Open Today: 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
For Over Fifty Years
Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
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What we do
The North Carolina Zoo protects wildlife and wild places and inspires people to join us in conserving the natural world.
Group 53
Tickets
Group 55
Hours
Group 68
Maps
Group 57
Events

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

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What's New at the Zoo

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

• Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden

• Recruiting volunteers

Butterfly Garden and woman with child

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden

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Five Zoo volunteers posing for the camera in Africa Plaza.

Volunteer

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Plan Your Visit
Today at the Zoo
Feeding Times

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Garden Friends Playground

Open daily

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Carousel

Closed

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Air Hike Ropes Course

10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Last entry 4:00 p.m.

Weather Permitting

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Kidzone

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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Acacia Station Giraffe Deck

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Weather Permitting

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Zoofari

Tours are available April - October

10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

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Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Treehouse Trek

10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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Hiking Trails

6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Apr. - Oct.)
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Nov. - Mar.)

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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
The North Carolina Zoo on 35mm Film! Our Zoo has changed a LOT over the past 50 years. While we do not typically hand-raise baby animals today, we cherish these memories from our history. Join us as we celebrate our commitment to wildlife conservation and education! #ThrowbackThursday #NCZooOnFilm
Another wonderful piece of the North Carolina Zoo’s history…the African Pavilion! #throwbackthursday November 5, 1981 - Bids of $3,972,114 were accepted for construction of the African Pavilion. October 25, 1984 - James A. Summers, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, officiated at the dedication of the African Pavilion and African Plains, marking the completion of Africa. March 10, 1989 - Kwanza went on public exhibit for the first time in the African Pavilion. April 6, 1991 - Zoo Director Robert L. Fry cut the ribbon at reopening ceremonies for the renovated Leopard Habitat in the African Pavilion. The renovations, done over a five-month period by the Zoo Design and Horticulture staffs, included the addition of 1,600-square-feet of artificial rock, a waterfall with a collecting pool, a fogging system, climbing trees and tropical plants. November 9, 1998 - Two young gorillas, Curtis, 4, and Charlie, 2, go on habitat for the first time in the Zoo’s African Pavilion. The two male siblings were transferred to North Carolina from the Buffalo (N.Y.) Zoo under the auspices of the AZA’s Gorilla Species Survival Plan. June 29, 2001 - The African Pavilion reopens to the public after seven months with six new animal species, improved exhibit interpretation, revised traffic flow in the building, and improved ventilation. May 2010 - Throughout the month of May, the Zoo's African Pavilion, now devoid of all but a few animals, hosts a display of more than 300 individual orchids. March 28, 2011 - A temporary exhibit titled "Swamp Ghosts: Legends of Fortunes and Good Luck" opens in the Zoo's African Pavilion. The exhibit features two six-foot white alligators which serve as the main attraction. January 2015 - The aging African pavilion building, long devoid of animal exhibits, is permanently closed to the public in preparation for its demolishment. May 23, 2023 - The Zoo held a grand reopening for its baboon habitat, which had been closed since 2021. The night quarters for baboons was in the African Pavilion, and once the band of baboons was moved over to the new holding building, the Pavilion was demolished.
To commemorate the milestone of our 50th Anniversary, the North Carolina Zoo looked to our very first animals, two Galapagos Tortoises, Tort and Retort, for inspiration—what better way to celebrate half a century than with honoring the gentle giants that started it all! Artists Tom Tischler and his son Travis Tischler were commissioned to create life-sized bronze sculpture replicas of Tort and Retort using historic images and modern measurements. Since 2000, he has created more than 200 life-size bronze animal sculptures for Zoos and Museums globally. We are honored to add a sculpture from Tischler to our Art in the Park Collection and excited to bring Tort and Retort back to the North Carolina Zoo! Animal Ambassadors, juvenile Galapagos Tortoises, Darwin and Wallace took part in our ribbon cutting ceremony with an edible ribbon of zinnias!
Join PBS KIDS Rootle Roadster at KidFest for play and exploration at the world’s largest natural habitat zoo! Enjoy hands-on activities, local community resources, free Rootle souvenir, PBS KIDS education resources and more. Don’t miss this family event on Sunday, 10/6, 9AM–4PM in Kidzone at the North Carolina Zoo. Free after Zoo admission. For more information, visit NCZoo.org. @mypbsnc @rootlenc
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
A Commitment to Excellence
Five Zoo volunteers posing for the camera in Africa Plaza.

Volunteer

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

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Kidzone

Nature Play Area for families to explore, get wet, get muddy, meet Animal Ambassadors, build a survival shelter, walk the Treetop Trail and more!

Zoo Tours

Zoo Tours: Family Activities for All

Join a behind-the-scenes tour of our animal habitats and have a close animal encounter with the North Carolina Zoo Society!