Oakland zoo is a lovely place to visit with your kids, family and friends, or even on your own! It’s therapeutic and educational. Reservation for entry is needed. The Gondola ride is FREE with paid admission. Car parking is $10. The gondola is fun and provides a spectacular view of the bay both during the day and the night! The zoo have creative events sometime such as the Glowfari, which features hundreds of larger-than-life glowing animal lanterns throughout the Zoo. They will return in November, can’t wait to try the mini express train inside the park to explore the illuminated wonderland!

The view of the restaurant the gondola ride after is great. The restaurant's Pizza is poor but burgers are delicious. Oh, must bring bottled water with you!! It's interesting how animals react differently depending on time of day and season. It is an outdoor zoo. So, It's a good to a membership and visit often.

My husband and I love coming to the Oakland Zoo! The Oakland Zoo isn't a huge zoo (like San Diego), but they have a good variety of animals. As two adults, we can get through the entire zoo in about 3 hours. My favorite spot is the newer California trail area. You can take a free gondola up to that area, where there are animals native to California. There's also a cafe area that overlooks the bay, and a really cool looking kids play area. The enclosures for the animals are pretty large, which we appreciate for the welfare of the animals. This does mean, however, that there's a good chance that you may not see certain animals. The wolves, for example, are very hard to spot, and they tend to like hanging out in areas that make it almost impossible to see them. It's always a treat when we're able to actually see them, especially if we see the whole pack. We have a membership there, so we don't usually feel like we need to see everything in one visit. We like trying to get there either on a weekday or as soon as they open on a weekend. When they're busy, getting in can take a while, and the freeway exit can definitely back up a bit. Recommend bringing a hat and a refillable water bottle (they also have water filling stations if you run out of water).

Awesome zoo with gondolas ride included with zoo tickets. Great view of the park and city. They have roller coaster rides and other attractions as well for which you have to purchase tickets separately. There are zip lines as well for kids. Food zones are available with gorgeous views of the zoo natural habitat. We got to see tigers, lions, grizzly bears, baboons, bisons, giraffes, elephants, different kinds of birds etc. Museums are also available for kids to explore if you have time. Overall a well spent whole day trip with kids with lots of adventures and fun activities.

The Oakland Zoo puts the education of the public about the animals of this world and the very well being of said animals in its care at the forefront. The keepers are highly trained, personable and compassionate. The animals have outstanding, large habitats and tons of enrichment. The California Trail is worth the price of admission alone. This will always be my favorite zoo and I just purchased a membership so as I can continue to visit and learn. Do you have kids? It's a hilly zoo, good for keeping them entertained and tuckering them out for the car ride home. Also, a very cute petting zoo with goats and sheep will give them that fix of wanting to pet the animals. There are kids rides and a fun train to keep their attention when they tire of walking. All in all just a great zoo set in the hills of Oakland. You should visit. Plus, they have elephants. :)

A very nice place to spend a fun day with the family. In addition to animals, the zoo has many activities for adults and kids. The zoo consists of two parts with a Gondola connecting them. The Gondola ride is a very nice experience that provides a panoramic view over the bay. We enjoyed it very much and it is included with the general admission. We enjoyed the animal viewing specially the Grizzly Bears. There is a restaurant with a nice over in the upper part. There is also a couple of animal-themed play ground for kids. Reservations are required to enter the zoo. If you like it you can upgrade the tickets to a membership for free admission and parking throughout the year.

It’s always good to go and support the local community businesses. I took my mom and dad, my kids and 2 nieces. My parents a lot older now. The last time they went was when I was probably 10 years old, way before the gondola and other attractions. They was just as surprised and excited like my 4 year old niece. Lots of walking, probably too much walking for my parents but it was great for the kids. The gondola ride a must since at the top of the mountain there’s a restaurant. Food is pricey but what attraction is not pricey. They all like the food since we did all that walking. Must visit when planning to visit. The tickets do sell out and there’s time prices on the ticket. We definitely enjoyed since everyone fell asleep on the ride back home.

What a wonderful place to visit with family/kids. Well, any animal lover will enjoy it greatly. Big number of animals to see, learn about their habitat and discover something new. Making reservations online was easy. Staff on site is very helpful. Everything is clean, COVID- safe, everyone is masked and distancing. Stroller friendly. Some areas are closed but that’s perfectly understandable. Gondola was a lot of fun. Separate are with California native animals was a blast to see. We hope to come back soon!

