National Zoological Garden of South Africa — Zoo in Pretoria

National Zoological Garden of South Africa and its collection

National Zoological Garden of South Africa, opened in 1899, is a zoo in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.

This serves as the country's national zoo and ranks among the eight largest zoos in the world.

History

The land was the farm Klein Schoemansdal, owned by the ZAR president Stephanus Schoeman and sold to Johannes Francois Celliers, who renamed it Rus in Urbe. The state bought it in 1895 and the garden was set up in 1899, as the Second Boer War began. Official national status followed in 1916.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include Southern Ground Hornbill, Samango monkey, gorilla, Cape vulture and elephant.

Exhibits

Past the entrance come a walk-through aviary and pens for African penguins, Cape fur seals, leopards, flamingos and lemurs. The centre of the grounds is given over to an African savannah waterhole, with paddocks for cheetahs, both rhino species, giraffes, hippos and okapis.

What the venue says

• golf carts
• children's pushcarts
• There is an on-site licensed restaurant serving sit-down meals and take-aways, complemented by multiple snack kiosks scattered throughout the grounds.
• Secure on-site parking is available directly at the zoo premises off Boom Street for visitors arriving by car.
• Much of the lower section is accessible, though the climb up the hill can be steep (the cableway provides an alternative way up).