Enjoyed the zoo last week. Feeding the giraffes, spectating the bird show, watching the sea lions and seals swim, and cooling off in the reptile house were the perks of this visit. The plan is to return this week for the dinosaur and butterfly exhibits, which reopened this past weekend. Note, an extra fee to enter each is required. read more

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This used to be our favorite zoo, but our recent visit was by far the worst experience we've had. We arrived at 2 PM, thinking our family of four could enjoy everything in two hours, only to find out they were closing early (at 3 PM) for a sold-out ice cream event starting at 5 PM. They no longer participate in the Museums for All program, which was a fantastic way to promote inclusion. Now, they offer a "Wednesday Welcome Days" program allowing adults with a valid ID and a WIC or EBT card to purchase up to four $5 general admission tickets on Wednesdays. This move feels exclusionary, as it limits access for lower-income families to just one day a week--who can take time off work or school to visit? Where's the every day equity? To make matters worse, they don't offer any discount for closing early when we had only an hour left. We paid $99.80 to enter (for 2 adults, a 4-year-old, and a 2-year-old). Additionally, we spent $18.00 for three of us to feed giraffes and $24.00 for the Zoorassic Park experience, which forced us to buy the butterflies package too. We even paid $10 to feed the stingrays, only to be told they were out of food after we had already paid. In total, we wasted $151.80 for just an hour of lackluster fun. Honestly, I'd rather pay a little more for a day at Disneyland--where kids' tickets are only $50 (recent promotion). This place is overcharging and seriously lacking consideration for families. We won't be returning to Fresno Chaffee Zoo. read more

We visited Fresno Chaffee Zoo over the long holiday weekend, so it was a little crowded but nothing major or overwhelming. We've always gone to LA Zoo but decided to give Fresno Zoo a try. The zoo was much easier to navigate as it was not as spread out as LA Zoo. The highlight of our trip was definitely the giraffe feeding experience with my granddaughter. It was such a special and memorable moment! We also really enjoyed the orangutan exhibit watching them swing and chase each other was so much fun. The stingray experience was another favorite, and we were pleasantly surprised to see nurse sharks in the exhibit as well. These two experiences were an additional charge. The elephant family was absolutely adorable, especially the two little elephants. We were also pleasantly surprised by how spacious their roaming area is. Prices were a little higher than expected. Overall, it was a wonderful visit with lots of memorable experiences. We'll definitely be back! read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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Great place for some weekend fun. Came out for my son's first birthday. Very clean. Lots of shade. Staff is wonderful. Zoo is very well kept. Definitely love coming here and will be back. read more

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We came here for a corporate event, and what a great time! This zoo was very clean, and had a great layout with a variety of beautiful animals. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We had our lunch in a private outdoor area, and I'm not sure who the caterer was, but the food was great. You have to pay for parking, however, they coordinated with us to provide a code so that attendees did not have to pay for parking themselves, rather we would be invoiced at the end. Super simple and seamless! It seemed like all of the families at our company had a wonderful time and I would highly recommend this venue for any corporate event. read more

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Great variety of critters! ... Helpful, cordial staff!! Hot and sunny ... some, but limited shade. Visited in late June.

Wow, I have not been to the zoo since I was a little kid and didn't really walk in with high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. The zoo doesn't look that big from the outside, but it was actually pretty vast and there was a lot to see from the sea lion Cove to the reptile room to all the jungle animals, it was quite impressive. I like that you can feed the giraffes. I loved seeing the elephants with their babies. It was so cute. There's plenty of seating and food options. I didn't get anything to eat but the food looked pretty good and good quality. The bathrooms were clean. overall, it felt like a well kept and safe environment. There's lots of staff on the ground so if any questions arose or needed to find a certain area, they were more than willing to assist. This is a great place to check out, especially if you have children. read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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Fresno Chaffee Zoo provides a lovely educational atmosphere for kids of all ages. I am not aware of their treatment of animals, the rhinos looked the happiest. I would love to hear more from the zoo about what they do to keep animals safe, happy, and healthy. read more

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It was such a fun time, lots of places indoor to take a break from the sun outside. Lots of food options, even offered some vegan options so it was a good variation of foods. It's such a fun place to go on a date or take your kids. read more

