Reviews of Oakland Zoo (Zoo)

James Jung

This is a great place to bring your kids. They have so many animals and if you come in the morning they are usually active. The gondola ride to the top is also very good as you get the view of the bay. And the ride is free! You'll get to see the bald eagle, wolves, jaguar, bears and mountain lions. This is a fun place for the entire family!

T White

Beautiful zoo with an excellent assortment of animals that are very obviously well taken care of! The ride up to California Trail offers spectacular views and even more cool animals. This zoo is great for people of any age and isn't too expensive. Staff all seem to love working there and are knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely recommend spending a day here!

Inna Georgiyeva Paredes

They have alot more animals than the SF Zoo and their gondola is the nicest one I've ever been on.

Mitchel Smith

Very nice zoo with great views. Most animals have nice, large enclosures. Also a good variety of animals. Only negative of this is that there aren't very good view points to see the animals in some enclosures. The gondola was a nice ride and while the wolf habitat is currently closed, that section of the zoo is still definitely worth seeing. A lot better than I expected.

Melanie Paterson

Overall great zoo! Nice and spacious, lots of little spots for tots to play such as, the lily pad walk, and otter slide by the crocs, and the spider web by the Bug House. Good selection of food at the cafe. Cost was a little high, however, it goes to a worthy cause so I would expect to pay a little more. Staff were all very nice and informative. Bears were a big hit and the giraffes. Loved the gondola ride up to the top.

Alex Robinson

The new California exhibit is very cool. Alpine gondola ride to the hilltop. Bears and wolves have large natural enclosures and there were 6 week old wolf pups there last weekend!

Hannah Smith

The new addition to the zoo is great . The play structure offers something different while still being able to see the animals. The gondola ride up is about 3 mins and very smooth and quiet. The only down side in the summer is you are in direct sun with little shade

Russel Khemraj

A bit pricey of course, and parking can be a pain but overall a very positive experience for people of any age. Its very well kept and showcases a plethora of different animals. Its worth the ticket so long as you enjoy your time spent there.

Colin Tyrrell

A great little zoo. Exhibits have been placed inspaces resembling their home environments. Also has a breeding program for several endangered species. All exhibits are grouped according to area they come from. Just a shame that the Australian section can only reached by paying for a ride whereas the California area has a free gondola ride up the hill to get there.

Janai West

Great zoo. Nice size for a one day visit. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Very few people on a weekday.

Ramiro Bahamon

Great zoo. They let us participate in volunteer activities, something we really enjoy. They have to improve the food, more healthy choices for kids please.

Gloria Victorio

We met up with a friend at The Oakland Zoo and we went to see the new section. The kids liked the gondola ride. It's a nice ride up with views. The new section is nice. There are animals there, they also have a new restaurant. We didn't stay long because my daughter didn't feel too well but we want to come back and enjoy it again when everyone feels better.

Kumar Prashant

Came over here over a long weekend, so was a bit crowded but otherwise my young daughter enjoyed a lot. It has lot of animals from monkey family, elephant, lion etc. Major attraction for us was gondola ride. Overall had very good time out here.

Diana Turner

I love the Oakland Zoo. They have a wide variety of animals. The new California Trail is amazing! Today I saw the two adult wolves and one of the wolf pups. The food in the restaurant at the top of the zoo is expensive though good. The view from the top is worth the high price of food.

Tibin Koshy

Very big zoo with lots of animals. Gondola ride was very fun, once you go up the hill the animals there like wolfs are hard to find or see as live a big area. We liked the gift shop, it has lot of stuffed wild animals.

James Jung

This is a great place to bring your kids. They have so many animals and if you come in the morning they are usually active. The gondola ride to the top is also very good as you get the view of the bay. And the ride is free! You'll get to see the bald eagle, wolves, jaguar, bears and mountain lions. This is a fun place for the entire family!

Martin Reinders

A Zoo that actually gives animals ample space to roam in an environment that resembles their natural habitat! A beautiful well thought out Zoo!

Anthony Patino

The Animals are always great and the sky tram has some fantastic views. The food is school lunch quality however and there seems to be garbage everywhere. Great if you love the zoo but given the choice I would go to the SF zoo.

Bethany Hyatt

They have some many new animals, trails, experiences. I had so much fun

Laura Hulse

Fun for the whole family. Plenty to see so plan on spending a least 4 hours. To see everything you would need 6 hours. Oh, you should bring your own food and drinks, it's expensive at the zoo.

Trevor Evans

Enjoyed the Gondola ride for free and my nephews definitely loved it. The playgrounds and kids areas are great too. Finally saw some otters so I was pumped.

Danielle Ng

We had so much fun. I love having a zoo so close to us.

Lyssa Villarreal

This was our first time and it was nice. Not a lot of animals to be seen, but a lot of walking to be had. We took the gondola to the top of the zoo and the view was amazing. We had lunch at the cafe near the zoo entrance and it was decent. However our garlic fries came in a tub of oil and were inedible at the bottom. FYI, there’s not much parking so if you arrive later in the day you’ll be forced to park down a long, steep hill.

Shelley Kronick

Very nice time, pretty place,love the gondola ride ups and back! Easy and NO extra charge. Plenty of animals, bat exhibit was fascinating!

Annie O

I worked at the zoo for a while in college and loved it. Today I went back for the first time in years with a group of students with my current job. It was enchanting to see the animals again and watch the kids interact with the exhibits. They all had a blast and so did I! This place is so special to me and so many of the folks around me. I feel extremely lucky to have this incredible resource in my neighborhood, and it’s one of the gems of the Bay Area.

