Oakland Zoo

Fantastic zoo, one of the best in the country. It’s not your traditional zoo - it requires more patience and exploration. That said, it’s getting really crowded during weekends and therefore kinda ruined the vibe a bit. The place is super kids friendly - has stroller solution for almost everything. We all had great fun here!

It was super fun. We made a good decision to be there during the morning cause it took a whole day to look around. We saw the lions being fed and zebras too. It was awfully fun and since I love animals a lot, it was great for me and so many kids at the zoo.

A very nice zoo with large environments for animals from around the world. There are also some great views across the bay. Reasonably priced tickets, but buy online at zoo website. Be sure to take the gondola up to the higher California trail level for some great views as well as native California animals. We saw eagles, condors, buffalo and a wolf. Unfortunately the bears, grizzly and black , were hiding. The Australia exhibit is only accessible by taking the small train, which is an extra $6 per person. We had to wait for an emu to be shooed off the tracks. Plan carefully as they close early, 3PM on weekdays.

Amazing zoo, with great educational and wildlife conservation value. Was VERY busy the recent Sunday our family visited, many visitors were turned away due to the zoo having met it's maximum capacity. Pre-purchasing tickets online (or buying an annual membership) is the way to go on busy weekend or holiday visits. Both the older and newer gondola rides were up and running, an exciting way to relax and take a break from walking. Wonderful playgrounds, exhibits, information - a great experience for the whole family.

It’s a great place for kids and adults! You’ll find plenty of animals here! Children adore this place! They also hav gondola - extremely popular thing! Reserving a parking space in advance is a good advice! One day visit is not enough. IMHO. It is really huge!

Oakland Zoo is an incredibly unique and historic part of the Bay Area. It sits on a hillside that overlooks the Bay Area, and they definitely utilize the view with the placement of the gondolas and the California exhibits. The animals, conservation/information and over all calm tranquility of the park makes you feel grounded and connected to nature. The walk through with gradual inclines and manicured walkways was the perfect amount of exercise for our family. The gondola ride to the top of the hill is a special and memorable experience that sets Oakland Zoo apart for all the others I have been to. When you get to the top of the hill, plan on eating lunch. The food is so good and there is something for everyone! Lunch includes a beautiful panoramic view of the SF Bay Area. Our family loved everything we ate the last two times we went..I actually said lunch is so good it's worth going to the zoo JUST for the meal on the top of the hill! If you're even considering going to the Oakland Zoo, Go! Spend your money supporting a special part of our community that gives back to animal conservation on a global level. You will leave an absolute fan!

Okay for a short afternoon trip but don’t have high expectations. The terrain is difficult, many animals are not on display and the habitats are not well maintained. Okay if you live close but if you are making a day of it choose the San Francisco zoo instead.

We loved our experience at the Oakland Zoo! We had no intentions of visiting but had some time and decided to visit. We happened to go on trading card Wednesday and had so much fun finding cards and trading with others along with visiting the Habitarium. The gondola ride was so fun and the workers were very accommodating as I have to use a cane while walking due to a leg injury. We ate at the cafe as well and the food was reasonably priced and was hot and tasty. We got the chicken Caesar salad and the impossible burger with fries. Since the zoo is located at the top of a mountain, there are a lot of hills to walk up and down to the exhibits so be sure to have good shoes on!

The Oakland Zoo is a pretty great zoo experience. We really enjoyed ourselves on a July weekday visit. Sections of the zoo-- Tropical Rainforest African Savanna Children's Zoo California Trail (via a gondola ride, free with admission) Wild Australia (via a train ride at extra cost) Rides area (pay for tickets, adjacent to the zoo) What I liked-- -Nicely maintained with a lot of big habitats to see so many neat animals -Foliage or covered areas provided nice shade -Multiple viewpoints to look at animals -Lots of seats/benches available -Encountered staff who shared information -Cool gondola offered a peaceful ride with lovely scenery to enjoy -Awesome views of the bay from the California Trail section -Play areas for kids (the California Trail play area was especially fun) -Hand sanitizer bottles widely available -Cool animal statues & different cut outs for cute photo opps -The (extra cost) train ride goes into the Wild Australia area to see a few animals up close, gives nice views of the bay, & offers looks down into parts of the zoo Be aware-- -Like any zoo, the chance of seeing animals out & active will depend on timing -Inky re-entry stamp didn't dry & smears -Elevation differences require some uphill walking on some paths -The Reptile/Amphibian Room was stuffy & muggy The workings-- -Reserve & buy tickets in advance online. Price for admission is variable depending on the day/entry time. We showed our online parking payment proof at the entrance window. -Parking was a little dicey, we got lucky finding a spot while people circled. -Outside food & drinks are allowed to be brought in, but no plastic lids & straws. Water filling stations are scattered throughout. -Women's restroom experience near the entrance was very busy, so supplies ran low/out. The restroom at the California Trails section was less busy, nicer, & better maintained.

