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Zoo Atlanta
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Grant Park
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 624-5600
800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 624-5600
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
37 reviews for Zoo Atlanta
We arrived at 10:30am on a Saturday morning and the parking lot was already full. We ended up having to park along the side of the road right outside of the zoo. The lines were long to try to get tickets to go in. Once we were inside, the zoo was pretty packed. It was hard to even find a table for lunch.
In general, the animals were either camouflaged with their surrounding or too far away to see. My baby didn't really care for them except for the pandas. There was a part of the panda exhibit where they were right behind the glass. That was probably the best part of the zoo. I felt bad for the pandas though. They didn't seem like they had much space to roam freely. I suppose that's true for all zoos.
I'd come back, but maybe on a weekday when it wouldn't be so crowded.
From the looks of the completely full parking lot and the nearby streets lined with parked cars, I was worried. I wondered if every family in Atlanta had decided to bring their kids to the zoo as my friends and I walked up to the main gate. Images of children running, screaming, crying -- I wasn't sure I was ready for it. But then the breeze blew, the weather was perfect, and I figured I could battle the crowd just to spend an hour or two outside on a gorgeous day.
Luckily, despite there being quite a few patrons for the day, my fears of screaming hordes of children did not materialize. It didn't feel as crowded as I thought it would be and we breezed right through, from section to section enjoying the day.
Highlights:
Orangutans. Very cool. These creatures are amazing to watch with their long, scraggly hair dangling off their bodies as they climb all over the trees, ropes, hammocks etc. in their exhibit. As we watched a female and two youngsters lounge around, a large male sauntered into view, his fat cheeks wagging. He plopped down near the front, folded his arms and stared right back at us.
Gorillas. Like the orangutans, the exhibit for the gorillas is huge, covering a large space with ropes, trees, etc. Watching these large animals walk on all fours, their long arms like stilts was fascinating.
Just meh:
Pandas. Don't hate me! But seriously, folks. The panda exhibit was crowded as hell. Mama bear, papa bear and baby bear were inside when we came by, laying around sleeping as dozens of people pushed their way to the front of the room to snap pictures, ooing and awing. They were cute, but give me a big old hairy orangutan any day.
Sad:
Elephants. I felt like these animals had the short end of the stick. Their exhibit felt small, there wasn't much shade and it stunk to high heaven -- elephant pies can't be fun to scoop up.
By the end of the day, I felt like a kid again as I ran, yelling and screaming back to the car, cotton candy in one hand and popcorn in the other. Well...not really. hehe But it was nice visiting the zoo and thinking back on fond memories of childhood trips to the zoo.
I was so excited to get to go to the zoo today. It's been years since I've been. I don't have anything to compare the Atlanta Zoo to since I've never been to another.
Went with the Niece and Nephew today. I think the Atlanta Zoo really is made more for children than adults. It was stroller central today!!! I felt like there were some animals missing that should be in a Zoo but what do I know? It's not like we're preparing for the Ark, I just felt there should be a little more of a variety. What they did have was exciting though... Tigers, Giraffe, Monkeys, Birds, Elephants, etc...
What seems to be the highlight of the Atlanta Zoo though is the Panda exhibit. Here a family of Pandas are available to view within pretty close proximity. It's reason enough to go and watch them interact with the baby Panda. It's also the most crowded watching post so be patient!
The Zoo also has a Carousel, events tents, a train that goes around the zoo and is available for children's birthday parties. I didn't know that much went into a Zoo. I just assumed you took animals out of the wild and put them into captivity for our own enjoyment. I guess you learn something new everyday!
I have lived in Atlanta for 12 years and this was my first trip to the zoo. Shameful, since I live 5 miles away! Thanks to Eric S., I had a wonderful experience. He was the ultimate tour guide - plotting out the course, taking notes, making us stick our head in the cutout of the lion head for a photo op and promising us alcoholic beverages after our trip if we were good.
