Manila Zoo

Amenities: Manila Zoo has improved a lot in terms of facilities. The restrooms are clean and well-maintained, there are enough benches and shaded areas to rest, and food stalls are conveniently placed around the park. The walking paths are wide and organized, making the overall experience comfortable even on busy days. Accessibility: The zoo is easy to reach via public transportation, and the entrance is well-organized. Pathways are generally flat and stroller- or wheelchair-friendly, which makes it suitable for families with kids and seniors. Clear signages around the zoo also help visitors navigate without getting lost. Quality: The overall quality of the zoo experience is good. The animal enclosures look cleaner and more thoughtfully designed compared to before, and the environment feels more pleasant and educational. While there’s still room for improvement, Manila Zoo is a nice place for a casual family outing and a refreshing break within the city.

This zoo is just bad, let's be honest. I've been to zoos all over the world, including others in the Philippines (which are MUCH better so it can be done) and I would say that this one is probably the worst I have visited. The largest and most well known animal of course is the lone elephant who was in a tiny enclosure. The tigers are kept just as bad, crocodiles were injured from fighting and not being treated, turtles piled on top of one another and everything just lived in small, boring enclosures. Come on manilla, you need to do better!

I recently visited the Manila Zoo, and it was such a beautiful experience! The zoo is conveniently located just a short walk from the LRT station. They have a great selection of animals, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. What stood out the most for me was the butterfly room — a truly unique experience with butterflies gracefully flying all around you. If you’re in Manila, this is definitely a must-see attraction!

Manila Zoo is a modest attraction — not spectacular, but definitely enjoyable for young kids. The zoo is relatively small, which makes it easier to explore, and the layout is quite organized even though the overall cleanliness could be improved. They do have the popular animals that children usually look forward to seeing, which keeps the visit exciting for them. Be aware that food and drinks from outside aren’t allowed, but there are a few food outlets inside for snacks and refreshments. Parking can be a bit tight, though you can usually find a spot with some patience. Overall, it’s a decent family outing if you’re looking for something simple and kid-friendly within the city.

easy online booking. if you are a manileño, make sure you have your ID with address ready so you will get the discount. tickets bought online are also subject for address verification to get the discount. staffs are very friendly. easy to understand map. clean restrooms. overall ambiance is great for family bonding.

Pretty average experience. It was clean enough, could use more staff to make sure people (kids and adults) don't bang on the glass. Maps could use a you are here sign. An okay collection of animals.

🌿 Family Day at the Zoo – Our Experience 🐒🦒🦓 We recently visited Manila Zoo Name, and here’s our family’s honest review: Ratings: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Animal Variety & Care: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) – Lots of animals to see, though some enclosures could use more shade and enrichment. Cleanliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) – Paths were mostly clean. Facilities (benches, rest areas, comfort): ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5) – Could use more shaded seating areas. Food & Refreshments: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5) – Limited options due to limited food stalls, more variety would make the visit more convenient. Staff & Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Staff were approachable and helpful. ✅ What we loved: The kids enjoyed learning about animals through the signages. The walking areas gave us a good mix of exercise and exploration. The giraffes and monkeys were the stars of our day! 🔎 What could be improved: Add more rest areas for families. Expand food stalls with healthier and more kid-friendly choices. Upgrade some animal enclosures for a more natural feel. 🌟 Overall: A wonderful family experience! With a few improvements, this zoo could truly shine as a top attraction for kids and animal lovers. Would we recommend it? Yes — it’s a fun and educational trip for families! 💕

I mean it's like 300 peso to get in so it's not like it's expensive... but ultimately it's a pretty run down zoo with not a whole lot to see and I just can't say it's worth going. Especially if you've been to some of the more larger zoos in the west

So yeah, what's a Manila tour without a quick visit to Manila Zoo? So just to let you know in a straightforward manner, you guys can do better than visit this place. Because seriously, who will pay 100 pesos to see an elephant who looks more sick than my stomach when it smells prawns. But hey, the good news is the city government of Manila is actually planning to rehabilitate the zoo in a billion-dollar project and a firm who will join forces for a venture agreement to improve the zoo. So at least next time we get to see a healthier version of Mr. Elephant?

Here's an idea: take a kid and a socially-sensitive adult to a zoo, and see just how different their reactions are. A kid will ooh and aah at the animals, and maybe tap on the glass in the reptile room, a la Dudley in Harry Potter. The adult will most likely start off indulging and humoring the kid, but you might see him cringe at a particularly deplorable-looking cage and the sad animal inside it. The Manila Zoo needs to step up its game. I don't know if it is lacking in funds, as there is a continuous stream of people going in and out, especially during the weekends. But the state of the animals is just sad. Mali the elephant has to stand in the heat all damn day. The lions have their bones sticking out from malnutrition, and the tigers are losing their fur. Let's do something about this, please?

From a tourist's point of view, the Manila Zoo is an okay place to add to your itinerary without shelling out too much money. After all, for P100 pesos you get to see a 40-year old elephant, a lion, some rare birds, and more. From any other point of view however, I can't really say there's much merit to the zoo. It's particularly dirty, and having visited on a weekend there were more people than usual, including a group that was rather rowdy and very disrespectful to the animals, disturbing the ones who were sleeping (it was 1pm, an employee told me a lot of the animals, particularly the mammals would sleep at this time). The cages seemed to be in poor condition and the humidity was unbearable even for me, so I couldn't even imagine what it was like for the poor animals. I definitely would not recommend going here.

Zoos, for better or worse, are tourist attraction anywhere you go. I know how controversial they are of late but I feel that they still have a place in this world. Even if you could read up or watch animals online, the educational experience of seeing them in the flesh is still different. That's the ideal anyway. Manila Zoo is a relic from the 60's. I'd wager that what it looked like back then is the same as it looks now. It's old and run down. It's still a cheap way to spend an afternoon in Manila, but it could be better. The zoo has been subject to criticism recently because of activists claiming that the zoo's star, Mali the elephant, is living in deplorable conditions, which is sadly true. I'm giving this three stars because the whole experience is still good for kids. For adults however, it's a completely different story. The zoo is set to be rehabilitated over the next couple of years. Let's just hope that by then it would be something we could be proud of.