Such a Vibe!!!!!! I can't believe that it took me so long to visit here. So far hands down this a been the best Zoo on my Zoo tour. I mean it's breath taking when you walk up to it. I love the details!!! They had a physical map!!! I'm old school so the digital is not for me. It was such an amazing opener when I saw the dinosaurs, I felt like I was at Jurassic park. This zoo is so organized They have several cooling stations or options to go indoors to cool off They have artists who did face painting or drawings of you. I loved the lounge, where adults could get an adult beverage. It feels so peaceful here!! The animals look happy and healthy. They have an Airbnb where you can stay with the giraffes. Overall this place exceeded my expectations. You can bring the fam or simply go on a date. Well done HEB and the Zoo!!! read more

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One of my goals is to make it to all the Texas Metropolitan Zoo's. Dallas-Done, Forth Worth-Done, Houston-Done, Austin-TBD, San Antonio-Now Done! This will actually be the 3rd time to the SA zoo, but now it deserves a review specially for consistency. Parking is pretty easy to navigate and I'd say it's fairly close to the zoo. I would say they need to provide more disable parking options. Gorilla, Giraffes, Hippos, Crocodiles/Alligators, Rhinos, Black Bear, were the main attractions, especially with it being scorching hot! (I don't blame the other animals for not being out directly in the sun honestly) a plethora of exotic birds too! The gorilla was my favorite, the ones SA zoo has are super majestic looking and you get really great views of them too. It's easy to get around the zoo because there are a lot of signs that clearly tell you where to go, plus maps, and employees to assist. They have plenty of air conditioned areas and also water mist areas to get rehydrated and to take a break from the heat. They have a good number of eating stations to get something good to drink or eat. SA zoo gets a B+ for consistency and good number of animals! read more

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I'll start by saying we live locally and have a season pass, so this is a convenient spot for us to bring our toddler for an hour or two to get out of the house. Would I drive hours just to visit this zoo? No--but honestly, I wouldn't do that for most zoos, other than maybe the Omaha Zoo. The zoo has always been clean and well kept every time we've visited. We usually go first thing when it opens, and it's never been too busy--except for one time when we accidentally went on a school field trip day, which was... a lot! There is a small kangaroo area you can pay extra to enter, where you can get up close, pet them if they allow it, and take photos. My 13-year-old son thought this was really cool, and honestly, I did too. My toddler especially enjoys the small indoor aquarium area. Overall, it's a great, easy place to spend an hour or two. read more

We had an amazing time at the Zoo. Came with the family which was a big group and got to explore it all. The Gorilla enclosure is pretty impressive, and the Gorillas were such a sight to see. I really wish all animals could be free but I'm hoping these are the exception of animals that need help and might not be able to survive in the wild. The park is wonderful, I love that is is shaded in a lot of areas and that there are drinks and snacks available to purchase. Parking was super easy and free which was very nice. Great place for a family outing. read more

I had the pleasure of coordinating employee appreciation event, and there was no better place to host it than the zoo. I was especially happy that my family was able to attend. Since I don't have children of my own, my nieces and nephews mean the world to me, and getting to share such a special day with them made it even more memorable. It was truly a beautiful day and an amazing experience from start to finish. Huge credit to the SA Zoo Events team, especially Jessica, Morgan, and Abigail, for creating such a wonderful and unforgettable event. I visit the zoo from time to time, and every visit brings something new and unique. It's always an experience in itself. read more

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My kids have been counting down to the new gorilla exhibit, and it finally lived up to the hype. We were honestly pretty bummed when the elephants left, but this feels like a worthy replacement. We've always loved the giraffe feeding--still one of the best parts of the zoo--and the breakfast with the giraffes on Mother's and Father's Day has been a standout family tradition for us. Seeing the gorillas up close for the first time was something else. The glass gets you surprisingly close, and the overhead walkways give you multiple angles, so you're not just stuck in one spot. What really stood out though was how different each one felt--one was messing around with a pair of sunglasses (not sure how those got in there), while another was clearly the boss, making noise and tossing things around to make his presence known. Pictures don't do their size justice--they're massive in person. We ended up renewing our family membership after letting it lapse for a few years, which probably says it all. You can tell the zoo has been putting real effort into improving things, and it shows. read more