Our 7 yo daughter and 6 yo son had a wonderful time and I loved being able to take them here. The zoo itself has a nice feel with lots of natural foliage along the walk. I also liked being around people of diverse backgrounds, as SF zoo has a different atmosphere. Many of the animals weren't in view, but if it's because they aren't forced into small spaces in order to be seen, then ok. We liked the big grassy area in the children's zoo area as well as the bug habitat. Metal ants and bees found along walk ways and on the sides of buildings are a nice detail that our kids noticed. The chimpanzees were showing out and as usual looked unreal, in a good way. The giraffe enclosure looked grand and the giraffes looked healthy. All the animals we got to see looked healthy. There were also a good amount of shade and benches for a tired Mama to rest, and for the kids to have a snack and water. There was an East Asian? fellow in the cafe that almost ruined my good mood while I was minding my business, enjoying the time with my kids. He was standing around gossiping with his Latina? coworker and seemed to have an annoyed attitude when I picked up our food and when I asked for a to go container. I understand if they don't have one, but he and the coworker acted like I was crazy for wanting to take the food to go in case the kids got really hungry later. The coworker eventually gave me an open container, which I figured was better than nothing. She asked if I wanted another and I was like, for sure, as we had ordered 2 chicken tender meals that were difficult to finish eating. The guy muttered, 'why not 3,' or something silly under his cowardly breath. People like that guy seem to hate life, and are a disappointing part of an expensive but otherwise fun family experience. I hope he is ok as it takes a lot of sadness in life to be rude to a random lady who did nothing to you, and to have nothing better to do than to gossip at work. More importantly, the food was truly terrible. The chicken and fries were bland and cold, insultingly overpriced. The packaged cookie was ok. This was a last minute surprise trip and I didn't realize that outside food is OK to bring in, saw another family with their Tupperware meals. I will definitely keep that in mind if we ever go back here. The best part was the train. We waited for 2 trains before our turn, which felt like a good while. Yet, I was lucky that our kids were patient and having fun. The lady who stamped our hands before exiting to the rides area and the ladies operating the train seemed professional, upbeat, and kind. We saw a bunch of kangaroos, a turkey, and an emu who was just hanging out. Nice way to end the trip. The overall experience was positive, though I am not sure if another visit will be worth it. Update 7/30/25, adding back a star: After reaching out to the zoo customer service, I was contacted by the Food and Beverage Operations Manager for the Tuskers Cafe, which is managed separately from the zoo. He was professional and apologized on behalf of the rude and unprofessional employee. I received a refund for our meal and an invitation to return to the cafe for a better experience, the experience my kids and I deserved. Though not having that original experience during an otherwise lovely day with our kids would be preferable, this is a helpful and appreciated resolution.

I've been to my share of zoos and this one is pretty close to the top. It's not San Diego Zoo but it's perfect for us. Since purchasing a membership, I've now been twice. (But I've been 3 times since I also went last year during glowfari.) I recently went with my work family which includes little kids. I didn't realize you can purchase these keys at the gift shop and at most enclosures, you put the key in and listen about the animals. It definitely gets the kids excited about moving throughout the park. Plus, many zookeepers (or they might be volunteers) hand out cards to the kids on different animals. Look out for those while you're visiting! The kids on my visit collected at least 4! Plus there are several play areas for the kids and they are super fun including a zip line. The key is going first thing when the animals are more active. Plus we were lucky that the weather was very cloudy with some sprinkles. The animals loved being out since it was nice and cool. When it's hot, they tend to go find a shady spot and sleep. Not to mention, when you come early, less people to deal with. We took the gondola up to the top right away and we had most of the place to ourselves. So what did we see that day? Everything! Jaguar, mountain lion, lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, meerkats, baboons, wolves--and all of them were up close. It was a great visit. They have a nice food establishment at the top but be prepared to spend big money. If you don't want to lose your entire paycheck on a meal, you are allowed to bring food in which is what we did. If you're coming here for the first time, I highly recommend getting the membership. 1) You don't have to worry about timed tickets. Members can come whenever. 2) Members don't have to pay parking. 3) After your second visit you've pay for your membership so it's totally worth it.

I am currently a zoo member and love the Oakland Zoo! This review is for the overall zoo experience (not including dining experience at the zoo). STARS (stand out qualities) -Great variety of animals that are well taken care of and have a lot of space -Trading cards are given out by some staff and docents -Location is well maintained and clean, including bathrooms -Staff and volunteers are professional, friendly and helpful STAIRS (areas of growth) -More cards passed out by docents and staff TIPS -Membership seems to pay off after about 3 or so visits and has a lot of perks (newsletter, special events, store discount and more) -Special events that are an additional charge include an animal feeding, veterinary hospital tour and Glowfari

Honestly I think this is one of the best zoo/museum memberships in the Bay Area, especially if you are living in the East Bay. The Zoo is well kept, has interesting/unique attractions such as the Gondola, and has both exotic and local animals species to see and learn about. The Landing Cafe up top also has some of the best views of the Bay you can have and the food there is constantly changing/delicious. Super nice to go even just for an hour or so before closing to go for a walk with your kids. The playground up top is fantastic for the little ones to explore and run around in. Just be mindful on long weekends or holidays that it can get PACKED. As in backing up onto the freeway packed, get there early! Or if you have a membership you can get in earlier. We love this zoo and would highly recommend this for any family in the Bay Area.