Virginia Afentoulis

Always love the Oakland zoo. The California exhibit is beautiful, with views of the whole bay area from the gondola ride, and we got to see the wolves eating with their half-grown cubs. The zoo has tons of enrichment for the animals, and it has a lot of interactive areas for children. There's also a carnival ride area, eateries and snacks for sale.

Joe Hupp

We went on a Saturday and it was PACKED! We tried to park in the parking lot as we saw people leaving but they wouldn’t let us in and made us park on the exit road but still charged us for parking, not a good start to the day. The new part of the zoo was pretty nice, but it takes a while to get up there from the lift and there’s only a few animals up there. I’m sure we would have had a better time had it not been sooooo crowded. The only other feedback was that some of the exhibits were “too natural habitatish” so we couldn’t see the animals.

LIXUE ZHANG

Suitable for kids. Annual pass family plan is cheaper. My kid loves to visit biweekly.

Vitaliy Chaykovskiy

Zoo itself is great but customer service is non existent. Employees don't appear all that excited to be there and don't appear to care about customers. This could have easily been a 5 star review if it wasn't for the customer service issues I encountered

Annie

Great weekend activity and affordable entry tickets. ($24 adult/$20 child). Highlight of the park was the Gondola up to the hill with a cafe overlooked bay area. Cafe food is decently priced with salad, sandwiches, pizza, burgers and fries. A bit of hill to walk so bring water to hydrate.

Nathan Fletcher

We visited here a few days ago and out two boys loved it so much we had to buy passes. Compared to the zoo we have been to in the past it feels that we were able to be much closer to the animals here in oakland. California also has natural vegetation that can make for some pretty cool enclosures for the animals. The gondola was our sons favorite part though. Good place to go for all ages.

Lydia Taber

I would have given this zoo 5 stars but the staff arent very happy to be there. Most of the staff look bored and are on their phones. The facilities are SPOTLESS and the gondolas are SO MUCH FUN!!! The only downside to my day at the Oakland Zoo was the staff. Get some stuff that are happy to be there and enjoy their job!!

A Kelly

Not at all ADA compliant!!! How were we to know that we were supposed to make 2 week advanced reservation to pay EXTRA for special wheelchair!!!! Staff were clueless and unhelpful, probably not payed well. Overflow parking lot was very difficult and dangerous for our family member in a wheelchair. Our family’s zoo trip would have been great except for the huge hassles. At least we all could go on the Gondola that was great along with the whole California Trail. That part five stars.

John Greene

I have so many memories that have been here as a young adult with friends, then my family as the children grew up, and then now a good time with our grandchildren. the only drawback for me now is the hills just get to my knees. The layout and animal habits are great. The new Californian area is a work in progress but really cool

Starlene Eastwood

Great place to go and spend the day with your children and friends! Bring your own stroller if you need one, their new rental strollers are terrible. Animals are Beautiful and the new upper part of the Zoo is Great!

Kevin Booker

Love the new California exhibit. The facility is great, customer service (and docents/zooologists) is lacking. I felt as though the entire place was being run by high school students with no responsibility or supervision.

Roy West

This priceless last piece of quiet, unspoiled open space in the Oakland hills has been replaced with a restaurant and animal cages, denuding the meadows and killing the oaks and even locally rare native plants. The buildings, views, and animal displays are attractive and informative. It's just hard to enjoy them understanding the cost to Oakland's native ecosystems.

Casey Boomer

The new California trail area after taking the Gondola up the hillside was an amazing addition to the zoo with large new spacious areas for the animals to roam and is good for all ages. Very enjoyable for the whole family.

Dina Bakyt

Nice, small zoo. We had lunch at the cafeteria and the view was beautiful. Some animals are ETS hiding in the shadows, I guess, so we didn’t see them. Get a tube of sunscreen with you, as it gets pretty hot.

Courtney Anderson

This zoo is beautiful and great to visit year round. There is a ton of shade on hot summer days and a great new play area for kids in the new California Trail area. They have lots of benches to rest while you view the animals and several spots to eat if you bring your own picnic lunch. Food and rides at the zoo are pricey but the proceeds all go back into the zoo and their many charities so totally worth it.

Elisabeth Long

This place was quite large. Definitely worth the admission price of $20. BE SURE TO GO EARLY! If you don't you won't get to see everything! Be prepared to be walking up & down a lot of hills...great exercise. I had a great time.

Sandra Cramer

Great place to spend Sunday with you family. Adequate parking, no long lines, and not crowded. Most animals were out to see. I thought it cost to much for what you get and isn't affordable for many families. Would like to see it be a lower price so everyone could enjoy.

Courtney Ayers

Beautiful setting up in the Oakland hills. Great breezes on hot days make the walking up hills barrable. The habits all seem really nice. Just wish all the animals weren't all asleep like every single time I come, not that the zoo can really help that!

Maria Luiza Saraiva

Loved this place!!! One of the best zoo I've ever been. It seems like the animals are more free and very well traeted. Wonderful for the kids!

V Tancredi

Decently large zoo with a great variety of different animals. Very family friendly, multiple Cafe's, play areas. There's a mini amusement park at the top parking lot complete with a train. In the last couple of years they made a great expansion to the crest of the Oakland hills. You take a wonderful gondola ride to the upper facility, where you are treated to constant panoramic views of the bay area. There is a large cafe, play area and new exhibits of native fauna such as bears, wolves, mountain lions, condors, eagles etc. They also have a buffalo area where they help raise buffalo to repopulate a herd being reinstated by a native American tribe. If you do nothing else take the gondola ride and have a bite at the cafeteria. Most impressive. Be prepared to take a walk for parking though. They have multiple large lots but the place is very very popular and gets crowded by families every weekend.

