Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo — Zoo in Johannesburg

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and its collection

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, opened in 1904, is a zoo in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

The collection runs to roughly 2,000 animals across 320 species, and management has customarily rested with the city council.

History

The land was a farm bought for mineral prospecting; when that came to nothing it was planted as a timber plantation in 1891 and named Sachsenwald after Otto von Bismarck. In August 1903 Mayor W. John Carr received a written offer of 200 freehold acres from Max Michaelis together with Wernher Beit & Co, and the donated recreation ground was titled Herman Eckstein Park. The zoo itself dates from 1904.

Conservation and approach

White lions, a colour mutation of the African lion, are kept and have been bred well here, at a time when other collections seek them ahead of tawny animals. It is the only South African collection to have bred Siberian tigers.

What the venue says

• behind-the-scenes tours, night tours, or educational holiday programs
• rent golf carts by the hour
• There is an on-site restaurant as well as multiple food kiosks and ice cream vendors spread throughout the zoo.
• On-site parking is available for cars, mini-vans, and buses for a small separate fee, though spaces can fill up quickly on busy weekends.
• The facility offers provisions for differently abled guests, including discounted entry and wheelchair rentals (subject to a refundable deposit).
• Golf carts are also available for easier transit across the park.