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My son had his 5th grade field trip a couple weeks ago and I decided to tag along. The last time we'd been here was about 7 years ago and I gotta say, I enjoyed it just as much this second time around. We had a tour guide, Steve, who despite his older age, was super quick! We hardly got a chance to take pictures before he has us hurrying along to the next exhibit. Can't complain, the zoo has a ton to offer in the short amount of time we were there. They also had their holiday stuff up which tempted us to return for their holiday lights. We will definitely be back! read more

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Heard great things about the Fresno Zoo, and it did not disappoint!! I went on a gloomy, cold day, so some animals weren't out and about. However, being one of the few visitors made the experience especially peaceful and enjoyable. Most of the animals appeared well cared for. The only exception was the sloth bear, he was pacing the same few feet repeatedly and seemed quite anxious :( Hopefully he's able to get more stimulus somehow! I hope to learn more about their conservation efforts and to visit again soon! read more

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Absolutely love our zoo! This is a must see venue for anyone passing through. I've seen zoos in other places, but this is my favorite. The zoolights were absolutely breathtaking this year, also. I'm proud to be a member! read more

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The Fresno Chaffee Zoo has some truly great areas as well as sections that feel like they've been long overlooked. The newer exhibits are beautiful and well done, but parts of the older zoo seem a bit forgotten in comparison. We visit often and always enjoy our time there--the staff is consistently exceptional and very friendly. It's just a little disappointing to see some of the older areas that could use the same attention as the newer ones. read more

Made a visit to the zoo since it was the first Wednesday of the month and got in for $5.. me and my son came late and only got to stay for 1hr. What a bummer. I thought they closed at 6pm cus that's what it said on Google but I seen The sign at the front entrance said 4pm. Met up with some friends and family and took the kids. It was around lunar New Year so they had these really cool n beautiful decor out that supposed to light up at night. Saturday was the last day they did it. Even in the day time tho the decor was still something nice to look at and take pictures next to. We got there in time for my son to feed the giraffes and he loved it!! They are so cute! What sucked is some animals weren't out because of the weather. It said something about it being too cold so they don't be out.. I really enjoyed the Asia area. I never seen that part before so it was new to me. I would like to come back again to revisit the whole zoo and see all the animals. Didn't get to see much cus of time and weather.. glad I got to see The Tiger up close though and the Rhino and its baby! So cute! Wanted to see the monkeys but they were no where to be found. Oh yeah, u have to pay for parking when you get up in there.. I didn't know that lol read more

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Great experience today. We got to see most of every exhibit on our trip. Staff is very friendly. Enjoyable day animals were all out and grandkids got a lot of great pictures. read more

Fresno is so incredibly lucky to be able to claim the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The staff is attentive and always looking for gaps in safety, making sure the animals and patrons are safe. The animals seem very well taken care of with clean and carefully put together habitats. My daughter loves running around here and experiencing all the animals, sights, and sounds. I have very fond memories from the 2000s and I know my daughter will carry the same with her into adulthood as well. read more

The price 30$ per adult to see non existent animals, or heavily sedated. You pay extra for the butterfly garden, and aquarium. The food price is outrageous. 10$ hot dogs, are the cheapest on the list. This place is dust. Send what you have to a real zoo. Then came out to a parking ticket 40$ and there are no signs in the parking lot where to pay or if you must. Only a small sign when you pull into the place. Making money writing tickets too. Place is BS scam. read more

Yesterday me and my out-of-town family went to visit the zoo when we got there we didn't realize it was field trip for 15 schools. There were buses everywhere parking was terrible but we found a space. When we got there, they had the field trip kids in one section and other was for general entry. Which you had to wait in line but when we got to the cashier. She was very friendly. As we went in, we decided to go toward the back, which was the African Safari area. It was very nice and the animals were well taken care of in their display. We also stopped in the indoor diner, which had a really good selection of food later went there for lunch after lunch we went to the Asian area, which is also very nice for the animals. There was a lady talking about the bears in one display. Since the zoo is so big, we choose one more, which was the sea lions display. We will come back again to finish off the zoo since we didn't have more time .Altogether I would recommend th read more

The zoo is really nice come togther alot since all the updates. I feel like the animals are well cared for but bring snacks food is expensive read more