San Antonio Zoo - ostrich - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Did someone say you could feed flamingos? Yes, yes they did! There were other encounters available as well, but this one was definitely a fun one to be a part of. The zoo overall was great - lots of full exhibits and animals of all kinds out venturing and being active. We enjoyed all there was to see at the zoo!!! read more

Love the zoo! Went to check out the newest exhibit, Congo Falls! We had such a great time with family! Shout out to whoever manages the playlist! The music in the entrance and gift shop was great---we started dancing when Selena was played! read more

San Antonio Zoo - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Finally the gorillas are here!!! You know I was there as soon as a local day popped up to see this exhibit at a fraction of the price. The zoo has something to stand on now. It's a pretty solid zoo for the size. The females and males are kept in separate areas.At around 9:45-10 am they move them to the outside exhibit. I would get a look at the lower and upper viewing areas to really see them all. The zoo was giving SA vibes with Selena playing at the entrance. As we passed by I noticed they have flamin hot popcorn now a San Antonio staple. read more

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It was a great day for the zoo on January 15th. Weather was cool and you would get a breeze every once and awhile. We had a field trip for our granddaughter school. Plenty of kids running around, like plenty of animals to see. lol. We were really excited to go this time, the San Antonio Zoo, just got the gorilla enclosure, wow, it was amazing. The gorillas are awesome. I enjoy the Komodo dragons, they are my favorites. Plenty of monkeys, birds, reptiles. We don't get to see the lion, tigers and bears. This Zoo is cashless, but take quarters for the fish and bird feeders. They take quarters only. Bathrooms are clean, plenty of parking off site, I little walk away. read more

San Antonio Zoo - Tortoise. - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I can't recommend the San Antonio Zoo. We drove 4 & 1/2 hours and I am very disappointment. We paid $118 for 4 of us and it definitely wasn't worth the money or time. First, it was a long walk from the garage to the entrance. My mom has knee problems and it was too much for her. If you have any elderly friends or relatives, anyone with disabilities, drop them off first at the front and then find parking. Most of the animals weren't out at all, and there were so many areas that were closed or under maintenance. Didn't see any monkeys, bears. You have to pay to see the Kangaroos. Everything should be included in the admission price. I love taking pictures but I was able to take a few pictures of the structures and animals that were out. I see a lot of 5 star reviews but not sure why but it might be the ones that have children because it definitely is great for them but not adults only, I guess we came to visit on the wrong day but right now, I don't think there will be a 2nd time to find out. They should close down until everything is up and running so you can get your money worth. read more

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I have to say, while the San Antonio Zoo is on the smaller side of the many zoos I've been to across the country, it really does give quality over quantity! And with the new Congo Falls and its beautiful gorillas - I was truly impressed and enjoyed the newest addition!!! I'd recommend going on a cooler day as it's really hard to enjoy all the zoo has to offer if you're hot, sweaty and just miserable. We went on New Years morning after they opened - around noon-ish - and the weather was perfect! Mid to upper 60s and sunny - so it felt like low 70s. We saw more big cats on this visit than ever before in one sitting - and the tiger and jaguar were actually walking around (and not sleeping trying to stay cool, haha). They're such beautiful animals!! My little one LOVES that carousel and the wait is never more than 5 mins - love it! I also love the Giraffe feeding opp - and their neighbors rhinos and roomie Zebras were all roaming around. I love that area! We've also been to a couple birthday parties there for the little ones over the years, and they were also SO much fun and the employees engaging. SATX Zoo is definitely one of my favorites - small but mighty! And now with the Congo Falls, it's a must see! Even if you don't have kiddos, you'll enjoy the beautiful animals as an adult! read more