Ben Wilson

New California trail up at the top of the gondola is definitely worth checking out. I think the only animals I couldn't spot were the wolves, Grizzlies and mountain lion. They're very well staffed and have knowledgeable zookeepers ready to answer questions. There is a new habitarium up there too, next to the visitor center, also worth a gander, especially if you have kids.

Ray Alan

Even fun for adults too. Used the free pass from the San Mateo library for entry and parking. Pointed at animal butts, petted the goats, rode the gondola, train, and let the inner child out.

Christan Maxwell

It was nice to walk through, it was more safari type animals. Took the gondolas, it was all nice and cool up top, it was cool for a Sunday leisure day.

Marie Bare

Fun for the whole family! Got to see bear feeding, coyote prowling around in natural habitat, and ride a gondola with amazing views! The play area was perfect for kids. Our three year old enjoyed the rides, also.

Jla Adams

This zoo was very clean and all the workers were very polite. I enjoyed the gondola ride where you get a better view of the city and you get to see a bit more animals that you don't see it on the ground. Overall great experience

Jeff and Greta Bingham

Very impressive urban zoo. Today's Boo at the Zoo event was awesome for the kids...and the animals seemed to love eating all the free pumpkins!

Carlos Pineda

My family and I enjoyed our time at the Oakland Zoo. We are regulars at the SF zoo and I will now be coming here instead. The area is a little smaller but so much more to see. You get up close and personal with a lot of these animals and is much more interactive than SF. We will definitely be coming back.

Brenda Mora

My kids loved it! Big place lots to do, cheap, i personally loved the gondola ride and the amazing view from second section of zoo

Adriana Patti

Beautiful zoo. Tigers and lions and bears oh my! Great for younger kids, especially the upper level.

Rachel Denison

I always enjoy coming to this zoo. Only zoo with Elephants in the bay area. I love the opportunity to watch feeding time for the animals. Love the new gondola and new animals recently added. We definitely spend an entire day here. Recently heard about the overnight stay options, will definitely have to check that out!

Becky Staaden

The zoo has undergone many improvements over the years. Recently it has added a section on California animals. The plus side is that it is well laid out, the animals are in natural habitats (which means that they can be really hard to see, they blend in to the grasses, hills, and trees) ...so be prepared to stand around and look for awhile. This area is only accessible by an overhead cable car. The plus of this is that it has great views and is fun. The disadvantage is that the lines can get rather long, especially on Fridays in the summer. The animal exhibits are well done and many are natural, elephants have hills, lions really really blend into the hillside. The children's area has lots of play structures to tire the kids out, as well as child oriented animal exhibits (the otters are really popular.) A good way to spend a day with the family.

Xeed029

Decent sized zoo with lots of animals to look at. Very hilly so a good workout for the legs while with the family. I had to dock a point for the gondola ride to access the newest part of the zoo. Not a fan of heights. Also has a mini amusement park with rides for the kids. Food is expensive so bring your own.

Tim McDermott

IMO, best zoo in California. Love how much space the animals have to roam, the new gondolas, and the addition up the hill is really great.

Jacquelyn Gray

The animals seemed to be well cared for. Additionally, we loved the stunning gondola ride! Our visit was very lovely!

Lily Yee

Lots of land for the animals. They have elephants which many zoos nowadays no longer keep. New section via gondola ride has native animals as well as a playground. Kiddie rides at Adventure Landing are fun but cost extra. Free admission to that section. Train ride is great.

Nebyat Habte

It was a great place for the kids and parents. I like the fact that going to the zoo is not only good for looking at the animals but also good that we were able to walk the whole time!

Radka Morrisova

Beautiful ZOO, beautiful setting.The animals have nice big place to live and they looked happy. We picked hot day for our visit so the ZOO was not very crowded. We loved the little Safari Adventure Train and the Gondola. We will be coming back for sure.

Rob the Saxon

Good place. Kinda small. View animals up close. Gondola was awesome!

Britta Lorenz

Such an amazing experience. The animals are well cared for, which is nice to see. The animals are varied and interesting, with good sized, appropriate habitats. Otters, alligator, bats, African animals, and even jaguars and bears. They have this gondola to take visitors to the "California" expanse. Staff is helpful and friendly. Restrooms are well spaced, common and easily accessible. Ramps for wheelchair or stroller access along the exhibits. You will enjoy!

Michael Manning

I have not been to this zoo in 30 years. And boy was it a nice surprise. The animal selection, the layout was nice. The park was pretty busy. The parking lot needs more handicapped parking. Overall a good place for the family. My only negative would be that some employees are not very customer friendly. Lack motivation. But hey. It's not Disneyland.

Michael A Menarguez

I have come here 3 time since last year. I have come to enjoy very much Oakland's zoo The first time the draught showed a terrible impact on the zoo's vegetation and animal and the ambiance was dusty but on February and may the park looked amazing and the animals also enjoyed the new condition as well. I love taking the sky ride to go to the upper part and the views. There is quite a good variety of animals throughout the zoo and the bears, jaguar, tigers, and elephants are quite impressive. I definitively recommend a family membership if you live in the area and come multiple times throughout the year.

Sruthi Marneedi

Love this zoo. Good to go with kids and family. They even have a store to buy souvenirs.

Sandita Naidu

Great place to take your kids . Amazing animals ( tigers, Lions, Elephants, Girrafle and a lot more .

