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Oakland Zoo

  • 3.5

(3 reviews)
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Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland,  CA 94605
(510) 632-9525

Ages: 0 and up

Cost: $12.50 per adult | $8.50 per child (ages 2-14) or senior | free for children under 2

Parking: Yes - $7.00

Features: Restaurant, Snack Stand, Family Friendly

The Oakland Zoo in Knowland Park is home to more than 440 native and exotic animals.  The large African Savanna feature allows visitors to see elephants, giraffes, meerkats, lemurs, and all sorts of heat-loving birds on one side of the park.  On the other, view the animals and birds that live in the rainforest.
 
The renovated children's zoo, now renamed the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo, features an amazing bat exhibit, a fascinating reptile and amphibian house, a multi-faceted river otter exhibit, Wildlife Theater, and a kid-friendly, very shallow river play area in which to splash around.
 
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
A number of packages are offered to make a birthday party a wildly fun time!
 
SUMMER CAMPS
Family Sundown Safari is a family overnight campout!  Children (4 and up) and their families arrive at the zoo at 5pm for a private tour of the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo, create enrichment treats for the animals, listen to songs around the campfire, have a light snack, pitch a tent and sleep in the zoo meadow, then wake in the morning for a private tour during which the treats are give to the animals!  2011 dates are July 16, July 23, August 6 and August 13. Registration required.
 
The zoo is open daily 10:00am - 4:00pm, closed only on Christmas.
 
Military discounts are given at the Oakland Zoo.

3 Reviews

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eague

  • 4

Reviewed on 08/09/2011

Nice zoo, but disappointed with the animal selection. No gorillas and I know its not theyre fault be it seemed like all the animlas were sleeping and hiding so we didn't see the tiger, hyena, & lion. Great zoo though for childen, they have a petting where theres goats & pot belly pig. A reptile room as well as a little fair like setting with a train ride, mini roller coaster and car ride that goes in circles. My one year old loved it and we enjoyed it as well!...more

Oakland Zoo
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4seelys

  • 4

Reviewed on 05/02/2011

We found the Oakland Zoo to be quite nice. The drive over is very simple and it is located right off of the freeway. The Zoo is very well maintained and is very clean. The animal exhibits are well kept and the grounds are very nice. I love that they allow you to bring in your own food. Just outside of the main entrance is a nice area with shaded picnic tables. We packed a picnic lunch which kept the cost of the outing down. They also have an amusement area with several small childrens rides including a train ride through part of the zoo that you can not see on foot. The rides are at extra cost but not too overly priced. I would certainly recommend this outing and we plan on doing it again! ...more

Oakland Zoo
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busyndizzy

  • 3

Reviewed on 12/27/2010

I've been to the Oakland Zoo more times than I can count, mostly because we used to live in the Bay Area, so frequently visited the zoo with our playgroup.

The Oakland Zoo used to make me a little sad, actually. The animals looked like unhappy, under-stimulated, captive creatures... However, the zoo has done a fine job of renovating and improving its habitats. Instead of the old, crotchety goats and pigs in the children's pettting zoo, there is now a great interactive area which includes a fabulous bat exhibit, lots of climbing structures, and a fun little splash area.

Still, the zoo's carnival-type rides area is what really entices my kids, so I sometimes feel like I'm dragging them through the animals, wanting them to get something more out of the zoo than just a day of merry-go-rounds and kiddie planes....more

Oakland Zoo