The weather was perfect and not only were us humans taking advantage of it, but seems all of the animals were too. Just about all of the animals were out in view. Most memorable for me were the pandas, gorillas, orangutans, and lemurs. The pandas were active - Lun Lun chowing on bamboo, one of the panda cubs playing on the jungle gym and Yang Yang scratching his butt on his jungle gym. We arrived in time for the gorilla and orangutan feedings and were very entertained by their antics. We also learned a lot about lemurs from the zoo keeper who helped raise them.
Overall, the zoo is laid out quite well and there is plenty to see. Well worth the $20 admission price.
Now, where's my margarita Eric S.!
I love the zoo, there, i said it, i feel better.
I've lived in ATL my entire life and have tons of great memories of the zoo. When i was a wee child i remember going to the zoo on school field trips and with my parents on weekends. it was great. of course this was before the new "animals are are friends" zoo layout. Back then it was concrete and fences. There were some really sad looking bears, anyone remember those? they were there, i have pictures, i think there was a kodiak bear and a polar bear and maybe one other one. Needless to say, the Zoo now is much more friendly to the beasts that call it home. Of course some things never change, namely the reptile house, although i think i heard somewhere that they're going to build a new one so thats good. The gators and crocs always look so sad.
The Zoo is a great place. I just took my baby there for the first time and he loved it until he fell asleep, hey, hes only 9 months, give him a break. The petting zoo is always fun if a little stinky, the animals are very healthy looking. The only complaints i have about the zoo is that it never really changes. It would be nice to see some new/different animals. The pandas were a great addition but they came in like 10 years ago. I think the last new addition was Red Kangaroos, cool but not very exciting. Bears, bears are what we need i think, people love them. Bears and the new and improved reptile house and we'll be all set.
This is a pretty cool Zoo in many ways. There is a wide variety of animals and the Pandas are something different. Also the trees provide great shade to keep you somewhat cool while you are there on the hot summer days.
Only negative I found was that there is not enough parking, but you can drive around in the neighborhoods and fine free parking.
I've been to the zoo a few times since I have lived here. I think that overall it is a pretty nice zoo. It's not overwhelmingly big like the Bronx zoo, but not really, really small like the Brooklyn or Central Park Zoo.
The variety of animals is pretty good and of course you have the panda exhibit which was good.
The playgrounds are really good to run your kids around and wear them out.
It's a pretty small zoo and the animals are kept in pretty tight exhibits. The sight of the elephants covered in red Georgia clay is hard to get used to. It's not bad for a neighborhood zoo, and probably a great zoo for younger children with limited energy and attention spans. The admission price seems steep for what you get.
The panda exhibit, although small, is a great treat and probably worth the trip to see. The new baby panda is cute enough to soften the toughest cynic.
I love the zoo. Since my moving to Atlanta in 2004, the zoo has gotten better and better. It's the one place that I've kept my membership active. The panda cubs have been stars, and the "minor" new exhibits like the naked mole rat keep me coming back. My children have loved the zoo for all these years and we'll keep coming back.
The zoo actively keeps growing and improving and I like that commitment to the city.
Lion's and Tiger's and Bear's OH MY!!!!
Well, Giant Panda's bears that is.
WILD THANG!!! bump, bump.... bump, bump.....YOU MAKE MY HEART SANG!
wILD THANG? I THINK I.....LOVE YOU.......
It was a lovely, LOVELY! day to visit Zoo Atlanta this past Sunday; and that's exactly what I did.
I've actually been to Zoo Atlanta one other time and it was pretty ordinary as I recall; however this trip was the complete opposite. Laura had never been so I organized a group of friends to join us, as well as, to add to the fun.
We arrived at the Zoo at 1:00pm and the parking lot was packed! This would set the mood for the rest of the day as the Zoo and surrounding area was buzzing with Spring fever. 80 plus degrees and clear sky's in Georgia will do that to a city. None the less, we found parking and headed in with our crew.