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Óscar was great. He was very informative and gave us great customer service. Parking is free. There is a garage that is not too far from the entrance and there is also city parking. This zoo provides an opportunity to feed giraffes, feed birds, and to pet the kangaroos. I didn't get the chance to pet the kangaroos. The zoo is well taken care of and we were able to see the new gorilla exhibit. What I didn't like is they ran out of refrigerators magnets and I collect them everywhere I go. Overall the experience was good. read more

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Nice zoo for the size of San Antonio. Several things are being upgraded. Took us 3 hours to do the entire zoo in March. The high temperature was 80 - so comfortable throughout. I recommend going left when you get in and do a clockwise circle and end up back where you start. In this way, you can do the cat grottos (which are shaded and a unique touch), go through the hippo building, and meander slowly up the hill to the new gorilla exhibit. There's giraffe feeding near there. Then you'll slowly come back downhill for the second half. Good play area for kids toward the end if you do it this way. Lots of places to sit down; lots of restrooms. Quite a variety of animals including some rarities like a babirusa. Most is outside, but there are about 5 small buildings for indoor animals. Stuff for all ages. read more

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This zoo used to be the best in TX and now it's been transformed into some kind of a mall . A lot of animals have been eliminated to give space to stores and shops . Some of the animals looked lonely and sick and more than a couple of sections you had to pay an additional fee . You need to change that music when you enter . read more

Zoo Boo for the win! A nice seasonal overlay with good theming makes an excellent excuse to visit the zoo during the "cooler" months. For a weekend, the crown was manageable. Only draw back of going off season is that some features are closed. However, that makes sense. We cannot wait for the new gorilla habitat to open up. It already looks so awesome. read more

San Antonio Zoo - Aquarium as a respite from the heat - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

One of my favorite zoos to visit because it's not huge and easy to navigate. Even though it's not as large as other zoos, they've got a lot to take in. The Kangaroo Krossing encounter is so rad and less than $10 a person (additional to zoo entry). They've got a few different encounters like flamingos, butterflies, and more. I love getting to see the lions, tigers and bears too! read more

The San Antonio Zoo was good fun. The only option was to purchase tickets online. In addition to our entry tickets (adult = $34.99, child admission = $29.99), I bought the green line fun passes ($25 per person) for me & my girls (grand total = $174.97). On 5.25.2025, we did everything except bond with the flamingos because they didn't really care about that and ride the train because it was closed. Our favorite excursion was feeding the nectar juice to the lorikeets. Such cute, sweet birds! It was a 97 degree F day so it was worth it to bring a few cold water bottles of our own then enter into cooler activities like the butterfly house, the 4D movie theatre (Astro Kid 4D: Mission to Explore), Beastro Restaurant, Zootennial Carousel, Discovery Playce (it's actually for toddlers, but we used the clean restrooms there), Friedrich Aquarium, and the Mariposa Market "for a Special Gift" which was a cheap bracelet. The zoo is expanding with "Congo Falls" arriving supposedly later in 2025, but it seems like an immense amount of work is still remains. read more