Cassandra G

Enjoyed our day! Got tons of exercise! Very nice layout and wonderful areas for the little ones. Next time will definitely bring our basket of goodies and water/sodas. $5 for a can of soda is a bit much. Previous reviews stated parking is free?? Not so. Admission prices were also misquoted. All in all it was a beautiful day spent in the animal kingdom!

rashmi r

It was good experience and covered a good range of animals and birds. A good day to spend with family and kids. Gondola ride, lion elephant, camel, giraffe monkey and many more to see .

Keka Robinson

It's definitely a work out. I was sweating in my work clothes. Someone with mobility issues wouldn't do well. Other than the work out trekking up all the inclines though, its a beautiful zoo. You have to ride the gondola up to the California trail. It's a little scary but totally worth it.

Elizabeth Trujillo

I love this zoo because it's close by and I've been going since I was a kid. The upgrades are very nice and I love the gondola ride. Just wish the prices weren't so expensive for entrance and snacks. But luckily you can bring your own food inside. Good old memories and creating new ones as I get to bring my children now.

Hannah Shoshana

Docents and volunteers are great, zookeepers are great. And while I wish the animals up the California Trail were more visible, I love that they have such amazing habitats to live in. Also, the petting zoo is wonderful. I love goats and could happily spend all day petting those cute little buggers.

Rajbarath Panneerselvam

Animal enclosures were spacious. Sometimes it becomes difficult to spot the animals, but that's part of the fun!!

Keith Robinson

I did not like the condition the animal are kept. The only good point was the team. The animals there had wide open places. The resturant at the top was way over crowded. I will not going back.

Kate Ciungan

So much to see and do. You can have a different experience each time you go. Take the gondola to the upper zoo where you'll find a new set of animals to see, an outdoor and indoor play area for kids (including a very popular zipline), and a place to eat. Back down on lower zoo, there's a petting zoo, play area, places to picnic, and a place with rides for kids (train, carousel etc). We go all the time and never get bored.

Raymundo Cortes Castillo

Really nice zoo, my baby enjoyed all the trip. Amazing the new California trail, just loved it

Rosaura Morin- Obeso

It's a great zoo to take your children there's lots to see. I loved that you can see the animals up close. The guides are very informative and helpful. Just be aware that there is a lot of walking and hills! Bring good comfortable walking shoes. Oh! I do wish there were more restroom stalls in some of the restrooms, especially when there are multiple schools on field trips. Lines can get very long.

Angela Mooney

Everything is wonderful. It is so family focused. Such an emphasis on natural enclosures for the animals. Love the California area.

Jennifer P

Put on your walking shoes, it's a big zoo and there's plenty of walking. Since they opened up a new section, it gets pretty crazy busy here on the weekends. It got a fun free ride of the gondola. The kids will love the ride and adults will love the views. There's plenty of animals to see. Make sure you save some time for the new playground and pack a lunch because you'll be here for awhile. If you have time, there's some carnival rides right outside of the zoo but it cost extra.

Mary Cissna

The Best place to see animals cared for and respected with all cultures and families here to play and learn.

harsha vardhini

I added the photographs of almost all the major animals I saw except the lions. You will pretty good number of animals in the zoo. However I felt the animal enclosures ate really very small for them. When we are actually captivating them, we should atleast be sure that they get the minimum place to roam around. I honestly don’t think they gave enough space. Apart from the images added we saw grizzlies, grey wolves and a jaguar. There are about four grizzlies, one jaguar and two wolves with their four pups. It was great to see them. We were lucky enough to reach the point during their feeding time. We could see the grey wolf carry food for the pups and also saw it hiding the food at many different places. The trains ride is for kids ONLY. Sky ride is worth it coz you have good chances of siting a lion from the top during the ride. Would have been a great place if the animals were given enough room.

James Riordan

Always a fun place to go with kids. With the gondolas completed and the upper area... It is a real treat. Going during the week makes such a big difference in having a more relaxed and less crowded time.

Raihana Mubarak

Pretty good. Could have some more animals. More food options needed. A bit overpriced for what we get.

Josh Adams

My 3 year old loves this place. We’ve been several times. The first time the gondola to the bears and upper region of the zoo was closed, and the other times the ride on the gondola to or from that upper region of the zoo took a very long time. We waited in line to ride back on the gondola for over an hour. I would recommend that they create a foot path to be able to walk there.

Dough Spencer

Over crowded. They have sold too many memberships without keeping track of how many people will come on a daily basis. Even for members it’s hard to find parking or get a decent look at any animals. Rides are mostly out of order. Most employees are not motivated to help people. They are just giving rude answers like ‘don’t ask me why the ride is down for 3 months. I m not the CEO’. Food is pathetic. Barely anything is fresh

Sharon Wood

It was great! The workers were helpful & the animals were visible. We got to hear a lion roar and see a wolf, even with the wolf exhibit being closed due to new born pups. It was just right for a spring afternoon. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often.

Danielle Mercado

This zoo is amazing! There's so much to see you almost can't see all of it in a day! By far the best zoo in the bay area

Nitin Jamadagni

Any zoo gets a 4+ rating from me. This zoo is good, I like the animals, it's not too big and can take less than 3 hrs to go around even if very slowly. The air chair ride is just $3 but is very nice. The zoo is dry though in terms of activities as compared to really good ones but good place nevertheless. Can get crowded.

Vanesa Duong

Really quaint zoo! I love the layout and the gondolas that take you up to another section. Not too much of a walk around the zoo and they have a nice children's play area. Went at around 9am and the animals were very active and appeared to be enjoying themselves. The black bears in particular were really fun to watch.