Getting tickets at the gate was quick and simple. Notice I did NOT mention pleasant and friendly at all in that last sentence. Why? Because of Miss. Personality sitting in the tiny ticket box taking money. Seriously? This lady was so irrefutably rude, that for one second, I could see it ruining my day.
Eric - 2 adults please.
Ticket booth bi@tch - 41.52 (BLARES FROM THE LOUD SPEAKER)
Eric - *Steps back* ouch! that was a bit loud.
Ticket booth bi@tch - I SAAAIIIDDD, 41.52.
Eric - Yes, I heard. I think Mid Town heard you.
Ok, but why so much? The web site said 18.99 per person.
Ticket booth bi@tch - IT'S 18.99 PLUS TAX. 41.52 OR NOT?
Eric - What tha!!! (Eric takes a deep breath) (Eric exhales) I guess it's 41.52 then.
*Reluctantly, Eric pays.*
- Change and tickets are handed back -
Eric - Thank you.
Ticket booth bi@tch - *glares* Enjoy Zoo Atlanta.
Once we made our way in to the Zoo, Laura turns to me and asks "what was her problem?"
Yeah, talk about Miss Personality!
None the less, I was not going to allow this brief interchange to ruin my day, so we head out in to the Zoo.
Lucky for me and my group, I was on the Zoo Atlanta website all night the night before so I had mapped out our trip to maximize and capitalize on all the good things going on for the day. *NOTE TO ALL ZOO VISITORS* check the web site for feeding times.
We caught 2 Gorilla feedings, the orangutan feeding and the Ring Tail Lemur talk. Now that's! the power of planning!
Of course the high lite of the day was seeing Zoo Atlanta's brand new baby panda, Xi Lan. As we walked up to the exhibit there was a zoo official announcing that Xi Lan was awake, alert and very active at the moment, and apparently, that is out of the ordinary for the cub. So we rush in, shove a few kids out of the way, knock over some old folks, and bam! I find myself right up front for all the panda action! Get your Panda on!
If you have never seen a Panda cub, let me tell you, this little guy was CUTE!!!! He was active, playful, foot loose and fancy free with an air of mischievous to him. We all watched in amazement as the little guy played carelessly on his make shift jungle gym. All the while mom watched over him as she chomped down on some fresh bamboo.
AAAGGGHHHH....after spending some time with Xi Lan and family, I was satisfied. Seriously, my zoo day could have and did, end shortly after that.
Zoo Atlanta is really a nice Zoo to be right here in our back yard. It's nice to go when it's not so hot and you can actually enjoy the place. Just seeing the baby panda was well worth my money, and enduring the ticket booth fiasco. You should go and walk on the wild side too....
As Leslie said in her review, my company had a spirit event called "IBM Spring Fling @ the Zoo" I totally had to go since I have never been to Zoo Atlanta and when they said there was free popcorn and snow cones...I was sold! It's a nice perk to work for a company that does nice things like this for their employees and was shocked to see so many IBM'ers attending the event...and when I say many, there were 9000 that RSVP'd!
I was amazed how beautiful this zoo really is! It's not as large as the zoo's I am use to, but it was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. My favorite animal exhibits were the Silverback Gorillas, Giraffe's, Panda's, and the Leopard & Tiger. It was all cute and fun to have David, Leslie and I ride the carousal and it was good to share another awww moment with David. The best part was the three of us playing on the kids playground and trying to do the monkey bars. I don't remember it being as hard as it is!!!