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The San Antonio Zoo is a ton of fun and a great place to spend the day with kids and family. We frequent the SA Zoo quite often, and have annual passes. (Zoo hack #1 - the cost of the annual pass is nearly the same cost as the day pass for non-local folks, so we opted to get a whole year for the price of one day - also be on the look out for Black Friday specials and various promos around the year to leverage optimal savings on zoo pass purchases.) The zoo grounds are well spaced out and you don't feel like you are being toppled over by anyone even during busy, peak times. There are also plenty of activities around the year, including carousel rides (Zoo Hack #2 - carousel rides cost $3 per ride/per person for both kids and adults and that's adds up quickly when your kids want to ride the carousel a minimum of 3x per visit, therefore we opted to purchase the carousel rides as an upfront add-on to our annual passes, which is an option you select before you finalize your order online & if memory serves me right it came to $24/per year/per person for unlimited carousel rides, absolutely saves money for frequent riders!!) The holiday and seasonal festivities are especially enjoyable. Christmas at the zoo is very beautiful with lots of festive lights and the option to take photos with Santa Claus (at a premium cost though), and it all feels very nostalgic! There is a good variety of animals overall, but it can sometimes be hit or miss when it comes to actually seeing them regardless what time of day you arrive. On several visits, some of the larger animals like the lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses, and kangaroos were not visible, either because they were resting or put away early. That can be a little disappointing, especially for children who are excited to see them. Additionally the recent opening of Congo Falls was exciting to walk through and beautifully constructed, but it was also a disappointment since we didn't see any of the Gorillas. We did go toward the evening time on first visit to the opening of Congo Falls, which could have been a factor in why we missed the Gorillas, however we really couldn't see anything at all past the thick glass barricades since there was very poor lightening placement within the habitat that the Gorillas resided in. Therefore my suggestion would be to go before it gets dark since the San Antonio Zoo collectively is not well equipped with good lighting around the whole facility (unless it's the Christmas season then lighting is good on the walkways), but lighting is particularly insufficient where the animals reside and it gets hard to spot the animals as it inches closer to the evening time even when the animals are out and about roaming. That said, since the SA zoo typically closes at 5pm year around, with extended hours until 9:00 pm between November and January the issue around visibility is mainly a concern for the seasonal folks like ourself who do a bulk of our zoo adventures during the Christmas a season when hours are extended and the zoo is not well lit with nature sunlight. Furthermore, the zoo aquarium section is quaint and small but very nice, with seahorses and colorful fish that are fun to watch. My kids always enjoy that part. Overall, the SA zoo is a solid experience with good variety and family friendly activities. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars mainly because animal visibility can be very inconsistent, and the food isn't that great either and relatively expensive, that said the SA zoo remains one of our top places we really enjoy visiting. Final zoo hack - buy one (1) reusable Congo Falls popcorn bucket, they are a bit pricey at $10.99 for the initial cost and get all popcorn refills moving forward for $1.99 using that bucket. My family and I use the same bucket for every visit, we just bring the original popcorn bucket we purchased at the zoo and refill it as many time as we want for $1.99 each time. This also goes (but at different price points) for their reusable Congo Falls cups - they range falls roughly between $11.99-$16.99 for the initial purchase of the cup depending if you are purchasing a soft drink (less cost for cup) or a Icee (higher cost for cup) and subsequently the cost of your drink refill using the reusable Congo Falls cup is a fraction of the cost then buying a new drink everytime. So don't forget your popcorn bucket and reusable drink cups to leverage major cost savings! I also suggest bringing your own water bottle because the cost of water at the zoo is also expensive. I usually take my 40oz Yeti since it keeps drinks cool all day and a backpack to carry miscellaneous items for ease of transport. Thx for tuning in y'all. Go have yourself some Zoo fun! read more

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Came on a $8 locals day and enjoyed seeing the renovations at the zoo and the great way it's organized. Going through the ticketing was quick with my online code and the map is all electronic now. The best part is the return of the capybara and the coming Congo area that will have guerrillas. The zoo is neat and clean with lots of animals to see and many viewing areas. There's also an aquarium and area dedicated to birds and reptiles. I love that parking is free and available either under the bridge or across the street in the parking garage. You can easily spend 3-4 hours at the zoo. read more

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One of my fav zoos! I went for fiesta, and seeing all the cool activities and performances was great. It took me about four hours to see everything, so it's a big zoo. The employees were nice and told me when I was going into the wrong area lol. Definitely have a lot of patience here, as it gets so crowded on the weekends read more

We love going to the zoo!! The new gorilla area is amazing! Love the kids play area! The membership is such a great deal. We go at least 2x a month! read more

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I went to the zoo today, and there seems to be a RAT problem in the bear enclosure. They were all all over the place in plain view. Everyone was screaming see the rats... read more