Elena Villanueva

Always come with our annual pass and it's even better now with the new gondolas and new animals in the new area

Vivian Chen

Tickets there are a little bit expansive. There are a lot of shady place to stay and observe animals which is really nice for summer weather. Animals seems like happy and healthy. Gondola is on my recommendation list. It is so clean and stable. We have a very good time with our friends there.

V Tancredi

Decently large zoo with a great variety of different animals. Very family friendly, multiple Cafe's, play areas. There's a mini amusement park at the top parking lot complete with a train. In the last couple of years they made a great expansion to the crest of the Oakland hills. You take a wonderful gondola ride to the upper facility, where you are treated to constant panoramic views of the bay area. There is a large cafe, play area and new exhibits of native fauna such as bears, wolves, mountain lions, condors, eagles etc. They also have a buffalo area where they help raise buffalo to repopulate a herd being reinstated by a native American tribe. If you do nothing else take the gondola ride and have a bite at the cafeteria. Most impressive. Be prepared to take a walk for parking though. They have multiple large lots but the place is very very popular and gets crowded by families every weekend.

Tom Hendershot

We have always loved the Oakland zoo and are very happy about the new California exhibits with the new gondola and restaurant.

Julia Keller

AMAZING!!!!! Sooo incredible!!! The condors were breath taking, yes California Condors, rescued and on exhibit... the wolves were so cool and the amount of space the Oakland zoo gives them makes you really feel they have the animals well being as their first priority!!!! And I haven't even mentioned the Grizzlies... or the mountain lions... and the gondola up, some times we just ride that up and down and up.... congrats to the zoo a GREAT JOB!!!!

julie biersmith

You guys seriously It's so Fantastic Great exercise The cable ride above the animals was the best I will back with so many people Thank you~~ for reciprocating national zoo pass I did it every year when my kids were little lol actually into 20 yrs

Marcoantonio Banuelos

Great place to take children to enjoy a morning/afternoon of educational fun. The new Gondola ride up to the California Wildlife exhibit is amazing. A wonderful addition to the Zoo.

Carl Fletcher

It's a fantastic zoo. They don't have as many different animals as other zoo's, but I appreciate the fact that they give the animals large enclosures with lots of amenities like toys, swings, balls and water features. The new California section at the top of an amazing gondola ride is with the price of admission by itself.

Gussie Lorene

The Oakland Zoo is nice, but Indo wish some of the animals had larger areas. There are rides for the children in adventure landing that cost a little extra, but not to much. Overall I recommend going a few time.

Shen Wangrui

A wonderful zoo, you should come eariler to get a closer parking lot, and more active animals. Gondola, train, grizzly bear.

Dean Hoppe

We enjoyed visiting this zoo, though I would recommend skipping the train ride if you only get to see a kangaroo and an emu.

Dipak Negandhi

Nice zoo to walk around with children. Walk from overflow parking (at bottom of hill) is long with no signs. Suggest some signs or maps to guide guests which way the zoo is

Kavyashree Gangadhara

It's a really good place to take kids with various animals to watch along with rides.. Rides include a sky ride, gandola, train ride and also few more kids rides. Lot of educational information written all along the path. Gandola ride is beautiful and that ride is included in the zoo entrance fee. They have restrooms everywhere. They have ample parking along with shuttles to help people get to the entrance. And also very clean and well maintained.

Frank Cloud

A new area has been opened on the top of the hill that can be accessed by a nice gondola ride. The new grizzly bear and black bear exhibits are very impressive.

Amaury Le Leyzour

Great for kid and adults. Animal feeding for kids, the tigers and their stories were my favorite. The gondolas will get you to the eagles and the wolves, I recommend. $$$

James Wimsett

The California trail is a great new add on to the zoo. This zoo is on of the best in California.

Aaron Allen

Love the Oakland Zoo. I have worked many catering events there. Grounds are well kept. Staff is friendly. Animals are well cared for. Not as nice as SD Zoo, way nicer than SF Zoo.

Mayra Huizar

This is a large and spacious zoo. They have many great animals that look relaxed as if they were at home. we loved the gondola ride, nice and friendly workers, clean restrooms. My daughter love it, we will definitely go back. I would recommend everyone, arrive early so you can see everything!

Michael Czehatowski

Nice family friendly environment. Lots of fun for kids and adults alike. Think about going later in the day when the crowds thin out a bit.

Shonte Edwards

Fun & exciting place to visit. The rides operator Chris is such a kind & knowledgeable employee

This is Magic

This zoo is perfect for family with children (5-12). We had a good time here all day. We'll be back some day.

Jane Kennerly

It's a decent zoo. They don't do any up close and personal feedings or shows but the feeding times are posted on the map. There is a nice overview of the city by the upper stop of the gondola. I think it's called bison overlook.

Vic

I really don't like the ideas of animals being locked up for our entertainment , however I noticed that the animals here are happy and active. They don't show any sings of mistreatment. Fair priced and safe for all ages.

Sam Bernstein

Well, I'll tell you. I was impressed with the layout and the professional attitude of the staff who were enthusiastic and helpful. The sky ride up to the restaurant was interesting. The cafe is modern and the food quality. For a day trip, I recommend it.

Alivia Baker

Visited venue to attend a wedding and the view was gorgeous. Great space for party but limited parking during the day.

Betsy Moore

This zoo was great! Especially the California part. Very knowledgeable and friendly docents. Emphasis on conservation.