I'm glad I had the opportunity to finally go to Zoo Atlanta. I would definitely go back and I actually enjoyed the Zoo more than the Aquarium! Now I have to check out the Cyclorama thingy...
i do love zoo atlanta, so much so that i am a member. my daughter absolutely loves the place and the membership saves me a fortune on admission fees when she comes.
then again, i love to go myself, even without her, and the free admission that comes with the membership is great as well.
the highlights of the zoo include, obviously, the giant pandas, including a cuddly panda cub that i can literally sit and watch for hours, but also the gorillas. zoo atlanta has an incredible collection of silverbacks and the family enclosure is great for watching young gorillas.
another area i think zoo atlanta really excels at is doing quite a bit with their small amount of space. over the years they have opened great exhibits that take up little space such as the meerkat and warthog exhibit, the nakes mole rats, and recently the free-flying parakeet house, which is a ton of fun and a must-see.
one tip, go during the week. zoo atlanta is almost empty during the week and you can spend as much time as you want looking at that great little xi lan.
The first time Hyeon J. and I went to Zoo Atlanta, we were originally going to check out Mei Lan, the new panda cub. No, it wasn't because of the massive advertisement that was on air during the birth of Mei Lan, but it was all due to our chemistry professor. During our final exam, he decided to put the Panda Cam (http://www.zooatlanta....) on his presentation board for his own amusement. Well, most of the students in the exam room watched the Panda Cam and couldn't keep their eyes off of it - including us. So we decided to check her out in person.
Sadly, they couldn't let her out yet because she was too young at the time. We were a bit disappointed. Nonetheless, we had a blast! We had the chance to feed the Orangutans, take pictures, and simply enjoy the beautiful day! My favorite part of the zoo is their Petting Zoo. It's nothing spectacular: It's a small area where you (or your kids) can go and pet goats and other farm animals. During my first visit to the Zoo Atlanta, I couldn't go in because the Petting Zoo closed early. I left the place really upset that I couldn't pet anything. Well, next time when we went, I was determined to get in there. So I ended up fighting my way towards the animals with 5-year-olds.
Overall, Zoo Atlanta is a great place to feel like a kid - or in my case, act like one! Of course, it is a fantastic place to bring kids. Since the zoo is mostly outdoors, I would check the weather of the day of your expected visiting date first. If it's sunny and warm, then wear sunblock! If it's gloomy and cold, then make sure to dress warmly!!
Joel was kind enough to take David and I to his "IBM spring fling @ Zoo Atlanta" and to tell you the truth, I had a blast:) I had never been to the zoo before and it was definitely one of those places on my list that I've wanted to see. And it was cool because they had closed the place down to the public but kept it open as a private event for IBM employees and their guests. (thank you joel!)
We lucked out because it was a really nice day to be walking outside, and visiting the animals made it all the better. Joel played "tour guide" and armed with a map of the zoo, he guided us through the different areas of habitat such as the African Plains, African Rain Forest, and Asian Forest. I played "tourista" and armed with my camera, I took pictures of pretty much every animal we passed, even the ones that were facing the other direction (pictures of hairy gorilla ass are so fun to email to your friends!)
My favorite animals were the flamingos, the elephants, the kangaroos, the otters, and of course the panda bears. Mei Lan was out in her own private "area" and she was soooo cute walking on all fours back and forth, kinda exploring everything. The newest exhibit they had were the naked mole rats which looked like tiny hairless rodents who sleep on their backs and actually it was hard to tell if they were alive or not. But we ended our day with a ride on the carousel and just to watch David go up and down on a decorated chicken made my experience to the Atlanta Zoo unforgettable.
A small zoo but well-maintained. It was a bit cold so there were no crowds.
Lioness was being fed near the window so everyone could have a close-up view. The baby panda and its mother were adorable.
There are guides standing by the exhibits waiting for any questions that people might have about the animals.
Free parking.
Go for the pandas, it's the newest Atlanta thing to do I guess. It's not as busy as the Georgia Aquarium, so you won't feel like you're being herded around and getting shoved while you try and see things.
Zoo Atlanta is alright as long as you don't have a lot of experience in seeing zoos in other cities. Compared to zoos in Sand Diego, Washington DC, New York, and Chicago....this one just doesn't compare. As new as everything is in Atlanta compared to those cities, you would think the zoo here would be better.