I'm basing this review off the summer camp. The kids really enjoyed the summer camp and they also take pictures of your kid during the camp. So you could see your kid enjoying the experience with the animals. They have the pick up and drop off situation figured out. They are so quick to get your kid in and out and I've had no problems with any of the folks at the zoo. Highly recommend doing the summer camps here. They usually release them in March and they do sell out quick. read more

It is an older zoo, and is confined to its limited location, but it is also not too bad except when the summer hits. And then trying to find the small AC area already packed with screaming kids that become road blocks as you try and see their awesome alligator snapping turtle in a way to small enclosure. I have been coming here since the mid 80s, and feel little has changed aside from revamping old into new exhibits. The gorillas are back from an absence of I forgot how long. The aquarium needs a facelift, as well as the reptile house. I avoid eating here since it is worse than high school cafeteria fare. Prices could be better adjusted to the income of the populace to at least enjoy some of the fantastic rare creatures they house. I still will come though for I do like seeing one of the only zoos' that has a pair of Tomistoma schlegelii and an Orinoco crocodile. Bring back the mini boat ride! read more

We went this past Christmas Day for the $8 dollar locals day and to see the new Gorilla exhibit. The gorilla exhibit was incredibly impressive and has multiple viewing areas. We used to go to the zoo Lala event that they would have every year, but the cost of the VIP tickets went up too high for us. I think they probably got more expensive because they started to hire better known talent. When we went to the bathroom in the hippo Exhibit, one of the toilets ran out of toilet paper. That can be an awkward situation to find yourself in so definitely check before you use the restroom to make sure it has toilet paper or maybe carry some extra in your purse or in your pocket. This zoo has come a long way in making the exhibits more natural for the animals which I applaud. read more

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Went for zoo lights...the lights were okay. There was one setup that was amazing where they made a screen out of strings of lights. I have never seen that and thought it was cool. That being said, these lights are otherwise not like any other zoo light event...there are just Christmas lights at the zoo. If we had come only for this I would have been very disappointed. That being said, our tickets got in early and we got to see the full zoo before the lights. That made it very worth it. The zoo is way better than I expected...lots of animals and some amazing enclosures and you can tell the new stuff is taking it up a notch (like the gorilla area). Hopefully they can get elephants again! That was the biggest thing (pun intended) I didn't see. After that would be tigers. That being said, giraffes, rhinos, lions, okapi, gorillas, etc just a LOT of animals for a not terribly large zoo. read more

San Antonio Zoo - Feeding giraffes - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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It has been a few years since I visited the San Antonio zoo so I was excited to take out of town guests. I was pleased with the changes that I saw, the new animal habitats in the Africa section were so cool. It was so neat to see the new giraffe house. The giraffes are up close and personal and can be seen on the new observation deck by the giraffe house. The gorilla house was completed but not open yet, but it looks spectacular and I can't wait to see the new Gorillas. I went during the week so the zoo was not crowded and by going early in the day we found close parking and the temperatures were a bit cooler. The downside was in the front of the zoo where bears our house their play artist is in full son so they aren't out and about or in view instead, they were hiding out and staying cool. The zoo was very clean and well staffed with some good concession stops sprinkled throughout. I am excited to return to see the Gorillas and any other upgrades. read more

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Our recent visit to the San Antonio Zoo was unfortunately overshadowed by a very negative customer service experience. One staff member in particular, Ryan, was consistently abrasive, loud, and disrespectful toward guests. We witnessed him speak rudely to multiple customers, including an older woman he made walk around instead of allowing her to use a ramp. His tone came across as dismissive and unprofessional, and it created an uncomfortable environment for everyone nearby. It was disappointing to see that level of treatment in a place meant to be family-friendly. Additionally, the policy of forcing guests to exit through the gift shop felt frustrating and overly commercial. It came across as a money-driven setup, especially for families with kids, and took away from the overall experience. Ryan seemed especially strict in enforcing this, which made it feel even more unpleasant. That said, not everything was negative. The new gorilla exhibit is absolutely beautiful and a highlight of the zoo. We also had a great interaction with Joe at the giraffe exhibit. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. Experiences like that are what make visits memorable. I hope the zoo takes steps to improve staff training and guest experience. There's a lot of potential here, but customer service needs attention. The animals and Joe were a 5 stars! Ryan and the gift shop were a 1 star read more

