The Johannesburg Zoo

Situated on Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkview, the Johannesburg Zoo is one of the city’s most popular haunts. The huge 54 hectare green lung is the place where the two tributaries of the Braamfontein Spruit meet, set in almost park-like surrounds in the heart of the northern suburbs.

Johannesburg’s zoo is home to 2070 animals and 365 different species, and without doubt the reason one visits this beautiful setting is the animals themselves. There are white lions (one of the few places in the world where you can see them), elephants, polar bears, chimpanzees, gorillas, bat-eared foxes, hippos and antelope. And the Johannesburg zoo is the only zoo in the country that has successfully bred Siberian Tigers, the largest cats in the world.

The Johannesburg Zoo is a great place for children to enjoy and learn about the environment and there are tours, such as day safaris and night safaris - particularly exciting as you get to explore the zoo by moonlight and learn more about nocturnal animals like owls, bats and cats - and sleepovers, where groups of children can sleep inside the education centre or even bring their own tents.

To whet their appetites, a snake demonstration is included. And don’t forget the zoo trot, on every second Sunday of the month, where one can opt to fun walk or run between 5 and 10 kilometres. Johannesburg’s zoo underwent extensive redevelopment during 2004/05 and new exhibits include a walk-in aviary, an ape house, a reptile house and new enclosures for the bears, pumas and tigers.

The Johannesburg Zoo was established in 1904, and historically, it has been owned and operated by the city of Johannesburg. Recently, the Johannesburg Zoo was registered as a Section 21 (non-profit) company.
The core business of the Johannesburg Zoo is the accommodation, enrichment, husbandry and medical care of wild animals.
The Johannesburg Zoo contributes to the quality of life of the citizens of the city through the following:

• Education: Look after the environment, it is the only one we’ve got. This message is spread through numerous awareness programmes, edutainment, as well as smell, hear, touch and feel programmes held throughout the year. The Zoo is the epicentre for the ‘living sciences’. They encourage teachers and parents to take their pupils and children to the zoo to take environmental subjects to life . Night tours are a must.

For all tours, school programs, holiday programs, and youth clubs, visit the education centre.

• Conservation: Zoos work with the trees while Parks work with the forest. This governs the relationship with the environment, global co-operation, endangered species preservation and wildlife environmental protection and rehabilitation. In partnership with local, provincial national and regional conservation authorities, private landowners and NGO’s, the Zoo contributes to conservation in various ways.

• Research: Problem solving to improve the stability of wildlife. This is achieved through biological conservation, animal diseases information and medical care given to animals. The Zoo contributes to research in three main ways – own research, academic research and partnership research.

• Recreation: Bringing a world of wildlife to your doorstep. Relaxation in a clean, green environment, a safe and healthy family recreational venue to spend quality time in an interesting and fun way.

Accessible and affordable, the Zoo is the City of Johannesburg’s world of wildlife on your doorstep.
Johannesburg Zoo, Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkview, Main public entrance on Upper Park Drive.

Details: 011-646-2000 or e-mail info@jhbzoo.org.za

If you would like to Volunteer at the Johannesburg Zoo as a Tour Guide/ Ferry Driver please contact Deona at 011-646-2000 ext 263 or e-mail deona@jhbzoo.org.za

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The Johannesburg Zoo.