Caveats in this review, I went when it was 60 degrees outside, and on a Friday afternoon, when there were no schools visiting.
My trip to the zoo was a good experience. I went to it after going to the Fernbank Museum (see my review about that).
I don't really know how to review a zoo, because so much of it relies on the animals. A great zoo experience one day can really suck the next day if the animals are all inside, or not visible.
I found the layout of the zoo confusing, it was more luck than any sense of direction that I didn't get completely turned around and lost in it. I guess from all the signs/advertisements that their highlight is a group of pandas from china, and they had the largest crowd around them. However, they were sleeping so I didn't see so much a panda, as a panda's back (I guess they tend to sleep like dogs on their sides).
I moved on...and came to the highlight for me, which was the gorillas. I came face to face (about 7 feet separated us) from a 16 year old male. He was eating on a bush, and it was the closest I've come to a "wild" animal. Now I immediately thought about the tiger in San Francisco (I guess that's what happens when you work in the news).
But, he didn't seem to perturbed, and I was fascinated, watching him eat the bush. It wasn't like an animal, it was like a human, the way he pulled off a branch, contemplated the leaves, and took a taste, it look like a couple dates I had pick at their salads across the table :).
The crowds were nonexistent and that was a good thing, I found I could enjoy the animals at leisure, not feeling the pressure or onslaught of hyper kids running around.
So in conclusion, it's worth a trip if you can find the odd hours when it's not TOO hot, or packed with school kids.
It's the Zoo!!!
There is nothing quite like going to the zoo, whether it is your first time as a parent bringing your toddlers to see the lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!), or pretending your a kid again just when you are starting to feel old and adult like (which I do!). Zoo Atlanta is not a must see as a tourist but more of a local zoo for camps and school children.
It had been about fifteen years since I last visited the Atlanta Zoo and decided that with all the hype about Mei Lan (the baby panda - aww) that it was time to be a child again. Luckily I visited it before the summer camp crowd so I was able view the animals up close which made my 15 dollar student ticket worth it. I can only imagine how packed the zoo gets in the summer time and how hot it will be for the campers and parents. Luckily there is the "World of Reptiles" house that stays at a constant seventy degrees all day. Make sure to bring your sunscreen; some of the walkways are not shaded. And you can bring in water bottles which saves you from buying the dollar ones there.
The best exhibits are:
The Gorillas! Ever since the late Willie B (a gorilla) stole every Atlanta's heart by showing so much love and affection towards both zoo keepers and the crowd, Zoo Atlanta has been known for their gorillas. They are so much like us humans that watching them interact will amaze even the youngest of your crew. The baby gorillas steal the show and everyone laughs as they watch two play paddy-cake and push each other down a hill.
The Giant Pandas! Zoo Atlanta is one of the few that can claim the birth of a Giant Panda in captivity. Mei Lan was born in early 2007 and is so precious but growing fast. She is soon to be the size of her parents by next summer.
The Elephants are also a favorite but smell awful! I can't figure out why they would place the smelliest of creatures at the front of the zoo?
The zoo is not as big as other world class zoos. Depending on crowds and how many little ones you are bringing along, it can take between 2 and 5 hours to see everything. Zoo Atlanta also does not offer much of a variety compared to other zoos. It includes only four sections, The Ford African Rain Forest, Asia Forest, African Plains, and the Kid Zone. I would have liked to see an exhibit on local animals. When traveling in New Zealand, I visited the Zoo in Wellington to get a better idea of the local wildlife and actually got to see a Kiwi there, and I feel that the Atlanta Zoo would attract more tourists if they offered such an exhibit on local habitats. However, it is the zoo, and seeing monkeys play, elephants poop, and flamingos fight will bring a smile to anyone's face.
I just went here today to be a little kid with my friend Amy, and we succeeded, goofy photos, ice cream and all.