How do You Zoo? Founded in 1922, the 100-acre Oakland Zoo is run as a non-profit and houses over 850 native and exotic animals. They are also AZA (Association of Zoo Animals) accredited. The Good: *Membership pays for itself in two visits and you get free parking. *Fantastic views on the way up to the zoo along the hill *Tram ride (free) to the California side of the zoo was fun. *Great little "restaurant" in the CA area that has lots of food options beyond greasy pizza. It's pricey but it is what it is. *Loved the variety of animals here *If you have young kids this is a great place to bring them, as there's tons of play areas for them. *Animals look well cared for with large spaces *Glowfari Christmas light display during the season. The Meh: *We found this out the hard way, but they still require timed entry reservations for non-members, and unfortunately, we were already en route when we found this out. -_- So their evil plan worked and we bought a membership. *They charge for parking unless you're a member (see above) The Ugly: *That train ride is cool but kind of a joke. It goes by so fast and we didn't see one animal, except for Lou the Emu being a PiTa and not allowing the train to enter the area. It was pretty funny, tho, but don't bother with it unless you have a kid who's really into trains. Conclusion: Maybe the best zoo in the Bay Area, as we slightly preferred it over the SF Zoo.

Lovely visit on a slow weekday with mild summer weather. This is my favorite Zoo - great layout and variety and the gondola is the big highlight. The views are beautiful. The kids love the park at the top - we spent a long time there and also ate at the Landing Cafe. Cafe was more expensive than the restaurant near the entrance for similar items so next time we will probably eat there and maybe grab a snack at the top. Kids loved petting the goats and watching them butt heads. My fave was the otters. So cute. We did spring for the train ride this time - $18 for three people. It was a short ride and we saw one emu and some wallabies. Will probably skip next time for the price. Should be included imo. That and the sky ride both charge extra but the gondola is included.

I don't love zoos, and this zoo is no exception. But I will try to be objective. Tickets: buy them online, along with parking. They have time slots that you will need to select, and that is a good thing. The car line getting into parking was about 15 minutes long, and I fretted about it being too crowded. It was okay after all. The tickets are a little pricey, but I imagine that caring for animals is pricey too, so if you like zoos, probably becoming a member would be better. The enclosures are mostly thoughtful, blending the animals' needs for living without stress and people's desires to see animals. The lemurs had a good enclosure (no sightings at 1, but we returned at 4 and saw a few). I felt sorry for the giraffes, lions, and the chimpanzees, but what do I know. I did feel like it was too easy to throw or drop stuff into enclosures. One lady had a big bag of peanuts like in a 1950s cartoon. No. Not much visible staff. The gondola was absolutely thrilling and gorgeous. The new top California area was very well done. The wolves seen from above were wagging their tales and looked like dogs that they are. Bears were lounging in hammocks living life. We had good fries with an amazing view. We have two big boys--my 13 year old was the oldest kid I saw--but we had a fine time staying nearly 4 hours.

2nd time here You have to go to the website and buy your tickets for the specific day and time slot . If you are an Oakland resident you get a discount Adult tickets are $25 Parking is $13 This zoo has a lot of hills so be prepared especially if you are pushing a stroller There is a little cafe/restaurant one near the main entrance and one on the other side of the zoo You need a ticket for all kid rides Train ride is $3 Carousel ride is $3 No more elephants at the zoo But there are lots of little play areas and it's really kid friendly I would recommend coming here and experiencing it for your self

We love Oakland Zoo! My kids and I enjoy every time we visit. The park is pretty good about trash around the park they always have someone walking around cleaning up. All the animals are great! My baby son's favorite animal are the giraffes he is just so amazed by what he is seeing. I recommend everyone visiting the area go check out the zoo! Awesome food all ages. Plenty of refreshments around and awesome views when you go up the gondolas to explore the other half of the park. Make sure you wear good shoes cause you will be doing some good walking.

We love the Oakland Zoo. Their Glowfari event is magical and goes through the end of January, but just visiting the zoo during the day is great too. A few things to note: *you need to buy tickets with a timed entry in advance. Usually cheaper to do that as well, then risk them being sold out when you arrive. *you should pay for parking in advance as well Plan for a few extra minutes to get in and park - they are sometimes backed up. This zoo is set on a mountain and is surrounded by beautiful views. It's spread out so prepare to walk and some uphills as well. They have a gondola that you take up high for some of their exhibits, I would do this as early in the day as you can. The exhibits are designed well with seating, etc since some animals require a bit more wait time to appear. They have a shop and some rides as well, although when we were there this week they were all closed due to an earlier power outage.