How lucky are we to have the Fresno zoo! Visited for the first time this year, on a weekday in June. Beauty experience. My nephews love the Dino Dig and Splash Park. I was amazed by the baby elephants and cubs. Ready to go back soon. Food options are great. Free ice water inside the Kopje cafeteria eatery and 4 of us shared a pepperoni pizza along with our own snacks from home. read more

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I recommend pay for parking on your phone and buy your tickets inadvance. It was a beautiful day. Lots to see so get there early. read more

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I heard there's a program called Welcome Wednesdays where if you're a Snap Benefits cardholder you can go on the first Wednesday of each month where you can get $5 admission up to 4 persons and free giraffe feeding vouchers for the day for the first 150 guests. I went early to get tickets because it's sooo hot in Fresno during summer. The zoo is always a new adventure because the animals here are always doing something different. I always bring the stainless steel cups and pack snacks for the kiddos to stay hydrated and their energy up to walk. They do sell food, snacks and merch. I'll probably come again later when it starts cooling down because it's too hot for me to enjoy with the kids at this time. read more

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I'm 36 years old so it's not often I go to the zoo for "fun" but during my recent visit I was blown away by the courtesy, kindness and how welcoming their staff was for my daughters 5th birthday. We had already done the party the night before and wanted to surprise her with this. Not only was the first experience them Looking for a badge they said they ran out of but they found one, made our daughter feel super special straight out the gate. Everyone was very nice and helpful and especially when they found out it was her birthday they wished her a happy birthday and made her feel important in the moment. Seriously the staff needs rewarded and recognized due to this. I was a litter frustrated that they didn't have the petting zoo open since ya know the animals aren't hourly, but all the other positive experiences made that not really an issue. The animal trainers and keepers alike took time to answer questions and helped get needed it. The animals were mostly out which was cool. We really only went to the exhibits she didn't get to go to last time but I really enjoyed my time there. Makes me want to sent my resume in because I'd love working at a place where it seems like they're hiring good people and keeping them around. read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - As my daughter says "its Surkahn" - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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We had a great visit to the Zoo on a Sunday. It wasn't too crowded. The property was clean and the animals were cared for. There is a lot of seating throughout the zoo, and plenty of bathrooms and drinking fountains. The food and drinks available in the park are a little pricey, but since you can bring your own snacks and water in I didn't mind. I recommend visiting and purchasing the Admission Plus package so you can feed the giraffes. It's amazing. read more

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We really enjoyed the time at this zoo. And I really appreciate the welcome Wednesdays. As a large family on a budget it's a nice touch. The zoo itself seemed clean and the animals enclosures seemed really nice compared to some zoos. Loved the interactive parts too. We got to see the bird show and the tiger talk. Would definitely come again if we're ever in the area. read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Bird show - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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I can't say enough good things about the Chaffee Zoo. I grew up coming here and the new exhibits make it even better. All of the staff here are incredibly kind and helpful. Special shout out to Devan for taking the time to teach us so many things about the animals and even helping us locate the small claw otters in their exhibit, it's clear she loves what she does. Keep up the great work guys, I can't wait to come back again. read more

