Best Zoos in Pretoria
Pretoria is a beautiful city that is surrounded by terraced gardens, parks, and amazing zoos in Pretoria are indicative of such statement. Other than animal habitats, this city has natural reserves and zoological gardens as well. The beauty of this city is a product of its well-planned city structure as well as its geographical location. The Apies River stretches through the western part of the city, and on the east, you can find the Magaliesberg mountain range.
Pretoria is a fantastic location to visit while traveling South Africa. This city can be found in the eastern part of South Africa, in the province of Gauteng. Moreover, this city has been the capital of the South African Union since 1931.
Also, if you want to enjoy a pleasant evening out after visiting these zoos in Pretoria, then it is best to move to the eastern part of the city. Here you will find a large collection of nice cafes, good restaurants, attractive shops, and various lively nightlife that are open longer. Eastern Pretoria consists of a lot of new neighborhoods, and you would therefore think that this part of the city is less attractive for nature lovers, but that is not really the case. Also, in the newest neighborhoods of eastern Pretoria, you can find beautiful avenues, large parks, and lots of greenery.
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Located on the shores of Apies Rive, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is very close to the city’s landmarks, such as Bloed Street Shopping Centre and Piernnef Museum. The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa is one of Pretoria’s largest zoos and even the entire country. The land of this zoo covers an 85-hectare area.
Also, there are thousands of different species, such as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, living together here. The reputation of this zoo speaks for itself as it is one of the top zoos in the world where you can walk for almost 6km and still not finish all of its attractions. If you love to see exotic trees and unique marine life, you really need to give this zoo a try.
National Zoological Gardens ticket prices are about R165 for adults, and the operation hours are from 9 in the morning to 17:30 in the evening.
Kinderplaas Zoo Best for Children
The Kinderplaas Zoo is not a place with modern exhibitions, but it is just a place for kids to get to know mostly farm animals and having some fun times there playing games. This small zoo is very close to the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, located inside the Rietfontein suburb.
By paying a small fee, you can bring your children here and have them play with rabbits, chickens, and turtles. Afterward, there is a feeding session that teaches children what food these farm animals eat and how to feed them. Your monetary support here will allow animals to be taken care of better, and also you contribute to the local community.
Lory Park Zoo A Family-Friendly Place
Lory Park is one of the zoos in Pretoria’s neighboring city of Midrand. This zoo is not very far away, and you can drive for 35 minutes. This zoo is not that old. In fact, they opened the zoo doors to visitors in 2000. The animals in this zoo include birds, big cats, reptiles, and some indigenous mammals.
Also, this zoo is very family-friendly. There are benches set up in their picnic area. You can have some food and enjoy some quality time with your family there. As mentioned earlier, the Lory Park entrance fee of all the zoos is more expensive at around R300. However, the reception experience is better here, and you will be properly entertained.