Came here on Sunday, June 27th and had the best time! We got to the zoo around 12:00 and we were able to head right in without a wait and get a park right in front! The entry was super quick and easy, no lines at all. The animals looked happy and very well cared for, except for one hyena I saw.. he/she was pacing back and forth while waiting at a gate. I'm not sure if it was feeding time or if the hyena was stressed, but being a previous animal technician, pacing isn't a good sign! Hopefully the hyenas are okay. :( Otherwise, all of the animals looked great! It was also nice how there were employees at every animal viewing area to answer questions that we had. Also, don't skip the goat petting area! So worth it, the goats are so cute! The gondola ride was beautiful and so fun.. and the California trail was amazing. 10/10 would recommend this zoo!

Oakland Zoo is a lovely place to visit, especially if you have toddler kids. They have a large number of animals that you can see. The zoo is split in two levels. The bear section is on the top, where one has to go through the gondola. The gondola ride is one of the highlights of the Zoo. The grizzly bears are awesome. If you are lucky you can see the bears swimming in their pool. The Zoo can get crowded, so we reserved and visited on a weekday. Awesome experience, must visit Zoo if you are in the Bay Area.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I like this zoo. I had a great time seeing all the animals and reading all the educational materials. The gondola ride to the upper part of the zoo offers great views of the park and the San Francisco Bay. The upper area is newer addition and the enclosures where much nicer and larger. The train ride to the Australian part of the zoo was very fun. It’s a nice place to explore.

It was such a great time with my little girl to show animals in reality. We could watch animals closer than any other zoo. She love to watch them even though it was too hot day. Me and my husband are thinking about to get a membership.

Fun place to go with kids. Not very big, u can cover entire zoo in 3 hrs. sufficient parking. Children play areas are closed bcoz of Covid safety. Zoo staffs are very helpful. Gandola ride allows 1 household per ride and is free of cost and it is a 90sec ride. Landing cafe closes at 3, so order ahead and reach at least 30 mins ahead.

Amazing Zoo! We loved the enormous footprint. It feels like you're actually in the wild and the animals are in a natural, comfortable space, despite the enclosures. The staff was very helpful, there are docents at almost every exhibit, not sure if they're volunteers or paid, but each one was very informative about the animals. The gondola ride was awesome and beautiful. The ride to the top of the hill is a must for the views and bigger animals. Our group will be going back very soon!

A very nice zoo that's not too big. There are many animals you can only see from distanced aerial views, which I didn't move because they also have lots of space to roam. There are some hills that can be a little rough with a stroller or wagon full of kids. The air gondola is fun and fit my kids' wagon. They're education center is amazing and once my kids were in there they didn't want to leave.

A must visit if you are in the bay area. Incredible views of the bay area with thr gondola. A good variety of animals and it's easy to go around and enjoy it. For families it's best to get the membership and visit a couple of times a year. Unfortunately due to rain, didn't get a chance to take the train ride, but it was still well worth it.

Parking was simple and ample, walked right in and immediately could smell the food cooking. Hungry as usual decided to eat first! Great decision, had the mushroom burger with garlic fries... Delicious, very impressive and surprising. Everything was functioning and we were blessed to see the animals moving about and even eating. Took the gondola and walked to the viewpoint (see video) gorgeous view. Must admit the only thing we didn't see was the grizzly •́⁠ ⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠,⁠•̀ maybe next time. Overall it was an awesome afternoon spent about 4 hours at the zoo and enjoyed every minute.

This zoo is exceptional! I have been to the Sacramento Zoo and the San Francisco Zoo. Both of those zoos are wonderful. Sacramento Zoo is small but very nice. The San Francisco Zoo is quite large and very nice as well. However, what is unique to Oakland Zoo is that they have a Sky Ride which cost $5 a person (we did not go on it), and they also have an aerial tram ride that you have to take up the mountain to get to the top part of the zoo (it's included with admission) where they have a large cafe at the top with panoramic views of the Bay Area and a large play area with vista points, plus lots of animals! I wish I had come to the top first instead of exploring the bottom of the zoo. I recommend you visit the top first to have more time to explore. We went to the top late in the day and the line was 30 minutes long to get back on to the gondola to get down. The children loved the gondola. What an amazing experience! It's a 4 minute ride. The zoo is very clean and it is a bit hilly so if you have strollers , people with disabilities, or the elderly be aware there are some steep hills to walk up. They will stop the gondola for those who need extra time to get on or off. Parking is $10 and the prices are reasonable. I recommend purchasing daily admission prices and then going to member services and purchasing an annual membership so that you can go back to this zoo and their partner zoos across California.

It is a great huge zoo. We could see the 🦁 loins , giraffes 🦒 , crocodile 🐊 basking in sun , lemurs and bears and plenty of other animals and birds. They have huge turtles 🐢 as well. We have been to a few zoos and would say it was very well kept with great views. Very interesting enclosures for bugs and reptiles. They had a cute petting zoo . This is open till 4. The gondola ride , train ride and nature view open gondola was amazing and there were great views of San Francisco. We took the evening tickets which were discounted. Worth the visit I would say and very affordable.