Gorgeous zoo with great views and nice enclosures. I am a regular at another local zoo and noticed some differences, both good and bad. In general the animals have very nice open enclosures with plenty of space to roam. From a viewers perspective it was great, you can get quite close to many of the animals and get a clear view. Some things I was not such a fan of, while the enclosures were large there was little enrichment activities in the habitat with them. And while it was so nice to see the animals up close I think it was too close to keep the animals safe. Many enclosures have large openings to slip things through, such as food. There were also railings, which I saw too many parents standing their child on to get a better view, which could easily lead to a slip. Accidents happen and it did not look like there were many precautions put in place to prevent them. There are a few signs that warn against feeding the animals or keeping quiet voices, however I saw tons of trash littered the edges and witnessed many guests taunting and yelling at the animals. There is a lack of connection here between guests and the animals. None of the animals had their names or stories displayed, and there were no published feeding times. The few workers we saw were not open to answering questions about the animals and seemingly avoided the guests. There are 2 parts to the park, the top area is accessed by riding a gondola up, there was a bit of a line, roughly 15 minutes or so on a Saturday afternoon. We dined at the cafe at the top and was less than impressed. We ordered the garlic fries($10) to snack on and it took over 20 minutes to get, and when we got them they were cold. The sauces were empty and there was also no soap in the women's restroom. When I tried to notify the staff they all pointed me to a different staff member.

A little shy from $115 spent for a family of 2 adults & 1 child's entry fees + parking. Please keep in mind that tickets need to be purchased PRIOR to arrival according to the gentleman working @ the entrance booth. We did see a few families who purchased entrance tickets at the entrance booths but it was obviously frowned upon since the process does back up everyone else. Oakland Zoo has been on my go-to list for years!! Now that I have a toddler who is overly in love & extremely interested in all types of creatures, what better place would there be to take her????! While it does state that the Oakland Zoo is the home to over 850 animals, a lot of the noted animals were not visible or out for viewing. Many enclosures were completely bare leaving my 4yo disappointed. The highlight of our experience was the petting yard. This is where my daughter THRIVED. Goats and sheep will keep your little ones entertained for days. If you are lucky enough to visit during feedings, the animals are a lot more active making it easier to brush and pet. Another exhibit that stood out was the giraffes yard. These gigantic majestic creatures were a beautiful sight that brought on massive crowds. 3.5 stars for our overall experience. While this zoo is absolutely beautiful, it unfortunately did not deliver when it came down to a number of animal viewing pleasures. Our visit was largely spent with the goats and some younger volunteers who could learn to be more kind and patient with the smaller visitors.

We had a fun visit to the Oakland zoo yesterday. It was the perfect day. The weather was nice and it wasn't very crowded. I loved riding on the gondola's. The views from above were beautiful. I also like that the majority of the animals had very large enclosures to move around freely. We had lunch at the landing cafe. We had cheeseburgers and fries. It was actually pretty good. My favorite animals were the wolves.

We had such a wonderful time at the Oakland Zoo! We chose to go on a Sunday at 1:30, as the rates are priced cheaper later in the day. They accept reciprocal membership discount so that brought the price down as well. It was definitely crowded, but I'm so glad we chose to hit the newer section of the zoo first. (The gondola ride that leads up to the California Native animals). So glad we did this first as it is best to save at least 2 hours. Beautiful playground up there and the lines are around 20 minutes. Online it says the zoo closes at 4, but we were able to stay until 6. Phew! I guess last entry is until 4. Rides cost extra (just good to know in advance to set expectations with kids). The zoo is very impressive, clean and well maintained. The animals have very nice habitats and enclosures. Happy day for our whole crew! Thank you Oakland Zoo!

PRO-TIP: Free parking & entry for 4 if you have EBT/SNAP! Absolutely big W and great for the community. It's a "smaller" zoo, but that doesn't make it lacking in any way whatsoever! Just make sure to wear some comfy shoes because there's a lot of hilly inclines at this zoo and lots of walking to do (goes along with making sure you have a hat and some sunscreen too). We came here a couple hours before closing and because the upper half of the zoo (Californian ecosystem and animals) and the Gondolas (free with entry) were closed, we were able to see everything around 2.5 hours. I believe just check in to see if it's open or it may be due to the fact that it was later in the day or a staffing issue. Something SUPER cool about this zoo that encourages a community is the unique trading cards that they release for their animals. Very cute, educational, and a great souvenir to have too! The cards are unique in that they are NOT all available for certain seasons and some cards can only be acquired by speaking to certain staff members such as docents, volunteers, groundskeepers/maintenance, public safety, gift shop staff, etc. They also have trading areas and days where people can meet and trade cards. If I was a local, I'd collect them all! Also, if it's your first visit to the zoo or your birthday, you also get a neat button. Love that little addition too and it's also another neat souvenir that's free! There are tropical and rainforest animals, African savannah animals, a Children's Zoo, some rides in the front (separate from the zoo, but you can always get a stamp for re-entry), some eateries and a gift shop. Got to see some lions, a tiger, an elephant, chimps, various monkeys, lemurs, giraffes, zebras, flamingos, an alligator (lots of the standard favorites you expect from a zoo), and some unique critters too like the chuckwalla (LOVED THESE FUNNY LITTLE DUDES) that are found in California, the Golden Panama Frogs (haven't been seen until 2009), Rock Hyraxes (dudes are so cute), and much more. They also have a petting zoo with various sheep and goats and even some barn cats there. Their newly added Australian area is only accessible through their train ride, which costs 2 tickets ($6 per ride), but they slow down in the enclosure and you do get to see some wallabies, emus, and wallaroos, as well as a lovely view of the city below. I'm hoping they extend the Australian area or have a section where you can take a look at some Aussie birds or reptiles (I'm looking at you BTS & pogona champs). Overall a great fun stop for a day to see some animals!