MikeySSH

Fun place, we were there for about 3 hours and got to see a bit of different things! Not as big as other zoos but fun non the less!

Matthew Soby

Boo at the Zoo. It is the best outing for you!!! Tale the family and enjoy a day with the animals. The lions wolves beara tigers and monkeys were in full swinging prowling action. Always a good day at the oakland zoo. P

Kathleen Naganuma

Renovation is very well done. This zoo let's you get close to the animals which I really like.

Gary Robles

The zoo overall was showing well on the surface. The California exhibit was a bit disappointing after all of the media hype. The black bear enclosure was the only one that showed well though the grey wolf compound was very natural. If I compare it to another zoo of similar size, the Sacramento zoo, it lacks a wow factor. The staff are friendly and willing to help. Food and beverages are very expensive, you are better off to bring your own snacks and water.

Kiran Kanchgar

Zoo staff is very passionate and kind. The accessibility and cleanliness is amazing. Fantastic place for kids to learn wildlife at its best.

Sasank Varma

Nice place for a day out. Entry price is a bit expensive but worth the visit. The gondola ride is fun. There are a lot of animals for kids to learn about. Parking is a always full in the weekends but they organize it well.

Andreas Fichter

Great Zoo. Love their new California trail addition. Wonderful gondola ride and awesome view.

Brittney Lawson

This is a small zoo but great for a family outing. I recommend bringing water and your own lunches. The cafes are a bit over priced.

Julia Keller

AMAZING!!!!! Sooo incredible!!! The condors were breath taking, yes California Condors, rescued and on exhibit... the wolves were so cool and the amount of space the Oakland zoo gives them makes you really feel they have the animals well being as their first priority!!!! And I haven't even mentioned the Grizzlies... or the mountain lions... and the gondola up, some times we just ride that up and down and up.... congrats to the zoo a GREAT JOB!!!!

Jason Ghiraldini

Such a great zoo! So many little ones running around, but never feels crowded. Knowledgeable staff at most areas to answer any questions.

Claudia Butler

What a great little place! Well kept, fun for the whole family. Loved it. I got to see a Wolf howl in real life!

Roxy Smith

It is a small zoo but it is very much family-oriented and also easy to walk with kids. The view of the place is good as you get to see the nature over there. All around trees are there.

Katie Holder

Lots to see. The new California exhibit is really nice. We were there on a very hot day, and I wish there had been more shade or air conditioning available. Lots of animals were inside as well.

J W

Took my sister here back in July and we both had a fantastic time. She fed the birds and pet a snake. A wonderful place for families overall.

Cheri Harema

The zoo is small and we have spent a leisurely stroll in two hours. There are places in the park where food is sold, but you can also bring your own food picnic. Most of the zoo is located on the hillside. There are two entrances, one is higher on the hillside and the other is lower. The lower entrance is easier to drive downhill and it is very easy to see the intersection.

Umar Khan

Great medium sized zoo. With amazing line up of animals. How many zoos have a Grizzly?

Oksanna Kasoyan

Although it's a small zoo, me and my daughter had a blast and spent the whole day seeing all the animals and had some down time for other activities like their little rides for kids! I think I had more fun tho

Brian Calbeck

Great spot for the kids! Highly recommend the membership option. You only have to go a few times to break even.

Karl Ni

Lots of fun animals, and very child friendly. Lines everywhere. The docents were extremely nice and helpful.

Abhishek Gupta

Got to see many animals - lions, giraffes, elephants, and more! The park is quite hilly which makes it hard for people with disability. It’s really great for coming with kids with all the rides and cable cars. Parking was easy and ample as well. We had a fun time!

Ken Davis

This is small zoo but it's pretty nice. Besides the animals and education associated with zoos it has a great view of the bay from the tram. It also is easy to walk and very kid friendly. There is a small ride park for small children who may get bored easily, a petting area with goats, sheep, and livestock. The zoo is affordable and even food items are relatively cheap. This is great for small children or just to get away for a couple hours.

Rahul Somani

This is our second time at the zoo after a few years. Our first experience was not so great but this time around we had a great time. Getting there early was the key as the animals were more out and about rather than hiding in the shade. Also the gondola ride to California trail was pretty cool with bears and bison on display. In addition a nice little play area for the kids. Kids and us had a great time, signed up for the annual membership!!!

Tamara Paulson

This zoo is huge. Easy to find parking space, family oriented. They got bathrooms, animal play ground for kids, gift shop, cafe. Different animals birds, monkeys, lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, elephants and so much more. The zoo is very nice and clean and employees are nice, friendly and helpful. I would totally recommend worth every dollar.

Peter Orfankos

Great way to spend an afternoon. Half a day should be enough time to get around and see the main things. Some of the highlights for us were the Gibbons on their island. Be sure not to miss them. A couple of other things worth seeing are the flying foxes on the way out are also definitely worth a visit ( mainly since you don’t see those very often) and also the reptile house (very nicely done with a few different terrariums and very active little guys to see).

Abhishek Gupta

Got to see many animals - lions, giraffes, elephants, and more! The park is quite hilly which makes it hard for people with disability. It’s really great for coming with kids with all the rides and cable cars. Parking was easy and ample as well. We had a fun time!

Divya Makkar

Family fun place. My kids love it. They have train ride, gondola, sky ride.

Patrice Jones

Lovely zoo. There newest extension is amazing. FYI: be prepared for lots of walking uphills and downhills. And not very handicap friendly.

Joel Ramos

This zoo has changed so much. It's very up to date and it's a must-see when you visit Oakland. The views of the East Bay from the top is extraordinary.

