopard lives alone in a confined space and is just waiting for its salvation, the monkeys' only goal is to break out, the birds cry miserably for Help center, the giraffe leans weakly against a lantern, the hares know no grass only concrete and both the alligator and the hippos and also the penguins are looking in vain for more and especially clean water for swimming.... These were just a few examples of how badly the animals are doing there.
In addition to the animals, the park itself shocks with stench, garbage, many broken things such as the cable car and large void.
I am shocked, speechless and close to tears. I want nothing more than for the park to be closed and the animals to be distributed to other zoos with species-appropriate keeping! I wish these innocent animals with all my heart!
Visiting this zoo is more like visiting a Lost Place than a zoo. But for this "lost place" admission is still demanded and animals neglected - no almost tortured!
Most buildings and enclosures are closed or stand empty. In the enclosures where "life" can still be found, the animals are not kept according to species and appear sick and disturbed. The leopard lives alone in a confined space and is just waiting for its salvation, the monkeys' only goal is to break out, the birds cry miserably for Help center, the giraffe leans weakly against a lantern, the hares know no grass only concrete and both the alligator and the hippos and also the penguins are looking in vain for more and especially clean water for swimming.... These were just a few examples of how badly the animals are doing there.
In addition to the animals, the park itself shocks with stench, garbage, many broken things such as the cable car and large void.
I am shocked, speechless and close to tears. I want nothing more than for the park to be closed and the animals to be distributed to other zoos with species-appropriate keeping! I wish these innocent animals with all my heart!
Automatically translated
Written 26 August 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.
Pfano C
Pretoria, South Africa
Can we bring our own food and are alcoholic beverages permitted?
Written 25 May 2023
After i pay R200 deposit and R100 for renting the golf cart do i get my R200 deposit when i return the golf cart?
Written 19 December 2021
Navigator42849970036
Pretoria, South Africa
Hi any volunteer work available for two weeks. Regards Riaan
Written 6 April 2020
Flyer63788987036
Benoni, South Africa
What is the entrance fee now in March? 2 year old and 2 adults
Written 9 March 2020
Adults are R110 and kids are R75.
Written 11 March 2020
I can’t remember member the exact amount (for a South African and other lower currencies its, pricey..for U.K., USA etc Its not because a few pound stocks or dollars is a lot of rands). There are two prices to pay...one is the deposit and one per hour...I think we paid R300. Don’t be overtime though. You could probably email and ask them.
Written 9 November 2019
How much is entrance gee for myself and my 1 year old in heritage day?
Written 22 September 2019
Yes you can. Make sure you bring good walking shoes. You can also rent a golf cart as well.
Written 11 August 2019
Under two is free...but you have to tell the child is under 2 . We were charged until be pointed out that our 3 were under 2...then they refunded.
Written 9 November 2019
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