Wonderful zoo with so many animals and beautiful scenery. Visited on a Friday afternoon. It wasn’t crowded.. it was so peaceful and happening. Animals were active (thanks to the cloudy weather). Train ride is extra $5/ person which takes you to the Australian part. Gondola ride was cool and is included with the ticket. There is a nice playground inside as well. Do book your tickets in advance and check the weather. Avoid hot days. You may take food items inside as well.

It's probably the zoo we enjoyed the most so far. We spent 5 hours there with our 2-year-old and saw/tried everything. Our favorites were giraffes, the elephant, and bears. The gondola was super cool, as well as the train ride. I am sure we will be back.

Zoo was nice, not great. The paying extra and waiting in the long line for the train felt like a scam. It was so short, we only saw a couple animals, and I think it should have been included with the park entrance to make it worth it. There was a very old lethargic elephant, my memory is that the Fresno zoo was an exciting pen of elephants playing so Fresno probably beats it there. Not bad though, kids like zoos, so that's cool. They let you bring in outside food and drink which was very nice! Kudos to them for that.

Fantastic place to enjoy time with friends and family, learning about animals and nature. There is really something here for everyone of any age. The children's section - what is often called "the petting zoo" is down toward the bottom of the hill. Take the tram up to the Cafe and Nature Center and even more exhibits. When you visit the zoo, you are supporting people and animals around the world as the zoo does a lot to support habitat, biodiversity, and nature education. Note: The zoo is positioned on a hill. Folks using mobility aids may want to check the website to be sure they can have the visit they want to have. Watch for special events like Zoo Lights.

Good zoo, not great. Went to some larger zoos this year and this was not quite as impressive. But still worthwhile, some great exhibits and excellent value. $24/person which is also on the cheaper end of what I've paid for zoo tickets. Best part was the upper area with a gondola going up. Cool animals in that area, especially enjoyed the wolf exhibit. Nice vantage point for views of SF as well. Some nice exhibits down below as well but nothing remarkable and some of them felt really small and like the animals could use more room. Overall, not a must do zoo by any means but good value and worthwhile if in the area.

What a lovely zoo I didn't get time to see everything. Only found out there's a whole other area a gondola ride away! But what I did see was amazing! Highlight had to be the baby giraffe and the tigers! The staff/volunteers at the park were incredibly knowledgeable, and very friendly I interacted with a number of staff during the visit! Was neat to know that a lot of the animals are rescues and I'm glad they have a more natural space for them to live in.

Recently visited zoo for their glowfari event, kids just loved it. Must go its worth it.

Oakland zoo is by reservation only. Ordering food ahead of time time was encouraged for Landing Cafe. The one that you need to take the gondola to reach (free). Which I honestly don't recommend as I ordered my food and was told it would be ready in an hour. When my friend's phone failed to load she went into the cafe to physically order her food and she got it within 5 minutes. I did try to get my food ahead of time once I realized this and they said no it was by time allotted you could pick up your food and there was no refunds if you canceled the pre-ordered online food. 🤦‍♀️ A lot of walking and hills just be sure you have good shoes and take an empty canister or water bottle to refill as water is about $4.50-6.00.

This is our happy place, we go to the zoo at least once a week and we enjoy everything about it. The Gondola, the parks, the train, the petting zoo and all the animals. Toddlers and parents really get a lot this place. It wonderful to exercise and enjoy the nature as well.

Lots of parking spots. Great zoo. Kids loved it. The rides are old, but still fun for the kids. The gondola ride is pretty fun and has no additional ticket. Will be back for sure.

Amazing day at the zoo! My first visit to the Oakland Zoo and we decided to go because my granddaughter is visiting from the East coast. The views were phenomenal! We loved seeing the animals and the docents who were walking around were very informative. This will be on our list when friends visit from out of town from now on! Highly recommend!

Have been here a couple times now and consider this to be a zoo/attraction to bring visitors. Vast space with many types of animals to learn about and see. The gondola ride is a great addition to the park (and is free!) to grab a bite at the cafe above and visit other animals. Lots of parking available but highly recommend buying tickets in advance.

This is second visit to Oakland zoo. First visit prior to pandemic. Lot of good changes and improvements. The Gondola ride is new and great addition with a nice restaurant up by handy ride. Great place for kids' enjoyment. Definitely recommend this place to visit.