I'm a grandpa visiting from Chicago and I would say that Glowfari and the zoo were amazing and magical! While my 3 year old granddaughter loved the bubble machines - I loved the SPECTACULAR amount of lights and displays. They were everywhere! Unique and awesomely cool! We went a few days after Xmas to try and avoid massive crowds. My tips would be to buy your tickets way in advance. Also, I would buy the earliest tickets available as it was starting to get crowded at 6:30 (long lines for the gondola). Also, early allows you to, hopefully, catch the sunset which was beautiful! Kudos to the zoo and all the employees - friendly and helpful.

I haven't been back to the zoo since our son and daughter were young, maybe about 30 years ago! Things have definitely changed for the better and now I'm taking my grandson and his mom! The ease of getting tickets online, great map of the zoo and plenty of signs, plenty of shade and benches. Clean restrooms, friendly staff! Our grandson had a great time exploring and using his zoo key! We enjoyed lunch after our exploration at the restaurant near the main entrance in a cool and clean restaurant. We ordered two hamburgers that come with fries and some fruit! We also went to the store next to the restaurant and got some small animals for my grandson to play with. Next time, we'll have to check out the rest of the zoo and also by then, my 20 month old grandson will want to ride the steam train and merry-go-round.

We arrived late due to car rental lines. It was still fun and we made the best of it. We rode the gondola to the other side and arrived at this breathtaking view of the city. There's something for everyone. We didn't get to explore everything but my kids want to go back. The petting goats were a disappointment though. Not like SF zoo.

Such a great zoo! We love coming here with our toddler. There is always plenty of parking and a guaranteed good time. We also love learning about all of the good work that these folks are doing and the docents are wonderful at educating us about the different animals onsite.

What a great place to take a stroll, enjoy the animals and the Bay Area view! The zoo is a great place for a family outing or play date as kids can freely run around, especially after the gondola ride up to the California trail where the playground is located. There are plenty of locations to have a picnic or snack break. Zoo volunteers and staff hand out animal cards to the kids and sometimes have learning stations at different exhibits where kids can learn more about the animals and touch skulls. Osh is no longer at Oakland, so there are currently no elephants here. But during the winter they setup Glorfari, a pretty impressive light decor throughout the zoo that you can visit at night. Highly recommend taking a family trip to checkout whenever you're in town.

Always have an absolute blast each time I come to the Oakland Zoo. From daytime visits exploring the massive grounds with varied adorable, scary, and weird species to the evening Glowfari lights event each winter never failing to blow my mind. Can't recommend this zoo enough! Locals - get that membership already!

One of the best zoos I've been to! Parking is right next to the entrance. Animals look happy and healthy. The enclosures are huge. The staff are very knowledgeable and I learned a lot from them. Would definitely go again. A must go when visiting Oakland. Some enclosures are bordered by water which animals do not cross so you can take pictures without gates blocking the way.

I live right by the San Francisco Zoo and would choose to go to the Oakland Zoo instead any day. The Oakland Zoo has clearly put in a lot of effort to keep their exhibits updated and stimulating for their animals and guests. The animals seem very well taken care of. I also admire their rehabilitation and conservation efforts. If you are visiting the Bay Area or live here I would highly recommend going to the Oakland Zoo.

I'm a member of the Oakland Zoo. My preschool age son and his friends enjoy the petting zoo, tigers, giraffes, gondola rides, jaguars, grizzly bears, and playing in the sand pit. They also really enjoy the rides area. And during the holidays they love the magical world of Glowfari. With that said, I'm not happy about the prices for water. A can of water that's 12 ounces costs almost $5! It's price gouging.

Lots of great animals here, love that they have an upper part of the zoo as well with a cafe with food and drinks! From my experience, the staff were very nice and helpful, we even got to listen to a wolf talk from one of the ladies, it was pretty short but she passed out on collecting cards which was cool. Tiger ride is the GOAT!

Fun and varied zoo with quality, educational interactives Was pleasantly surprised by our visit to the Oakland Zoo. Have heard many good things and once we made our way past the notorious traffic and parking, it was an enjoyable day. The layout is relatively straightforward to catch all the animal and educational exhibits without hopscotching around. The enclosures are attractive and seem very humane to the animals. Kids enjoyed the mix of animals, which all looked healthy and comfortable, along with detailed educational displays and histories. There are also educational installations and interactives at the top, after taking the gondolas. The Kaiser Visitor Center and California Conservation Habitarium (sp?) were simple, but kept us occupied for the better part of an hour. Then, off the the wolves, eagle, condors, bears, jaguar, and mountain lions. You see the bison while on the gondolas too, which is cool. One of those legacy attractions worth the visit. If the highway traffic and parking were improved, I'd easily give five stars.

