Pretoria Zoo

3 Maruis Cordier - 9 months ago

Lets start with the fact that I am giving it 3 stars...
The website showed cable car rides, a train ride for kids and the theme park with a small ferries wheel. That was one of the reasons why we opt to go to the zoo... Sadly the cable cars, the train ride and the small theme park was closed due to maintenance. It was clearly visible that the cable cars had been standing for a long time due the shrubs growing around them. The same could be said about the theme park and the train ride. Everywhere you could see the impact of budget cuts due to a decline in tourism, funding restraints and Covid 19 restrictions some of the enclosures were empty and had no animals in them.
Now the positive side of the review...
The staff is honestly the best I have seen for a public entity. They are all friendly and very helpful and patient with tourist from other countries.
The parks are well kept and neat. The restrooms were surprisingly clean and usable. We were surprised with the food at the restaurant and we kind of expected something horrible but the food was great.
If you go to Pretoria Zoo do yourself a favor and rent a golf car. We will go back for sure but next time we will rent a golf car. To be honest if I had a few million dollars to give than I would invest it in Pretoria Zoo. There is fantastic potential there.

4 Nick Dempers - 3 months ago

Was really impressed with the zoo and would have given it a 5, but it is in need of a bit of maintenance. The cable car wasn't working and a few of the walkways were closed. Still recommend visiting.

5 Iten Mehaya - 3 months ago

My favorite Zoo in the country. I’ve been to more than one Zoo, but this one the display was great for close view of animals and taking pictures, the place was clean, enormous, it has the Big five, animals looks healthy

4 Kholofelo Mbatha - a year ago

The reception is great and accommodating. Stuff is friendly.
The place has some spots that are quite fascinating but for a national zoo the place is not really well maintained and gives off some run down vibes in the whole vicinity. Some animals are not where they supposedly are being maintained.

4 David Michel - 5 months ago

Back in 2015 and 2018 , visiting the Pretoria zoo has been a very nice experience.
Having been there before, I think the experience's energy was still the same , from time to time.
I liked the fact that there was a huge variety of animals , well protected and in good shapes.

The zoo's huge , covering several acres i think, from flying birds to snakes and lizards. You can enjoy going there with your family and your friends or maybe alone, to discover more about wildlife in the southern part and beyond.

We rent a kart car to enjoy the place without walking, which was pretty inexpensive, I may say. Riding inside the zoo was so cool but you need to present a driving license.

Overall , it may be seen as just a zoo, but it is an enjoyable experience to share with tour kids or family, to take some time off the same kind of activities you are used to.

1 Mo Amodjee - 3 months ago

Not worth the price, River is polluted and smelly, toilets are not cleaned or maintained, many empty enclosures. Turtle laying dead in its enclosure

4 Bongani Masemola - a month ago

Best experience i had.The animals were fascinating to watch especially the snakes i was disappointed i didn't see the fish and seals and there lions are located too far