I love it here. I've been to a few zoos and I might be biased since it's near where I'm from, but Oakland zoo is definitely one of the best. Way better than san Francisco, Atlanta, and Vancouver BC zoos. The animals are so cared for and visibly happier. The workers and volunteers are constantly working to care for and feed the animals. The enclosures are constantly being upgraded and added to so the animals have a better way of life. I was excited to take my children here since I went a lot as a child and always thought of it as a magical place. It did not disappoint.

My 6 year old and I had a blast! We hadn't been in a few years but everything was great! She was older to participate with the discovery tables around the zoo and test her animal knowledge:) once you get an answer correct you have the opportunity to win a zoo trading card! A few tables were out by the time we got to them, so that was a bummer, but we loved interacting and learning as we viewed the animals! We will be back to get more cards :) Train ride a little over priced for family guests but overall a great day 😊

This is by far the BEST zoo I’ve ever been to! It’s so cool to be able to see so many wild animals in a more natural setting. Many exhibits are walking higher up looking down on the animals which is better than observing through a small cage. We had a blast on the sky lift and other ride that let you get an awesome arial view of the zoo & animals. Well worth the price!! 🦒🐘🐅

I came here with friends. It was spectacular. I love it here. One ride is free and it was so high up in the sky. The kids rides are cheap. The rides inside are cheap as well. The animals are so beautiful. I really enjoy my visit here

Great zoo up in the Oakland hills, much larger than you'd expect with quite the selection of animals small and large. We came during the last time slot on a Saturday so we will be back again to explore more and ride the gondola and train. They also still had the Glowfari experience up and even during the day it was super cool to see. We went with 3 different families, each with a toddler, and it's safe to say we all had a good time seeing the animals, petting the goats, and in the playground area! I also have a reciprocal zoo membership and their website makes it super easy to purchase that type of discounted ticket. Looking forward to visiting again!

Great zoo! This is a fun zoo to visit and is right off the freeway. Pay for tickets/parking in advance. Gondola ride- it’s free and you get great views. Even if there’s a long line, it goes really fast I promise. Landing cafe- also has great views, but seats get taken up fast so go early or you have to wait and watch out for a table when someone leaves. There is a petting zoo and resident cats that live there as well. Train ride- is outside of the zoo to the right along with other kid rides. It goes through the enclosure to see the emu and Wallaby. You have to pay extra for this, but we enjoyed it.

Lovely, neat and clean ambience. Stroller available on rent for kids. Food, water and drink available. During pandemic you can take your own foods and staff are helpful and try to maintain social distancing. Few sections are closed

It was good to bring my children to the zoo. It wasnt too busy so there wasnt a feeling of feeling crowded. Of course the petting zoo, the play stuctures and reptile exhibt were close. But otherwise had a great time.

Best Zoo In Northern California. Open During Covid

We had a nice day at the zoo this past weekend. The animals seemed healthy and relaxed. As you can see from the photos, we had great views of most of them. It was a little too busy for our liking so next time we’ll go on a weekday.

This is by far the best zoo within hundreds of miles. Way better than the dilapidated SF Zoo. The zoo is kept clean. The exhibits are well kept. The animals appear to be well taken care of. Lots to do and will take about 3-4 hours to do and see everything with a food break. I highly recommend this zoo! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good

Had not been to a California or any Zoo for many many years. Now that I'm a senior citizen and took a younger friend to the Oakland Zoo. We marveled at the cleanliness, the space all animals enjoy, proper signage, lots of restrooms, one set of gondolas for free. When you reach the top you can enjoy snacks in the cafe. All animals looked healthy and well-fed. 4 hours walking, little too much for starters for me. But I definitely will go back very soon again. The photos do not do it justice. Because it was half the zoo that I couldn't visit.

I grew up going to the Oakland Zoo and have loved seeing the improvements and additions over the years. The emphasis has changed to the animals and giving them a place closer to their habitat, with companions. The zoo feeds them in interesting appropriate ways and offers animals enrichment activities. We loved the new California Trail and learning about the animals there. The gondola ride was a real treat. The restaurant was tasty with a great view. There seemed to be play areas for the kids all around the zoo, just when it was needed. Special touches like animal prints in the cement walkways made it more interactive and interesting. The information posted at the exhibits about the animals was very helpful and we saw several docents available for more info and to answer questions. Conservation is a topic that is also given attention. The zoo gets better every time we go.

Always had love for my local zoo. It's changed so much. They have new area's for the animals. A new insect room, and reptile room. A new gondola that takes you to the cafe z children's place, and has wolves, jaguars and my favorite the grizzly bear exhibit. Overall a nice zoo.

Glofari after dark was excellent. Also had fun on the ride up the hill. Don't know the cost, daughter paid ahead.