We always have a good time when we visit the Oakland zoo. It's clean, well maintained and there's ample parking. Although this zoo may be smaller compared to other zoos, they utilized the land and layout well to incorporate the various exhibits on the upper and lower zoo areas. I actually like that it's smaller so everything is within walking distance especially with toddler in tow. Within a couple of hours visit, we were able to accomplish quite a bit and it worked out perfectly for us. Our recent visit was the best ever! There was no line for the gondola ride that we were able to catch a few rounds of rides in as this was our young cub's favoritest thing to do at the zoo! Moreover, the zoo residents decided to grace us with their presence! They were actively striding along, being playful and/or just chilling. The bear exhibit was one of the best as you can view the bears up close and in their natural habitat. Our visit would not be complete until we had a train ride in and several rounds of carousel rides at the ride area adjacent to the zoo exit. This train ride was especially exciting as the wallabies attempted to escape! But alas, plan foiled; they got caught and had to hop on back to Wild Australia.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how well maintained everything was at this zoo. The facility map was provided and was super easy to follow. We got to see lots of animals - wolves, tigers, flamingos, Amazon parrots, bugs, tortoises, and many more. There were some area where we couldn't see the animals but there were very few of those. And mostly there was some explanation to it - either the animals are nocturnal or the location was under construction. The zoo had an upper level which we had to use a gondola system to reach. The gondola ride was fun. It was a perfect place to visit especially when you have kids.

So my take on the Oakland zoo is that it's super fun but there are some downsides, the train is separate from the actual zoo and you have to pay for two ride tickets if you actually want to go on the train. But the ambiance is super fun and the animals are very well taken care of. It is 15 dollars to rent a wheelchair for the day witch seems a bit pricey, the food in the actual zoo itself is super expensive, I wouldn't recommend the food and drinks there, wayyyyy to overpriced

Fabulous zoo! This bay area gem is a great place for families to enjoy the beautiful views, amazing variety of animals and fun gondola rides!! Spring is a great time to visit... we loved seeing the babies.. bisons, pudus, meerkats, klipspringers, baboons and more! They are all so precious. We also love the conservation work this zoo does. They are truly committed to species conservation. We loved our day so much that we upgraded to a membership and they credited us for today's tickets. Thank you to everyone who works to make this such an amazing place... we will be back!

This is embarrassing. I have been here with the kids so many times over the past two years and have never reviewed it. I just take it for granted, I guess. This zoo is THE BEST in the area. You can probably view it all in about 3 hours, but you'll probably want to come back. Parking is paid for in advance, or included with your membership. I recommend coming early for the best parking. The zoo is mostly paved and stroller/wheelchair friendly. The zoo starts with a lower level, but they have a (stroller friendly!!) gondola that takes you to an upper level. The gondola is my toddler's favorite part . They have a few cafes with decent food choices (though about $15 for a burger and fries), and a few snack bars with popcorn, dippin dots, etc. Our favorite things to do: Lower level- Petting zoo (mostly goats, the sheep are skittish) View the bats Watch the elephants Upper level- Look at the bears (especially when they're swimming!) Go to the kids' play area Find the wolves roaming about Get a good view of the oakland skyline There are, of course, a lot more animals to view, but I can't list them all. You'll have to see them for yourself!

This review is for the veterinarian hospital and the general zoo! The veterinarian hospital is definitely a treat for both adults and children! We got to look at all sorts of medical devices and weigh ourselves to compare to an animal. Disclaimer: No photography allowed. We also got to see animals in the process of getting their own exhibits which included two very cute cubs and monkeys! Smaller groups are more likely to see the animals as they are getting adapted to humans We went on a Saturday morning and it was busy but not filled to the brim. My favorite parts of the zoo are the TCG for animal exhibits (there are trading card party for Wednesday) and card sleeves for sale with the sought after flamingo card. Different crew members around the zoo carry around different cards, be sure to check out the guide to look for and collect them all. I loved the baby giraffe that was born in October, she was very cute. The gondola was also super fun with awesome bison and it was a great treat to see all the glowfari displays up as a teaser. Definitely family and kid friendly-- plus the staff are SO SWEET!