An extensive, clean zoo for a reasonable price. I purchased my tickets online despite the $2.50 convenience fee and I would recommend so. There was a long line despite us arriving before opening so I thought the charge was worth skipping the crowd. I opted for the plus experience which included giraffe feeding and stingray petting for an extra $5. This option was also available for purchase on site but the cost was more. If purchased, I would go to these activities first due to lines moving extremely slow. I ended up spending 1 hour in line for the giraffe feeding since I saved it for later. I liked how SNAP/EBT benefits were applicable and general entry was $5. There were also giraffe feedings for the first 150 people every first Wednesday. *Stingray Bay: very calm compared to the giraffe area. There was a big hand washing station. The stingrays were engaging and there was an option to feed them for extra. Unfortunately the stingrays stop coming up after they realized that I did not have any food. *Giraffe Feeding: each person got a few big pieces of lettuce. A fun opportunity to interact with the giraffe up close and personal. *Sea Lion Cove: the sea lions were viewable from above and below. The glass was clear and sea lions liked swimming by the crowds and around the roundabouts. *Reptile House: likewise the glass was clean. Each display had branches and greeneries for reptiles and amphibians to hang on. *African Adventures: the largest section space wise. I was surprised by how close the animals were to the guests. The pathway for this area was long so I could see some benefit in places benches throughout so families have a spot to rest. *Lemur Lawn: massive center piece for a village of lemurs. The lemurs were the only animals that seemed more active in the afternoon than morning. There were multiple huts and rope for them to play with. *Kingdoms of Asia: I found the architecture to be impressive in this area. The massive stone structures felt surreal and it transported us to another continent. There weren't many animals in the area but the theming was great. The larger felines were sunbathing on the boulders so it was harder to view them given the big distance between glass and backdrop. *Rainforest Lawn: the primates had to be the most active animals and they always appeared to be swinging around or nibbing on snacks. The primates actually saw the crowds and came to the glass to engage with us. *Birds of Prey: quaint and quiet aviary. The variety of birds were a bit limited and this was one of the lesser memorable exhibits. It would be best to visit the zoo during holidays as they always have themed decor. The decorations were innate and detailed so it felt like each visit had something worth celebrating. I took about 2.5 hours to thoroughly walk and picture every animal. Fresno Zoo was well maintained and there were mindful accommodations that would benefit all visitors. read more

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First time ever at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Took my family to the zoo after moving to the Central Valley area. There is no parking lot attendant you have to pay for parking at a machine or on the parking app. We found accurate parking nearby the main entrance. We purchased our tickets online and there is a separate line for those who got tickets online than in person. We hardly saw any attractions or animals at all. It felt like an overpriced city park. We will not be returning back there anytime soon. Lots of walking be prepared to wear your comfort sneakers or walking shoes. read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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What amazing changes at the zoo! I hadn't been there since my kids were growing up. We have a really nice local zoo now compared to what it was in the 90's. If you haven't been there, you should definitely visit soon. It was a super busy day, with all the school field trips, but it was a nice time. Oh, you pay at a kiosk now for parking, so you need to key in your license plate number. There are parking and entrance discounts for seniors. read more

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We've been members for two years and if you have younger kids this is a great financial decision in terms of entertainment. Not to mention the discounts offered at other zoos around the country. In California alone, you get a 50% discount on tickets to 12-different zoos, aquariums, and nature preserves! We showed up on a whim to see the brand new baby elephants. The line to purchase tickets was long and wrapped around the zoo fencing. The membership line had maybe six people in it, so we were able to breeze right in. This was also our fourth trip to the zoo this year, which means our membership has more than paid for itself. For a family of four to just walk through the front door will cost about $120. Our family plan membership is $150 for the year and covers two adults and up to three children. Plus you get discounts at all the food and gift shops at the zoo. The baby elephants are adorable and they were trumpeting as we walked up to their area. It's pretty cool that two baby elephants have now been born at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo! We can't wait to come back and enjoy the holiday activities, especially with some cooler weather. read more

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I have been coming to the Chaffee zoo for 30+ years. Since I was a little girl and now I have a membership and take my son all the time. Especially in the summer with the water park features. It's a way to beat the heat and enjoy other littles having fun too. I also love the fact that this zoo is thriving, we have experienced so many new babies being born here at the Chaffee, giraffes, elephants, meerkats and even a new lion cub! I've been to zeros all across theUS, Lincoln park zoo in Chicago, Central Park zoo in nyc, the Oakland zoo and the San Diego zoo. I would say this is my absolute favorite. The others lack animals and the San Diego zoo is just way too big. Fresnos Chaffee is well maintained and loved by our community. I encourage anyone living or passing through to make the stop and visit the Chaffee! read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Water area feature for kids - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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With the end of summer quickly approaching I thought it would be a good idea to end with a trip to Fresno Chaffee Zoo. We've been several times over the years but my how time flies, I can't believe it's been over 2 years since our last visit! I appreciate that as time goes on they've still managed to keep fees and prices relatively low. Goes to show there are still businesses that can provide a great family fun experience without breaking the bank. Parking nearby can be challenging at times but there's plenty of parking if you're willing to walk a bit further. We really enjoyed our visit and were able to casually observe all the great exhibits and animals. The giraffe feeding is always a favorite treat and memory that we love here. We just did the butterfly exhibit for the first time and the whole family absolutely fell in love This is a magical exhibit and if you only have time for one spot in the zoo, make sure you check out the butterfly enclosure. Beautiful flying butterfly's of varying colors, sizes, and patterns. Breathtaking experience. All of the animals look very healthy and happy and the park is kept clean and tidy. I do kinda wish that "blind spots" could be eliminated just to get more eyes on the animals but I get it too. I was also kinda underwhelmed with the bird enclosure. With the exception of a couple different species, I didn't really see much of anything in there. Great day, we all had fun and left happy. read more

