Skip to main content
A woman wearing sunglasses and a green t-shirt holds a young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail. Both are looking upwards and seem to be observing something. They are surrounded by lush green and colorful plants, with hanging baskets visible in the background, suggesting they are in a garden or greenhouse.
Outdoor Adventures

Experiences at the Zoo

Attractions

Outdoor Recreation Experiences

The North Carolina Zoo offers a variety of outdoor recreation activities for guests of all ages. Visit animal habitats of North America and Africa species and catch a Keeper Talk!  Additionally, guests can explore and engage with our expansive outdoor public art collection or participate in an educational hike.

Whether you are looking for a peaceful stroll through the Butterfly Garden or your little ones want to ride an elephant on the Carousel, the North Carolina Zoo has options for you and your family!

 

A child with short, dark hair stares up in wonder as she rides a Zebra on a colorful carousel, surrounded by a variety of other creatures, her chaperone standing by her side.
Animal Habitats

Room To Roam

The North Carolina Zoo is the world's largest natural animal habitat zoo. Journey along miles of shaded trails to discover more than 1,700 animals in expansive habitats ranging from African grassland to Arctic tundra. In the North America region, guests can observe animals such as grizzly and black bears, critically endangered American red wolves, and cougars in natural habitats. Zoo guests can also see exotic species, such as lions, giraffes, and elephants in Africa.

Stay tuned for future animal experiences in our new Asia region, coming soon!

Bobcat looking over its shoulder was it walks to the back of its forested habitat. There are large rocks in the background and foreground, and branches of smaller trees all around it.
Meet the Keeper

Enhance your Zoo visit by attending a scheduled Keeper Chat with our amazing and knowledgeable zookeepers! Catch a “Meet the Keeper” encounter and learn about cougars and alligators in the North American region or chimpanzees and elephants in the African region, just to name a few!

North America
Animal

When 

(Mar. 15 - Nov. 15)

Where
CougarSundays at 11:00 a.m.

Cypress Swamp -

Cougar Habitat

VariousTuesdays at 10:00 a.m. & Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.Streamside - Bobcat
AlligatorWednesdays at 10:00 a.m. (seasonal) Cypress Swamp - Various
Bison/ElkTuesdays at 11:30 a.m.Prairie Habitat
Red WolfThursdays at 11:30 a.m. Red Wolf Habitat
Polar BearThursdays at 2:00 p.m. Rocky Coast (Ice Cave)
SeabirdSaturdays at 9:30 a.m. 

Rocky Coast - 

Seabird Habitat

 

Desert
Animal

When 

(Mar. 15 - Nov. 15)

Where
Sand CatMondays at 11:00 a.m. Sand Cat Habitat
CoatiTuesdays at 1:30 p.m.Coati Habitat
Africa
Animal

When 

(Mar. 15 - Nov. 15)

Where
GorillaSundays at 11:30 a.m. Gorilla Habitat
Chimpanzee

Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. 

(Changes to 2:00 p.m. from Nov. 16 - Mar. 14)

Chimpanzee Habitat
GiraffeSundays at 2:30 p.m.Giraffe Overlook Two
ElephantSundays & Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.Elephant Habitat
VariousMondays & Fridays at 3:15 p.m. Watani Grasslands
BaboonMondays at 2:00 p.m. Baboon Habitat
Red River HogWednesdays at 1:15 p.m. Red River Hog Habitat
LionFridays at 1:45 p.m. Lion Habitat
A zoo keeper, wearing a blue shirt, khaki shorts, a face mask, and gloves, kneels down to offer food from a small bowl to a Red Ruffed Lemur. The lemur, with its distinctive reddish-brown fur and long black tail, is perched on a fallen log in a grassy outdoor enclosure. Another lemur is visible in the background.