We made friends with the pandas, and the warthogs, and the elephants, and had some great photo ops with the (really restless and hot) lion and a cranky but gorgeous orangutan with fabulous dreads (according to the little info thingy, their long hair is supposed to protect them from the downpours in their native rainforest environments... so he must have been one hot ape here in Atlanta!).
Did I mention it was hot? But I'm an Ohioan, so pay no attention to my complaining, it probably wasn't that bad.
Anyway, though the zoo isn't very large, it was a good three hour excursion, just what we needed (you leave some larger zoos feeling either EXHAUSTED because you just HAD to see everything, or like you missed something because you had to leave too soon). The zoo was easy to manuever, & we found food and restrooms when we needed them.
The only downside to the zoo overall, I think, is that it seems like the price of admission is incredibly inflated. Between Amy and I, we've both been to a lot of other zoos, and the ticket to get into this one was in some cases double the price, and for less "zoo for your money".
Ultimately, though, it was a great day, and we came away having had a lot of fun and with a lot of great photos!
i think atlanta have the best zoo hands down.
it's small but huge on excitement!
I have been to a few Zoo's in my life, living by San Diego Zoo which is world class.. I'm a little jaded towards the local stuff. But let me say, with out question, I love Zoo Atlanta THE MOSTEST. And for one reason,,,well 3 actually :
1. The panda area. HELLO. Those guys are up front and center and you can see them flopped out eating bamboo just a few feet in front of you. They have an awesome open air area, then these 2 rooms with plexi glass and you can really see them. At the SD zoo the panda's are like the 2nd coming of christ there, and you can rarely see them. Bravo Atlanta.
2. The primate area is top notch, like nothing I've ever seen
3. There are turtles everywhere. Here ladies and gentlemen we have elephants... and turtles. We have our primates...and turtles. Must be something about the south that makes those little guys multiply
4. One more. This is the first zoo I've been to where you can see up close, inches away ( plexiglass again ) a fabulous tiger. He sat and stared at me for a bit, then turned and sprayed the glass. I seriously thought it was so cool.
I hope to go again soon.
Zoo atlanta is a sprawling complex with a nice selection of animals to view. All of the areas are in modeled to be much like the animals' natural environment.
My favorite area was the primate section. This area featured orangutans, chimpanzees and gorrilla's. The gorrila section has a history that goes back over 40 years with its most famous resident Willie B.
I was impressed by one guide who noticed my interest in the primates and gave me a mini tour of the section. He would rattle off the names of the chimps like they were his children and spoke a bit about thier habits.
One thing to note; if you go during the winter, make sure you go when the temperature is over 50 degrees. The mammals tend to stay inside when it dips below that.
GO AT YOUR OWN RISK
My first visit an orangutan escaped from its cage, and the second time I had a very interesting safari of sorts.
During an Innocent zoo outing with my husband last summer we came face to face with a full-grown male orangutan by the name of Sulango. This large creature was sitting on the exterior portion of its cage eating bark, 3 or 4 feet from us, as I and about 10 other people watched in amazement. It took a few seconds before we all realized that this shouldn't be happening; but somehow no one wanted to run away. Eventually a Zoo volunteer ran up and started throwing her hat and lunchbox at the large creature. She started yelling for someone to run down to the reptile house knock on the side door and yell code brown.
So, I and another girl ran down there, knocked and knocked... no one answered. I pulled out my phone, dialed 411, asked for Atlanta Zoo, hit 0 to talk to an operator, and said "code brown" and told him what was going on. 30 seconds later these Zoo employs appeared from nowhere, one herded us into the reptile house while Sulango walked across the sidewalk and climbed a tree.
We spent almost two hours trapped in the reptile house as they evacuated the Zoo, tried to lure Sulango down from the tree with food, and then eventually they tranquilized him. I could've done without the reptile house, but overall an unforgettable experience, and a great story to share. Check out the coverage on it via CNN: http://www.cnn.com/vid...