Pros: Loved the elephant, the free gondola ride, the grizzly bears, meerkats, and the gibbons, the train to Australia, panoramic views. In general, all the animals are very close to you / you can see them really well. Lots of sections are quite new, especially the entire California section. Cons: Long line for the gondola, expensive extra fee for the train, no cell phone service. Elephant: He is very cool, and SF zoo doesn't have an elephant Gondola: It's a very beautiful (panoramic views of the Bay) and fun gondola (and included in admission), but the line to get on the gondola was long the entire time it was open, looked like a 30 min wait. We checked throughout the day. Finally at 2:20pm, the line was the shortest we had seen it and we ended up waiting only 10 minutes. They close the line at 2:30pm, but you can still ride the gondola if you get in line before 2:30pm, which seems pretty reasonable. (The website says the gondola closes at 2pm, but that wasn't the case with us.) I imagine the gondola line is even worse in the summer, when the park is more popular. Grizzly Bears: Woah, they have four big grizzly bears and they are remarkable close to you. Meerkat: They are very cute and the exhibit is particularly well done Hillside Aviary: A very nice aviary with some cool birds Gibbons: The gibbons exhibit is very cool and beautiful. There is a gibbon pair with a baby gibbon! Australia: You take a train to visit the Australia section, where the emu and Wallaboo are free-roaming. It was a very cool experience, but tickets are $5/person, and children over 2 need an adult ticket. So for a family for four, that's $20 for a 10 minute ride, and there's no discount for members. I feel the train should be included in the ticket price (like the gondola). Or at least give members one free ride per visit. But the train seems always full, so I guess they have plenty of people willing to pay up. Now that I've done it once, I probably won't do it again. Food: There are two meal options at Oakland Zoo: Tusker's Grill in the main part and Landing Cafe at the part the gondola takes you to. We were planning to go to Landing Cafe, but the line for the gondola was way too long around lunchtime. The food at Tusker's was speedy and adequate, good portion, nothing to complain about, or write home about. Zoo prices ($13.99 for a burger with fries). Cell service: this is probably the worst part of the zoo. Cell reception is terrible and there's no free WiFi. So you can't look up any information. They have online ordering at restaurants, but there's no way to order. You need to download your tickets onto your phone in advance.

The Oakland Zoo is beautiful and reasonably priced, however the train ride to see the Africa exhibit should not be an extra charge. I really wanted to see the meerkats. The gondola ride is beautiful and gives you such great views of the city. All the play areas for kids is amazing. Overall such a beautiful zoo.

We were able to feed the giraffes! and we saw the Bears eat cabbage ,this was an awesome experience. We also experienced the petting zoo , for the 1st time. We've visited this zoo 1000 times and this was the best. Best snack in the park: located next to the gondola across from the giraffes Extra long churro for five dollars

Had a great day at this zoo! Parking gets pretty full so keep in mind. I got lucky when going on a Wednesday 12pm day and found a spot in the additional parking section. There were lots of field trips happening on the day I attended so I suppose it was just pure chance that I went on a busy day. As for the animals, this zoo is very large and can easily take 2+ hours to go through everything. The gandola ride was relaxing unless you have a fear of heights. The giraffes are absolutely adorable. One con about this zoo is that all the food is overpriced. One fairly priced food I found was $6 for fries at the gandola cafe. But $7 for dippin dots! Outrageous. If you come to this zoo for only the animals, it's amazing.

Oakland zoo is always beautiful and a blast for the kids. The elephant is leaving next week so that is a bummer. Another negative is there is constant construction which takes away from the experience. For 1 child and myself it was $64 after parking. Food was another $40 (burger and watermelon). Overall the zoo was great but week days should be cheaper and parking shouldn't be $16 as there really isn't another option to get there.

The best zoo in the Bay Area. LOVE Glowfari, the gondolas, and the train ride. The views. Pure magic. The zoo also assists with the rescue and rehab of animals that require specialized services. For this reason alone, I am always happy to support this zoo.

Visited the Oakland zoo this Saturday and it was packed with families and tons of strollers. Took the gondola up to the latest new area. Saw wolves, bears, and jaguars in the new area. The cafe is in a beautiful scenic spot overlooking the Oakland hills . Nice size zoo to visit, highly recommend!

I had called to ask a couple questions and the girl on the phone hung up immediately after I asked my first question.. I was kind of upset at how rude that felt especially since she didn't ask if I had anymore questions and not even have a good day (coming from a customer service POV) and she refused to give me her name because she stated wants to resolve the issue and answer the other question I had. Unfortunately damage was already done and I was kind of over it. I still have more questions but just don't think it's worth it. Management should definitely teach their employees on how to properly answer the phone and speak to customers. Unacceptable, if You don't like Your job don't work there and find another.

I've gone to this zoo about a handful of times, and each time thoroughly enjoyed my experience. We've attended Zoo Lights, a company outing here, random zoo days, and most recently boo at the zoo! Such a family fave, close to home! 5 Stars!

This is not the best zoo ever in the sense that you will get to see exotic animals or a grand expanse of the grounds. But as someone who grew up in the 510 and who visited the Oakland Zoo frequently as a child, seeing the transformation and expansion of the zoo feels like witnessing a pure miracle. I am a parent of my own now with two littles and we are so grateful that this zoo exists and offers so many vibrant spaces for children to run around and climb structures safely. Our little ones loved seeing the animals and interacting with the goats in the Children's Petting Zoo section and taking the train. There is also a separate section right outside the zoo where you can pay for tickets to go on conventional rides (carousel, cars, coaster, etc) that would be attractive to older kids. The absolute highlight of the Oakland Zoo is the gondola ride to the California Trail section of the zoo. There is a cafe where one can grab food and enjoy the views. The food options are limited and pricey (expend to spend about $13-15 per burger or sandwich). Unlike the lower section of the zoo, the California Trail is flatter and an easy stroll where one can see many native species of North America (mountain lions, gray wolves, bald eagles, etc). There are also play areas for kids and clean bathrooms here. We live in LA now but are still members as coming here twice in a year already makes membership worth it! Becoming a member also means discounted or free admission at other zoos or science centers across the United States. We have yet to successfully get tickets for Glowfari but friends have told us it is a very well done exhibit and perfect for the holidays. The gondola ride is open for Glowfari as well, with a restaurant that I imagine provides tastier food than the cafe: I think that in it of itself would be worth the price!