Good: They had DipnDots some animals Bad:pretty much every animal was asleep or gone. Where are they? read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this zoo! There are lots of large animal exhibits, my favorite being the rhinos! The panther walkway is also so unique and hangs above a walkway so you can look up at the big cat(s) as they traipse above your head. read more

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We typically go to the zoo about once a year or every other year. Last time we went was in December of 2022 and now it's June of 2025, it was hot but they have cooling off stations. They have alot of places to stop and eat. We got a popcorn bucket and a cup for next time we come we can refill it. June is a great time to come before noon as it's hot but not too hot. read more

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It's been a few years since my last visit, and I can still say that this is a solid zoo. Easy enough to navigate through the park, I didn't have many issues. I will say that this visit, many animal enclosures were either under renovation or the animals were MIA, which was a bit disappointing. There were tons of birds and reptiles this time around. One issue is that you now have to do all transactions digitally. There is no cash here. Parking is still free, which is nice because it's limited when it gets busy. read more

Came for the holiday lights and new gorilla exhibit and so did the other millions of people in the city! It was super congested everywhere at the zoo. Disappointed that there were many animals NOT in their exhibits- lion, hippopotamus, giant turtles, tiger, no more elephants here, hyenas...to name a few. Looks like lots of money was spent on upgrading the look of the place but exhibits are not well kept and empty. Came back later for the zoo lights and it did not impress. "Fog and Snow" machines had just water squirting from them and puddles on the ground. Luckily we got a deal on the price because it is not worth it. We use to come for years and enjoyed it but it has definitely gone downhill. read more

San Antonio Zoo - Warning about the light show but it was not necessary at all. - Zoos Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Who doesn't love the zoo?!, we finally made it over and a positive perk incentive to go was - free entrance for military and half off for fam members throughout the month of November! The parking lot across the street was pretty packed on a morning weekday, but after circling a few min we followed someone who was leaving and was able to park. Upon entrance, what immediately caught our eyes were the lemur and flamingo exhibits. Beautiful neon pink flamingos gathered around water squawking away, and curious active lemurs whose exhibits included overhead walkways for them to explore. Trails throughout the park were well shaded and with lots of signage. We found most focus to be on birds and reptiles. I'm an avid bird fan and enjoyed viewing some of the most colorful unique birds from around the world. The various types of monkeys were cute too! Cons- Lots of construction throughout Many exhibits were empty Many areas required an extra fee to enter- for example the kangaroo exhibit, couldn't get near the giraffes unless you wanted to feed them, butterfly exhibit, etc All in all it was a beautiful day to view the animals. Suggestion- in addition, maybe exhibit animals native to Texas. Many restaurants, bathrooms, and souvenir shops throughout. Allowed to bring water bottles. read more

This was my second trip to the zoo and it did not disappoint. My daughter's family had a great time. I was worried about the extreme heat (nearly 100°) but there was plenty of shade and well placed cooling shelters. The only disappointment I had was the restaurant salad that I purchased. It was very overpriced for the very small amount of lettuce and toppings. The chicken tenders and fries were a decent deal. read more