The second visit was during JAZOO last month. A fabulous event that I highly recommend, but that's not what made the Zoo so exciting. After a few strong drinks and dancing, me, and a few friends decided to take a safari. Let's just say... we might have hopped a few fences, and had a small photo shoot with the elephants.
Who knows what is going to happen when you go to the Zoo!?!?!?
If you're looking for an adventure, check out the Zoo... even if an orangutan doesn't escape, or you aren't allowed to model with the elephants; I still think you'll have a fun time.
Zoo Atlanta is a great way to spend an afternoon. If you can make it here during the week, there generally aren't many people around, and you can enjoy the zoo--pandas and all--without the crowds.
I took part in a psychology class at Georgia Tech where our weekly lab was to help train the goats in the petting zoo, so I have a lot of experience with Zoo Atlanta. The layout of the grounds is tricky, as there's no quick way to get anywhere without curving around a good bit. Many of the more popular exhibits, such as the pandas, the tigers, and the orangutans, are in the back, and you have to weave around to get there, constantly consulting a map. In fact, if you don't have a map, odds are you'll miss a lot of what the zoo has to offer, including the red panda.
I've met several graduate students who've worked with various animals and their keepers at the zoo, ranging from the komodo dragon to the giant pandas. The staff are knowledgeable, and the habitats are large and appropriate.
I've heard people say the giant pandas enclosure is too small. In reality, pandas don't move around much. They spend 16 hours a day eating, not because they like to eat, but because they get very little nutrients from bamboo; so most of the rest of their time is spent snoozing. (That having been said, if you get to the zoo and are disappointed that the pandas are "just sitting there," you can't say I didn't warn you. Go see them first, and if they're snoozing, make a trip around the zoo and come back.) It should also be noted that, since Mei Lan's birth, Yang Yang has been kept separately from the mother and cub (as they would not be together in the wild), so the enclosure that you see is not housing three pandas at a time.
That having been said, generally Yang Yang is out and visible in the mornings. Around 11am, Yang Yang goes bye-bye, and Lun Lun and Mei Lan are brought into the visible enclosures for the rest of the day. So if you want to see the young cub, don't arrive too early (or, at least, plan to stick around until lunch time).
Overall, Zoo Atlanta is a great (if comparatively small by size) zoo, and it should not be missed just because the Georgia Aquarium is new and shiny.
I honestly only wanted to see the pandas, but am impressed by the large ape exhibit. I had never seen silverback gorillas so closely before. I like the layout of the zoo, and it is a great place to go on a sunny afternoon.
Their reptile exhibit, however, is pretty much outdated and needs renovation.
I love to visit zoos all over the United States. This semester at Georgia State University, I was granted an opportunity to take a class at the zoo, so I get to visit Zoo Atlanta every week!
I have been learning about all the new and exciting plans the zoo has to make Zoo Atlanta one of the best zoo's in the country. They want to totally redesign the exhibits and introduce Atlanta to new ones.
I get to listen to various staff at the zoo tell us what they do, then we get to see where to do it. We go along with vets, curators, and other staff behind the scenes to see what all goes on to maintain these amazing creatures.
We also get free time to tour the zoo at our own pace. I seem to always get lost on the property because it can be very confusing. They have a variety of wild animals to be such a small zoo (34 acres). My favorite exhibits to go to are the gorillas, and the meercats just because they are so animated.
I would definitely recommend Zoo Atlanta to everyone that lives in or is traveling to Atlanta. Its a quaint little zoo located in a very cool area of the city known as Grant Park.
I'm giving it a 4-star as I love the pandas here, you can see the panda just few feet away if you catch them at the right time. And the shade around the zoo will really help during hot summer days. Best of all, free entrance to zoo with Bank of America Museums on Us. Get there early for a good parking spot.
A nice zoo. I just revisited for the first time in many years. The primate section is the highlight, especially the gorilla's. They have lots of gorilla's in large enclosures. I especially liked the babies - three baby gorilla's and one baby orangutang.
