Open Today: 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Location map
For Over Fifty Years

Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Learn More
What we do
The North Carolina Zoo protects wildlife and wild places and inspires people to join us in conserving the natural world.
Tickets
Hours
Maps
Events

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

Explore More
What's New at the Zoo

Something NEW and exciting is always happening at the world's largest natural habitat zoo. 

•  Holiday Gift Guide

• Legacy of C'sar

• Summer Camps

 

Two fluffy, white Arctic foxes stand facing off on a rocky ledge. They are both crouched low with their mouths open and teeth bared.
Gift Guide
Learn More
Elephant Csar standing in front of a pod with a large beautiful green field with trees . Three female elephants gathered behind him and one near the water behind the pond
Legacy of C'sar
Learn More
A group of young campers holding green personal fans stand together, posing in front of a large brass statue of a Bison in a wooded area.
School Grade Summer Camps
Learn More
Plan Your Visit
Today at the Zoo
Feeding Times

View Full Schedule

Garden Friends Playground

Open daily

view
Kidzone

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

view
A fuzzy brown otter with small, rounded ears, lanky body, and long tail, perches on a small rocky ledge next to a pond.
Connect with us
Instagram @NCZoo

Stay in touch with the Zoo! Follow us on social media for updates on everything from our wildlife conservation efforts to your favorite animals. Share your photos, stories, and videos with us as we celebrate 50 WILD years in 2024.

Visit the Zoo's Instagram
Looking to kickstart your career in animal care, conservation, education, or Zoo operations? The North Carolina Zoo Internship Program offers an immersive, real-world experience at the largest natural habitat Zoo in the world! 🌎 Why Apply? - Work alongside Zoo professionals & industry experts - Gain hands-on training & career-building skills - Network with professionals & fellow interns - Stipends & free on-site housing (limited availability) - Enjoy exclusive Zoo perks – guest passes, discounts & more! Duration: Full-time internships available May 25 - August 7 Deadline: March 1, 2026 ✨ Don't miss your chance to gain real-world zoo experience & make an impact! Learn more at nczoo.org/internship-opportunities
Have you saved your spot for our 2026 Wild Animal Science Camps? ✨ The North Carolina Zoo’s Wild Animal Science Camps offer a fun and educational opportunity for young scientists to learn more about conservation and wildlife science! Hands-on activities mimic the fieldwork conservation scientists conduct in the wild and offer a unique opportunity to meet Zoo scientists making a difference for wildlife! This overnight camp includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and a s'mores desert as we tent camp on zoo grounds. 🏕️ ➡️ June 6th- 7th, Senior Wild Animal Science Camp (Ages 15-18) ➡️ October 10th-11th, Junior Wild Animal Science Camp (Ages 12-14) nczoo.org/education/camps/wild-animal-science-camps
National Bird Day means we are sharing the holiday enrichment from our behind-the-scenes birds! A special shout out to the keepers for setting up the enrichment and filming the birds! 💚🎁 #NationalBirdDay
As you make your 2026 New Year’s Resolutions…consider adding volunteering to the list! Join the Volunteer Services Program and become part of a dynamic team of individuals who support the Zoo through service and contribute around 43,000 hours annually. In 2025, volunteers set a record with OVER 48,000 hours! 🎉 If you have time and a passion to inspire, we would love to have you at the Zoo in 2026! Join us in making a difference and preserving our natural world! 🌍 🌟 Learn more at nczoo.org/volunteer
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
A Commitment to Excellence
Large group of Zoo Volunteers
Volunteer

There are many rewarding ways to volunteer your time at our park. Opportunities range from gardening to greeting to helping guests feed giraffes!

An aerial view of the Akiba Bridge, a long wooden bridge with colorful designs and a pergola in the middle that leads from the parking lot, through dense trees, over a lake and ending at the African entrance of the NC Zoo.
Land Acknowledgement

The state of North Carolina is situated on the ancestral homelands of many American Indian tribes who have lived in this place, cared for these lands, and traveled throughout the region for thousands of years. 

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a red shirt and seen from the back, holding a small child with curly hair on her hip, as they interact with a giraffe. The woman is holding a piece of green foliage which the giraffe is gently eating. The giraffe's spotted head and neck dominate the left side of the frame, and the scene takes place at a low wooden fence.

Outreach and Engagement

Our park serves and welcomes everyone, and it is our promise to value equity, respect, inclusivity, and kindness. Everyone can enjoy an unforgettable day trip here.