I have been to several zoos around Christmas time, but the Oakland Zoo really had its own unique twist on it with the Glowfari and lighted animals.

Our favorite part of the Oakland zoo. The goat area, and reptile room are favorites. If your are there on a weekend don't miss the show and opportunity to pet some of the small residents

Imagine a beautiful garden, filled with wonderful animals. Happy children learning and exploring. Families sharing a day filled with joy and wonder. That was our day at the Oakland Zoo. It was great to see so many families, with multiple generations all together, enjoying this wonderful place. And, we noticed that nobody, but nobody, was looking at a device. Everyone was focused on discovering the world around them, and enjoying each other. We meant to spend a few hours, ended up staying all day. We are in our 60s, first zoo trip with no kids in tow.

Awesome zoo! Great restaurant at the top of gondolas. However not much space for strollers on the gondolas. We have an Uppababy and it could only accommodate myself and my son (in the stroller). Not a huge deal though we just separated from our mommy friends for the ride up and enjoyed the view. The wait to go to the top area of the park is worth it! Be aware that parking can be a bit brutal though. Their “parking lot” for the majority of patrons is an unpaved field of sorts that they usher you in to and consists of loose gravel, long/cut grassy areas and a lot of dust. If you have allergies plan ahead to take medication etc. :) ** Responding to Oakland Zoo’s response below: Thanks for clarifying with your below comment re use of parking. Additional information will help others that read this review. If parking there is an option, please let management know to communicate to staff on the ground so they can pass on/ communicate to patrons— something is getting lost in translation when folks are ushered into the park. They’re being told to “follow the car in front of them”. I witnessed the car ahead of me “break from the pack” as it were, and staff ran after the car and asked him to turnaround and park in the field.

It is great nature based zoo, animals are wide spread in the nature. Great place to have fun with family. It has two stairs, you will take gondolas to the up, where they are bears and birds. Also, there is a cafeteria. I wish the food would be as great as the view from there. They can have better healthy choices. Don’t miss the small petting zoo, the goats are very friendly with children. One star down, because I think they need to pay a little bit more attention on keeping green environment green around kangaroos ( green area all the way train trail felt neglected). If you plan to visit with family, book your visit in advance, especially Friday-Sunday. It is worthy to buy a membership (especially if you are family of 4) because you will definitely like to go there again.

A very vast zoo. Lots of animals and fun activities to spend with the little ones. There are 2 areas, one upper and one lower, and they’re connected by the Gondola ride (which is free). The Gondola ride is very enjoyable and it has great views, too. One thing to take note is you need to book tickets beforehand or you will be turned away at the entrance because tickets are sold out. We had this encounter once. We took a 1-hour trip to the zoo only to be turned away at the entrance by the guard. He asked us to prepare the tickets. We told him we didn’t have tickets yet, then he asked us to leave because tickets are sold out and all ticket counters are closed. He nicely suggested us to visit Fairy Land instead as he saw us traveling with our toddler. Since then, we always book the tickets beforehand.

Great place to visit / picnic. Took around 3 hours to cover everything. 1. Each attraction is near by. 2. Has 2 Gondola rides.(very nice ones) 3. Take your food. Food inside is expensive and less vegetarian options. 4. Take water bottles / drinks 5. Has a cute train that goes inside park. Train ticket is $5 per adult. 6. Buy tickets online. 7. Buy parking tickets online as well. 8. Upper Gondola has a little weight time but its a must one. There are bigggg bears + more and on top of it you will get to see beautiful view of SF bay.

We come here for the elephants, spiders and giraffes! The elephants are what drives my 5 year old nephew and then there are the large spiders that he loves. It's never really crowded and always a good time! Go and have fun with your family!!

Nice zoo. It is hidden within the mountains in Oakland California. Great use of mountain range. Some animals have large space to roam around while some of them has small spaces. Looks like why plan to increase habitats for animals which has smaller space. Different varieties of animals. Kids play area, many picnic areas, places to sit all around the zoo. California trial is nice. I wish more vegetarian options in the landing cafe. You can order food in landing cafe online but It you need to create an account first. Nice view for bears. Gondola view is very nice and goldola journey to California trail is a pleasure. You will great views of the entire Bay Area, San francisco. Overall I Suggest to visit and spend time there. For people who cannot walk, suggestion is to rent a electric wheelchair to move around. Oakland zoo also has a relaxed volunteer program for you spend your time and energy to maintain the zoo.

I had so.much fun here. I wish I could have taken the gondola to see that part of the zoo but the line was WAYYY too long both when we got there and when we finished the loop and decided to leave. I absolutely loved getting to pet and brush the goats.