The Komodo dragon has some vicious looking claws!
Pretty disappointing. I thought it would be bigger. I thought that the exhibits would be better designed. I guess I'm a victim of my own expectations but this was a pretty ordinary zoo.
Zoo Atlanta is tucked into a corner of Grant Park, next to Cyclorama, the 360 degree tribute to the Civil War. It's a small zoo, but has a number of notable exhibits.
Recently, all the buzz at the zoo has been over their newest panda cub, which was born a few months ago after years of trying to get the zoo's female panda pregnant.
But the pandas are just the beginning. As was noted in other posts, the primate section of the zoo is impressive. The zoo also has a great collection of frogs from South and Central America, which were rescued from a global-warming triggered fungus that is encroaching on their habitat.
There's a chance the zoo might be moving to a larger plot of land a couple of miles south of its current location. That would enable it to compete with the sprawling Georgia Aquarium. But for now, Zoo Atlanta remains a nice little zoo in a quaint park in a charming neighborhood. And it's a nice way to spend an afternoon.
What a great way to spend a few hours on a warm and sunny weekend. I loved the panda and gorilla enclosures. and on the back of your park map they even have what times they have "special" zoo events going on ( we actually watched an elephant getting washed) They have a petting zoo for children and even a little train that goes around the park. The zoo offers plenty of shade If your worried about the Georgia heat in the summer! And they have student and military discounts. So I definitely have to agree with all the other reviewers on this one! Get out to the zoo!
allright erin and mark g. boy where the fck are you from? sounds like the congo or some other area where nature and its inhabitiants exhist on a basic moring walk, or probably in your case steps to your car.
this zoo is pretty dambbbb impressive. the gorilla exhibit is astounding, and so are several others. i really think idiots like the two mentioned above should stick to monster truck and demolition car demos. as for people that just want to experience a quality zoo, you will be satisfied.
i am from belize, where say no more the zoo kicks serious ass, and my husband is from cali, well do i need to explain? i am speaking from both a personal and professional level of judegment. go, have fun , then walk through grant park and enjoy your day!
Not a bad zoo...all the animals in are their natural habitats. Definately worth a visit it you like pandas since they have two, a male and a female.
The Atlanta Zoo is truly a disgrace, especially the Panda exhibit! I'm not an animal activist but it is a shame how small the Panda area is. Panda Bears weigh between 180 and 250 pounds and it is despicable to see them in such a small cage. The Atlanta Zoo should take heed from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and the Bronx Zoo in New York; two very superior zoos. Atlanta is an urban Mecca and practically the capital of the south. This city is growing rapidly and is way too big to have a less than average zoo!
I've visited most of the museums and exhibits in Atlanta as a guest at special events. Zoo Atlanta was no different. During this event you could walk around and take in some of the sights so I did just that. The animals were winding down as it was evening so I didn't see alot of action. I wasn't sold on the idea of the zoo as a special event venue, but I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't overwhelmed by the smells of the zoo as I'd suspected I would be. The food was good and the decor lively. I am not sure I'd host my next shindig here, but I'd go back as a guest.
Zoo Atlanta is great zoo without being too big and has a lot of quality animals in native environments. The panda bear was really cute and was just hanging out. The oranguatans were really cool too while the feeding of the gorillas was really interesting and funny, as their repsones to food just being thrown down to them is quite interesting. One gorilla was holding her baby and catching food at the same time. The lemurs and other monkeys are cool, as usual, just because they are so alive and keep you interested with their acrobatics. The tigers were huge and beautiful, but not as good as the primates and pandas, mainly because I have seen tigers in many zoos. The meerkats and warthogs were cute too and it reminded me of the classic disney movie lion king, so that was a plus.
always fun to go back to your inner child and take a trip to the zoo. its set up well, so the animals are close for viewing... i'm going back this weekend!