Nikki Nikki

Sooo many childhood memories here.. This little local zoo is very fun for a kid.. The zoo is small but perfect for knocking off a couple of hours to make some good memories with the kids.. Down the hill is also a park beautiful Red woods and a small playground.. I love the location of this Zoo

Jose

One of my favorite zoos I've been to! Animals exhibits are quite spacious especially the new California Trail! Staff is very helpful and nice! The Gondola up to California Trail is a very nice addition.

Christine Jovan

What a beautiful day to take my daughter to the zoo. Perfect weather to walk around and see all of the animals and exhibits.

Ken Davis

This is small zoo but it's pretty nice. Besides the animals and education associated with zoos it has a great view of the bay from the tram. It also is easy to walk and very kid friendly. There is a small ride park for small children who may get bored easily, a petting area with goats, sheep, and livestock. The zoo is affordable and even food items are relatively cheap. This is great for small children or just to get away for a couple hours.

Lisa M

I love this place so much more since the California addition. We got a family Membership just to ride the gondola up top. The kids have spent over an hour just up there exploring. It's still a bit nostalgic, too so I'm glad I can share this place with my kids.

Nonie Kent

The Oakland Zoo is absolutely one of the best zoos in the Bay Area. It is clean, well laid out, family friend, well kept and fun. It is apparent that the animals are well cared for and a lot of thought has been put into their habitats. It is very easy to spend the entire day walking this spacious zoo. All of my life we have been coming to the Oakland Zoo and my memories of it are from childhood to adulthood are wonderful and precious. We have take nieces, nephews and now grand-babies here. The Oakland Zoo is a Bay Area Gem and it promotes wildlife education and conservation. If you go to its website you can access their wildlife cameras and watch the Sun Bears, Black Bears, Elephants and Condors live. It is an excellent place to spend a day relaxing individually or as a family and build your own special memories. This is a must do if you are any type of animal lover! Don't miss the train ride, merry-go-round or especially the Gondola/Sky-Hi ride that gives you spectacular views of the SF Bay Area. We love this Zoo, its animals and the team of people who make this place so magically wonderful. Enjoy!

Sharma

We had great time always as well today too.kids have fun with rides. I always paid ticket for my self to standing near the carousel ride so many time we visited but this time they said no need . Strange any how they told you no need.Another fun parts when they have animal show it's great , good education for kids .Ganaula, California trail is great .

Lijo Lukose

Nice place for a weekend getaway. Good to go with kids aged 4-10. Reasonably priced.

Ruth Hanks

Great animals. Lots of steep hills which made it tough with a double stroller. Great gondola ride to the section with Californian animals.

Jonathan Cheung

A great zoo with a lot of different animals, spread out over a vast area. Memories as a kid involved the San Francisco Zoo, but I have to say that it is not match compared to the Oakland Zoo. We took the sky gondola to the aminal habitat area, and it was nice to be able to see wolves and other animals in such a large area, but still be observable by patrons. Some great veiws of the Bay as well. My son really enjoyed the different rides available.

Mike Bravo

The new area adds so much. This is one of the best zoo's and just got better. Unlike San Diego the enclosures look more natural.

Joe Martinez

What an amazing zoo. The layout seems so natural. The gondola, air ride, and train all give unique perspectives of the zoo. The newly-constructed California area is really cool too.

Victoria Botts

The students had a great time. This gentleman tried to ruin our time. I really hope his day is better tomorrow. I hope he is well rested and prepared to work a full day with children and at least answer one of their questions.

Laura Ramirez-Mann

Beautiful zoo. Great layout. Lots of variety. Easy to get around. The gondola ride was fantastic and the views from the top of the zoo were excellent! Staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Roscio Jimenez

Most animals were hiding. It was too hot today so I don't blame them. Gondola was free and awesome

Rodney Compton

Best time at a zoo in northern California! I prefer this zoo over SF or San Jose... Love the gondola and the new bear structure and kid play area!

Richard Sintchak

Fun place and the gondolas are awesome. Animals are great but the walking has lots of hills so be ready for that. The food even at the top is meh. The food down at the main entrance food place is awful, absolutely terrible. In the Bay Area you’d think they could do better.

Tiffany Wong

There's so much to see. I'm glad we bought a membership so we can take our time to enjoy the different exhibits.

Vyacheslav Andreykiv

After you buy tickets online you still should wait in line for a long time to print it out as they can't scan from your screen. BTW overall experience was good. Very nice place with many different animals. Lots places to have rest and hide from sun. Very nice California trail route. Thank you.

Devin Ramdutt

Nicely laid out zoo with a really nice section dedicated to California and a cool gondola ride to get there.

Cindy Brumfield

Love this zoo natural habitats great animals small enough to enjoy in one day . Great for family and friends

Priyanka Ankolekar

It is such a blessing to have a zoo so close to home. We visit it at least a couple of times a year. Even on very crowded days (e.g. when schools have a vacation), it doesn't seem to get crowded inside the zoo. The gondola ride is lovely.

michelle santos

I love this zoo. I like it better than SF Zoo for sure. It's more spacious and you get closer to the animals. The gondola ride is great too.

Serguei Sofinski

Excellent zoo located in the Oakland hills. Make sure to visit n California Trail up on the hill with display of Grizzly and Black bears, wolves, mountain lions and eagles. There is also a large kids playground on top of the hill.

Jacqueline Phillips

Very nice zoo. Must take a tram to get to the area where there are animals that can be found in California. Unfortunately, except for a very brief glimpse of a wolf through some bushes, no black or grizzly bears were visible. The only sight of the mountain lions was a paw and a tail as they take advantage of the hammocks in their enclosures. Good view of the camels and elands and many other animals.