I’ve been going to the island zoo since I was a kid. Most of the zoo remains unchanged, delightfully funky. The California walk is awesome though, and well worth going for that alone. The ride up on the gondola is amazing, and affords great views of the entire Bay Area, the animals are great, and the zoo design is very cool. Gets crazy past 12pm so advise going early, and make sure you get a reservation, even if you’re a member, on the weekend.

Great weekend activity. Rides are great for children. Gandola is included in the park admission. Highly recommend taking Gandalo as soon as you reach the zoo since the line gets busier. Better to purchase the tickets in advance. It took us around 3 hours to complete the California trail. Plan a 4-5hours day. Must visit

Oakland zoo is on a hill overlooking the entire Bay Area! It has two air trams and lots for kids to do! There park for kids will entertain them for while! The gondola 🚡 takes you up the hill higher to see all the species native to North America! Great addition! They also have several rides for smaller kids! It is a great zoo! In the winter they put on a spectacular Glowfarie that has many little up structures of animals , it goes from 5pm-10pm and is worth the 25.00 to get in. If s a must see! Just dress warm.

We went to the zoo to see Glowfari, and it did not disappoint. It was AWESOME!! The animals and vegetation were FANTASTIC! They are made out of fabric stretched over metal framing and then lit up. They were so realistic looking. I highly recommend you go see the exhibit while it is still at the park. I want to add that if you want to take a ride on the train around the zoo, you get on in the children's play area, OUTSIDE the zoo entrance. If you are looking at the box office, the children's area it to the right. Have FUN!!

By far my favorite ZOO, staff is amazing , lot’s of parking spaces. There is so much to experience, only negative thing I can say is I wish there was more food options and more bathroom locations. I recommend for everyone to visit if they can. Entrance fee together with the parking is very reasonable.

We love this zoo. We have been members for a couple years now and appreciate something new every time we go. We especially enjoy the newer California ridge and the wonderful children's play area up there

This zoo is easy to get to and the animals look very happy. Nice place to take kids. It is really fun if you go in early morning when they first open. The animals are more receptive and alert. I bring my breakfast and eat it in the park. The week day is better for me because it is less crowded, and more quiet. This is zoo is a nice place for an outing.

Great zoo for all ages! We come here often with our toddler to make the best of our membership and spend some family time together. Only quip is if you have an outside drink they will not allow lids or straws but conveniently have both in their cafes. **Update** I’m glad that you are no longer using the lids and straws in the cafe keeping the plastic pollution in mind and for the safety of the animals. Next time I shall carry my reusable glass for my own drink.

Great zoo! I loved seeing the animals, but even better is you can tell this zoo is animal friendly and cares about them and not just bringing in money. They are also very environmentally friendly which is a plus! They have canned water instead of plastic water bottles! There are also very good views of the Bay Area here! The animal signs are very informative and interesting!

This was my first and only zoo visited in USA, so I can't compare it with other zoo in USA but anyway, I enjoyed my visit there and also employees was very polite and kind. This zoo is pretty big compare it with zoo in Czechia. There is a condola at no cost which can ride you up to California trail where you can buy some refreshments and look at some wild animals if you will have a luck.

I was blown away by the views you get at this zoo! The gondolas give you views not only if the bay, but if the animals below you like the lions and the camels. There are many animals to see, and they seem to be well taken care of with lots of space. I also highly recommend coming for the light show during the winter holiday. They put a lot of effort into decorating the park, and it is a treat to take the rainbow light gondola at night.

Love going here with my sister Rachel ? we always love how clean and well kept zoo is. I love coming here when I can . Staff are so kind !

Very impressed with this zoo! Lots of space, awesome exhibits, and incredible variety of animals. It was awesome how up close and personal you can be with the animals. Main thing that surprised us was how big it is. You can even take a ski lift to a upper level that is like a whole other zoo. Really cool place.

I enjoyed the zoo. Be prepared to do a lot of uphill walking. It's pretty big for a local zoo. I advise bringing your own lunch and water. All the concessions were closed. Only a small gift shop was open. We were disappointed because we didn't get to see the lions, and a couple other exhibits were closed. The zoo does have a sky ride and an a gondola ride. Only one was working. There's a petting zoo for the kids. But only goats were available to pet. Toward the exit, there a small group of rides. A train, carousel, and some kids rides. It took us about 2.5 hours to walk and visit everything. So plan accordingly.

COVID UPDATE: A sizable portion of the zoo is closed as of the writing of this review. All of the drinking fountains are closed so expect to bring your own water or prepare to purchase the aluminum water bottles. Only one refill station is available immediately after the gondola. Masks on all the time rule was okay with me and my party but may be difficult for those with breathing problems especially on hot days like when I went (93°F). If you want to support the zoo, think about donating via their website. Otherwise, save your money for the full reopening.