This zoo was a 10/10 experience for my family of 5 adults. We all enjoyed ourselves. We purchased our tickets online a few days before and glad we did. When we arrived on Sunday morning for our 10am entry time there was a sign saying they sold out of tickets for the day. We were directd to the upper level parking since the lower level was already full. We found parking without a hassle, there was plenty. We were able to get through the zoo entrance quickly. Staff were spread out in abundance to help with any questions. Maps and signs were located throughout the zoo. All the animals seemed so happy and looked healthy. At every enclosure you could find staff passing by or standing around to answer questions or share information about the animals. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. There is options to buy food and drinks inside, or bring your own. Be prepared to pay an outrageous cost for any food or drinks, if that's what you choose. It's also possible to get a hand stamp if you need to leave and reenter. We headed out around 2:30. The line of cars to enter the zoo from the freeway was insane. I don't know if that's normal day to day or not. So be mindful to give yourself traffic time . This zoo is definitely wonderful for all ages. Be prepared with good shoes. There is lots of walking and some steep incline to get through. Definitely worth it! We will definitely plan another trip in our future!

I have never been to the Oakland Zoo and I am so glad to say that I have finally gone and I absolutely loved it! The Oakland Zoo is literally a hidden gem and transports you literally to a different place. The amount of animals I saw at the Oakland Zoo was quite tremendous and the exhibits were large and very well maintained. I also would have to say that the Oakland Zoo was spotless clean! One of the highlights of my Oakland Zoo visit was seeing a real sun bear. After the viral video of the sun bear in China, it was really cool to see a real sun bear right here in Oakland. Another thing I loved about the zoo was that it had a wide variety of animals, even some that other zoos do not have. I'll let you be surprised about that. One of my favorite things that I did at the zoo was riding the gondolas. I never knew that there was an urban gondola here in Northern California and the views are incredible from the top. You can see downtown Oakland, The Bay bridge, Downtown San Francisco, San Francisco Bay and so many other sites. One of the downsides is that the gondola managed to go down and there was over an hour wait to take the shuttle down to the lower lot but luckily it was back up and running so I didn't have to take the shuttle back down. They need a better backup plan just in case that happens again. The petting zoo area was great and I got to take a lot of pictures with the animals there and see them up close. If there's one thing that you and your friends or family want to do, I highly recommend the Oakland Zoo! You will not regret it and please buy your tickets and parking in advance because on the day that I went, the zoo was actually sold out.

Overall this is a great zoo. Be prepared to walk lots of hills though! The layout is pretty straightforward and map is easy to read. It would be cool if the map was topographical tbh since I was with my mom who has knee troubles and we weren't sure which routes would be easier for her and my niece with little toddler legs. The bathroom situation was a little lame since the ones we used only had changing tables in the large ada stalls so there was always a wait to change the little ones and it took a good chunk of our time. More baby changing stations that are easily accessible would be great since this is a popular place to bring little ones. Love taking the gondola and views are amazing from up top. Just be aware that it is the only way to get up and down from the California wildlife area so the wait for the gondola can get a little long. My family and I decided to stop for a snack at the restaurant up there and we ordered 1 order of fries and 1 personal pizza. It took a half hour to get them! And it wasn't super packed when we ordered. That was frustrating. Lots of good things too though. Lots of shade, benches, play areas. All the staff we spoke to were nice. Of course it's still cool to see the animals and we'll return. Booking ahead of time and choosing a time slot is also a nice feature. Would love to see continued improvements here.

I really enjoyed myself here at the Oakland Zoo. I was honored that the animals came out to visit with us. I loved that the first habitat, near the entrance had an eye-catching animal (Flamingos) As I continued on my excursion, I was greeted by "Lions, Tigers, Bears, oh my" and so many other animals as well. This was a day to remember! I felt like a kid again, I had a BALL!

Oakland zoo was a great place to spend family time. My 1 year old son loved seeing the animals and riding the gondola. Food is not great, typical food court food like hamburgers, hot dog, corn dogs, fries, soft drinks, bottle drinks that are over priced. Best to bring your own food and drinks in. Souvenirs are pricey but had to get my son a T-shirt and water bottle.

Oh Hill Nah... This Zoo is built on super steep hills. Like, a lot of hills. Forget the stairmaster! All you need is the Oakland Zoo. You will have the legs of a rhino and the arms of a gorilla after a day here. There are a great variety of animals - elephants, giraffes, bears, tigers, etc. but the animals seem to sleep during day and you may not see many unless you go there early I think, but I'm no Zoologist. There are cool unique features here such as a gondola, open air sky ride, and a train ride. I highly rec your try them especially the gondola as its an amazing aerial view of the area. PLUS you can see the SF AND Oakland downtown skyline in one view. Its amazing, and I've never seen both skylines at once like that. While I normally live in a Zoo with a dog and a mini-me, we made great memories exploring the Oakland Zoo.