Dave LaRoux

I've never been to the San Diego zoo which by most accounts is the best zoo in the country but I have been to several others and this is by far the best zoo I've ever been to. I went in with high expectations and I was not let down. What an incredible experience, it seems a lot of thought was put into this zoo and the only complaint I have is that while most of the enclosures seem appropriate to the animals inside, the chimpanzee enclosure seems way to small for them, especially considering all the open space not far away that could be used to expand the chimp enclosure.

Phil Prather

I have enjoyed going to this zoo for many years. Unlike some zoos, the enclosures are sufficient in size with appropriately engaging features for the animals. The zoo is in the Oakland Hills and has many scenic overlooks throughout the grounds.

Chao Cao

If you like the zoo the Oakland zoo is great. I mean it's no San Diego zoo, but it's still pretty big. There's a gondala you can ride to the American wilderness section of the park, that's pretty cool. If you have to choose between Oakland and SF for zoos, definitely choose Oakland.

Rahul Somani

This is our second time at the zoo after a few years. Our first experience was not so great but this time around we had a great time. Getting there early was the key as the animals were more out and about rather than hiding in the shade. Also the gondola ride to California trail was pretty cool with bears and bison on display. In addition a nice little play area for the kids. Kids and us had a great time, signed up for the annual membership!!!

Jennifer Martinez

A great place. Logged how the staff explained things along the way. Super clean zoo. We had such a great time. Thanks everyone!

Richard Finnigan

I feel like the ratings here are fairly generous or from patrons who may not have experienced a truly exceptional zoo. Cost is not equivalent to the experience in my opinion. If you have small children some of the features for them may tip that scale a bit but overall habitat and animal display was lacking.

Araceli Vazquez

I highly recommend visiting the new California Trail exhibit and animals. Very nice area for children and adults.

Jovi Bettencourt

This was such and amazing day. We couldn't do the entire zoo but what we did see was cool. We are definitely coming back.

Carolina Hickman

What a wonderful place to spend the day! Take a casual stroll and enjoy the wide array of animals that are housed here. Plenty of places to sit and take a break or have a snack. The grounds are nicely kept and the exhibits are designed with the animals in mind.

Osa Kijenu

went here with my bf and had a great time! although the wolves weren't there, we still had a great time. the wolves were nursing their pups i think so that's completely understandable

John Kittredge

Always a favorite, the recent upgrades finally make this a truly full day place. Awesome children's area with special exhibits [kid sized doors!] and a cool goat petting zoo. Food is decent and a better value than similar institutions. If you can, take the free gondola and eat at the cafe with a view at the top - totally worth it.

Jeffrey Chen

It's a lovely zoo, with natural habitats for a variety of animal exhibits. The gondola ride to the upper exhibits in the Oakland hills is a nice bonus for both kids and adults. A side amusement park is a good break for toddlers, but rides aren't included in the zoo admission. Limited parking is a challenge, so it's best to show up early.

Charles Zuo

The new area with the Gondola is pretty cool, gets busy ton the weekends, but goes fairly quick

Michael Earl

A truly wonderful experience for children and adults alike. The animals are exceptionally well cared for and loved, the entire zoo is well kept and beautifully maintained, and there are several rest areas to stop and let children play when they become restless.

Barbara McCormick

A trip to the zoo with our grandkids-6, 8, 10. We all had a blast. An incredible setting with eye-popping views, natural enclosures, fun attractions for all ages and up close, interesting encounters with the animal world ❤️❤️❤️

Wilson Balanga

Great place to take the kids. Food and drinks are expensive so bring your own bag. The gondola was a fun short ride. They also have some kid rides. The California trail was amazing great views of Oakland the Bay bridge and San Francisco. You can spend the whole day there and it is worth it!!!

Miss Cindy Pecoraro

Amazing fun! Educational. Interactive. Beautiful. We spent the whole day there and saw everything. What a wonderful, beautiful Zoo and wildlife reserve. Can't wait to go back!

S. Stevens

Plan strategically when you go! Today when I went it was very crowded and very loud. However, when school isn't out, you almost feel like you have the place to yourself. Regardless, the animals are simply spectacular and the gondola rides are very relaxing and beautiful. I would definitely reccomend to all ages!

Dena Falkenstein

We became members and take my grandkids often. We bring our own snacks. Rides are fun too for the kids.

Tamara Paulson

This zoo is huge. Easy to find parking space, family oriented. They got bathrooms, animal play ground for kids, gift shop, cafe. Different animals birds, monkeys, lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, elephants and so much more. The zoo is very nice and clean and employees are nice, friendly and helpful. I would totally recommend worth every dollar.

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Good last time I came not big now so bigger

Sarah Helling

Cool mornings are the best time to see the animals out and about! A lovely zoo with plenty to see and do for a full day with the family.

Peter Orfankos

Great way to spend an afternoon. Half a day should be enough time to get around and see the main things. Some of the highlights for us were the Gibbons on their island. Be sure not to miss them. A couple of other things worth seeing are the flying foxes on the way out are also definitely worth a visit ( mainly since you don’t see those very often) and also the reptile house (very nicely done with a few different terrariums and very active little guys to see).

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A nice zoo to visit, great choice for family with small kids. A wide variety of native and exotic animals leave here. Especially, the tigers and the Jaguars are very impressive.

Pingping Weng

That's so cool to see a real bear 'fight'! Just uploaded more pictures if these two playful brothers... from the water to the land.