(Translated by Google) Beautiful place (Original) Hermoso lugar

Love the new Grizzly exhibit beautiful!!

Wonderful day with family at Oakland Zoo!

(Translated by Google) The best (Original) Lo mejor

As members, we were thrilled to learn the zoo opened back up! Very easy and convenient online tickets reservation after visiting the website. A+ service passing through the parking and zoo entrances. The animals were very active, especially the grizzlies! It almost felt like we had the zoo to ourselves, except when some groups weren’t socially distancing whatsoever! I am pretty disappointed I didn’t see any staff wiping down anything!?! And the one staff that came to clean the restrooms didn’t practice social distancing with me, and I was the only one in there. We’ll be back next weekend!

Wish I would of talked to a live person not a recorder I was willing to get a membership now I am having doubts

The Oakland Zoo has done a phenomenal job of handling the COVID crisis! They have employees carrying hand sanitizer dispensers to provide to people in line. They are wiping down public surfaces with a spray disinfectant, and all areas are marked with clearly-visible six-foot designations. Absolutely mind-blowing how perfect their response is and how fully on board each employee is.

Super cool, great initial visit

We went Sunday August 2nd a few days after they opened again. Overall it was a great experience! The animals seemed more active than I remember, so maybe they were happy to see us again. Even the jaguar wasn't pacing. The staff did a pretty good job considering the constraints they had to work under. They had people at various places directing everyone and I still saw many of them really enjoy talking with the guests while keeping safe. There were a few downsides. While almost everyone wore a mask as directed, it was difficult at certain key places to keep 6 feet apart. Especially at the entrance there were a lot of people at the gift shop while we were trying to walk in. If they could temporarily move the gift shop somewhere else, that would be ideal I think. Second, it was very difficult to keep kids from touching the glass. There are signs and people walking around reminding people not to touch the glass but it is difficult. Our kids did a fairly good job at it but still was very difficult to completely avoid. Third, they did a great job cleaning each gondola as people got out, but the bottom had 3 separate lines and it was difficult for them to go in order and keep cleaning. I feel like they had the toughest job. They should do a single line at the bottom just like they do at the top. Hopefully they are able to keep everything open, we would like to be able to keep going safely!

Although several areas were still closed where social distancing is not possible, we were still able to enjoy nearly all of the zoo. Staff were plentiful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Habitats looked so nice I could live there. And the burger and fries at the cafe were awesome. The hills can be a bit steep for mobility challenged patrons, but there are plenty of benches and lots of shade to rest a bit. The animals looked happy and healthy with many enrichment activities and areas for them.

Elephants!! Wide open (albeit hilly) terrain with great social distancing. Currently the Oakland zoo has free parking during the pandemic. A great way to spend a few hours exploring the animals. Our favorites were the elephants, bears, tigers, and lions. The skytrain gives you a very expansive view of the entire Bay area, absolutely gorgeous views! Highly recommend visiting!!

Thanks for working hard to keep cleaning during hard times.

I didn't really like zoos too much until I came here.

Great day

Lots of animals that I like

It is a nice zoo. I would recommend it to everyone.

Great zoo with large enclosures. Nice to see it open again

So much better than sf zoo!

Love it

Really Good Zoo.

Massive improvements have been made

Stank

We are a member. Go all the time. My favorite zoo .

(Translated by Google) It is a fun place! (Original) Es un lugar divertido !

Giraffes have long necks

I enjoyed

Entertaining for all ages.

This place was great :) I love that there's an amusement park right next to it and that the gondala is free!! :))) Had a really fun time and loooots of animals super cool ??

(Translated by Google) Very beautiful. Especially the gondolas ? (Original) Muy hermoso. Sobre todo las góndolas ?

A lot fun for kids

This is, by far, the very best zoo in Oakland!

Kids likes this place

This zoo is amazing

It was great

I like the Zoo. It is great place to run the kiddos around and burn some energy. We love the elephant, and giraffes exhibits. My kids wish you could see the Lions more easily though. All in all good place to spend a few hours.

First time visiting the zoo with my family and I enjoyed it. I went on the weekend, it was crowded so it was quite hard to practice social distancing. However, noted that everyone wore mask and not all areas were crowded. Overall, it was a very fun experience.

The zoo inside is good for families. Some animals, like tiger and jaguar are always sleeping. Bears are always fighting with each other. Not many people are visiting the zoo in the covid19 situation. But the only concern from us is that the zoo is located in Oakland, which is not a safe place for families to drive through.