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I grew up in SA going to this zoo, and brought my daughter here for her first zoo experience. It was a fun experience thanks in large part to the great weather but it's definitely not the zoo I remember - and not in a good way. I looked up our ticket options online ahead of time and buying tickets before arrival will incur you a $19 "convenience fee" - so I planned to come expecting a line but there is NO way to order tickets from a person, you MUST use their QR code and your device to order. Interestingly, once you're at the zoo, the automatic "convenience fee" drops down to $5/transaction. Additionally, the website says ticket prices for adults are as low as $27 - but the $35 full price adult rate as the only option when we went in the middle of a week day. It's unclear when/where they offer the $27 rate and no one on site could explain, so for two adults (no teacher ID discounts?), one senior citizen ($30?!), and a free toddler, it's over $100 just to get in the door -- and then they constantly nickel and dime you with micro-transactions for every little thing. Want to see the butterflies? Get out your phone to pay an extra $4 per person. Want to feed the giraffes? Pay up! (For the record, it's included in your ticket price at other zoos.) What about riding the carousel? Oh, that's extra, too. It was overkill, especially after the steep admission fees and the fact a large portion of the property was under construction. Lately the new okapi has been in the news a bunch, and that enclosure was completely empty with no signage up or any explanation as to why, and the website advertises it too, which was frustrating. Even going on a nice day early in spring, several enclosures were empty or closed, making me wonder how much worse the experience is between May and September. Oh and a note about the parking situation. There are a few surface lots, along with some street parking by Brackenridge, but your GPs will probably take you to the garage - this is nice and covered, with elevators, but the hike back to your vehicle after your visit is up a very steep hill, so plan to have one person go get the car and pick everyone else up. For some positives - we had great weather, my daughter seemed to enjoy herself and there are several photo ops. The restaurant areas have been modernized with seating overlooking the flamingo area, and the "tot spot" has astroturf for littles to run around and burn off energy. We entered with a stroller and a diaper bag with no issues, and nothing really got checked, they don't seem to have any issues with outside food/drink/snacks, etc. thankfully. Good luck exiting without tears, as you have to go through the gift shop and tell your kids they can't have all the toys. It's not a novel concept, I know, and I get that zoos need money, but I don't think I've been to one that was this obnoxious about it. read more

As a local, I avoid the San Antonio Zoo at all costs if possible, but I am so glad I had the courage to go after so many years avoiding it. If you haven't been to the zoo in a while, they've changed so much! The biggest change is that they've moved everything online, so make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time, so that you are not waiting in the heat outside their gates while you figure out which tickets you want to get. With that being said, the zoo offers a wide variety of packages and discounts, so take your time going over those. During my visit, I took advantage of their back-to-school BOGO sale which was an amazing deal. One of the many reasons why I avoid the zoo is the crowds and how horrible parking is in this area, but since I visited on a Wednesday morning during school season the zoo was absolutely empty which was amazing. My family and I were able to walk around with no problem and since it was pretty early on a cloudy day all of the animals were very active. The rhinos were running around like crazy, the hippos were swimming and overall all the animals were just so engaging. Another new thing I noticed this time around was their multiple "cool off zones" where they have mists, fans and extra water for everyone. I thought that was pretty nice since Texas is known for reaching 3 digits over the summer. Overall I had a great experience at the zoo and will definitely be back on another school day (I am still not brave enough to endure coming here during a weekend or major holiday). read more

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Texas does a lot of stuff big. The San Antonio zoo is on the smaller side compared to some of the bigger zoos like San Diego, etc but I consider it me sweet slice of heaven near downtown. This zoo has a lot of animals and programs through out the year including a Dino theme, Zoo Boo, Holiday lights and the list goes on. It seems like something is always under construction but excited for all the expansions and new features. A new gorilla exhibit is currently being built and recently a new air bnb is overlooking the giraffes and hopeful home to elephants again. A great little walk and so much to see and do. Get the yearly pass and receive discounts on special events, merch and more. read more

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This is such an immersive zoo - beautifully landscaped with eye-catching themes throughout coupled with nice exhibits (some newer and better than others). We had a great time exploring and felt like we were able to see it all in about 3.5 hours. Zoo itself felt clean and ell kept. Tickets are all purchased via phone, so may be good to do ahead of time vs doing it when you show up. Parking - free lots and garage. read more