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My family loves our zoo. It's went through so many upgrades since I was a kid. They've really expanded where the elephants and rhinos are. It's a beautiful sight to see them all cohabiting together. There is plenty of seating setup all throughout the zoo. We also got a lot of new baby animals. It's make me so excited to see them thriving. The giraffe feeding is my favorite. You pay 6 bucks for some lettuce. It allows you to get up close and feed them. You can also touch the sting rays for a couple bucks too. A couple of years ago they added the butterfly exhibit. It's really fun to see them up close. If you get lucky they might land on you. My boys were overly excited for this lol. The zoo food can be a bit pricy for certain things. Like trying to sale a can of beer for 17 bucks is wild to me. The good thing about our zoo is they allow you to bring snacks in. So pack accordingly and always be prepared for the heat. You can easily spend a few hours here exploring all the exhibits. read more

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Located off the 99, is Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Super clean, well kept and newer than ever! Awesome Zoo! They keep on improving it every time we go. First time we went here was over a decade ago, when in college at Fresno State, Go Doggs! Now we get to take our daughter and it's sooooo improved. The baby elephants, feeding giraffes, petting sting rays, seeing rhino's, a cheetah and Tiger was just awesome! Our daughter had a great time and so did we. Keep it up! *Red Wave Rise* read more

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The zoo is completely redone from when I went in the late 90s / early 00s. The Africa pavilion is gorgeous and I loved seeing the animals roam the grounds. Feeding the giraffes was great, although I wish they gave us a bit more lettuce for the price. My favorite was feeding the stingrays! The food was decent, tenders were solid and the ice cream / slushie was sweet but good for kids to share. read more

Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Giraffe feeding - Zoos Near Me - Fresno, California

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This is one of the best Zoo's I have been to in California. The zoo is very clean and it appears that the animals are truly cared for and taken care of the closest to their natural habitat as possible. We got season passes (membership) to the Zoo and every time we went it was empty and quiet. My kids loved spending their time just watching the animals. So many of the other zoos in California are so crowded it is hard just to relax and really watch and learn from the animals. Take your family and enjoy the day. (Take snacks because the food is expensive) read more

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Well friends the Fresno Chaffee Zoo "Illumination Night " did not disappoint. What an amazing display of lighting and animation of animal figures not to mention the interactive attractions that families and kids alike could enjoy. To see families and couples enjoying this amazing display was heartwarming and refreshing great job Fresno. Now this year they had igloos that you could reserve and enjoy adult beverages and charcuterie boards while relaxing on comfortable couches and chairs unbelievable. We will be doing that next year. Have fun see you there next year. read more

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The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is quite the zoo. Spanning what I would assume is acres of land and creatively housing animals in different geographical themes, you have an African Savannah--super nice and an Asian Sancutary amongst other areas, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo really submerses you in an animal experience. This zoo took us about 3.5-4.0 hrs to complete, but we kind of rushed ourselves because we came a bit late. If you really took your time and actually tried to enjoy all of the exhibits, you could probably add about 2-3 hrs for your trip. Parking is city owned and operated ($5 flat fee day rate) and there is plenty of parking. read more

I attempted to call the zoo and make contact with the team who is handling the blunt nose lizard repopulation efforts in Pinoche Valley. I was refused my phone call and told that I had to submit all questions in the form of an email. There would be no phone contact or voicemail offered by "Dee" who was at best evasive in her demeanor if not outwardly dismissive. She obviously feels the need to gate keep and needlessly ascertain what questions you have for that team rather than to put you in contact for anyone who does have questions she will refer you to the info at email rather than connect your call for somebody seeking clarity and transparency. This is not the place you will find it. read more

My little girls favorite & so peaceful & nice definitely recommend!! So clean & have a good space for walking!