Mostly large, open-air enclosures with moats. Lots of information about sustainable choices to support wildlife habitats. The gibbons are the best!

We bought a membership so my son can regularly visit here every week. He absolutely LOVES it and it is teaching him SO much about all the different animals. This place has changed so much, even in just the past few years. This is easily the best zoo in the Bay Area! It's so much bigger and nicer now. All of the animal habitats are spacious and the animals themselves seem healthier and happier. I look forward to visiting here with my family more often now.

Loved the zoo. It is huge and has tons of animals. Great place to spend full day with family and kids.

Love this zoo !!!! Our family has had our membership for several years. We love everything about it. It's a great go to family activity for us. The zoo is well kept and the staff is very friendly and attentive. We'll be members as long as we live close enough. Highly recommend for one time visitors and memberships alike.

Massive property. Great attention to detail throughout the property. Spent about 2 hours there but could have easily been there twice as long taking in all the small but significant touches that went into making this place special. The gondola ride provides one of the best views of the East Bay.

Best large Zoo in the area for toddlers and older adults. Not as much walking as SF. The Gondola to the top is a new highlight.

I went at night for the Glofari light show in December and it was spectacular. I felt like a little kid seeing lights at every corner. Highly recommend for families or adults.

Went right before 2nd covid shelter in place. Well spaced. All visitors wore masks. Hope to be back soon.

Glowfari has been the best holiday light experience. 10/10 recommend

(Translated by Google) This is an extraordinary place to take children and tell them that animals are rescued and protected (Original) Este si es un lugar extraordinario para llevar a los niños y contarles que los animales son rescatados y protegidos

(Translated by Google) Beautiful (Original) Hermoso

This was a great outing with the family with social distancing. A lot more people than I would be comfortable with but it turned out fine.

Wonderful zoo for kids. Nice clean and good habitats for animals. A 3 to 4 hours outing for kids.

My family had a great time at the zoo

Great zoo, friendly people. Not crowded at all (which may be due to how well they do social distancing).

Good

Walkable with great new exhibits like Glowfari. The gondola ride is a must and has an incredible sweeping view of the bay.

We always love the Oakland Zoo and we super love Glowfari! An awesome new experience at an already wonderful zoo!

Lights at the zoo were great, major improvement from previous year and much smaller crowd so you can safely distance.

Light show was great!

Great place to relax.

Our family really enjoyed the Glowrati event! There was just the right amount of people. The flow of the lines and the atmosphere was relaxing. Food & concessions were open for purchase, however we brought our own snacks. The weather was amazing and not that chilly the evening of 11/28. You can enter within an hour of your reservation time on your tickets and you can stay as long as you want until closing at 10 pm. The earlier, the better I think. Parking was easy because of it and we got the first space in front of the entrance, which never happens. Everybody was wearing masks even though we were outside. The gondola ride up the hill was open and you can fit a double back-to-back stroller inside, not sure about the tandem. Super convenient because we didn't have to take the kids out. We have the Contour. It was a great little family outing for the Thanksgiving weekend. There were bubbles and a big floor piano for the kiddos to stomp on along with music, however for those who are strict about the social distancing among kids, probably best to divert to a different location.

The kids and babe love the Oakland Zoo

Glowfari was great! We loved it!

I love this place.. not too crowded or hectic.. my little one can runs around freely and dont have to worry about the six feet apart..

(Translated by Google) All beautiful the luses spectacular (Original) Todo bonito las luses espectacular

Still a blast and taking reasonable covid precautions

We went for an evening event. It was was wonderful

Fun zoo . The grounds are well kept . The gondola ride is beautiful!!! What a view!!! i wish they had more extensive reptile and Gorilla exhibits .

Glowfari is great!

Small but nice and inviting

Great zoo.

Glofari was amazing!

The phone operator was very rude. We had booked online tickets last week for today, but unfortunately we have family members that developed cold symptoms last night. In an effort not to put others at risk and be considerate, we asked to change the tickets, but the operator refused and told me " we didn't ask you to purchase tickets if you have a cold". Were we supposed to predict that we will have a cold on the particular date? How inconsiderate and disrespectful during times of COVID. If you are asking people not to come if they have a cold, you should have some flexibility with your tickets policy. Unbelievable that we have to deal with this in addition to being sick.

We spent about four hours there, and not everything is available during this pandemic. Thankfully I bought membership and can take my family back once the other area's are open. Staff was helpful and sanitary. The gondola was amazing, the bears and monkeys put on a good show just playing around. And there is plenty for small children to enjoy. The gift shop was disappointing with a very small selection that caters to small children.

WOW! a wonderful place.

Beautiful zoo!

Nice place well organized

Wonderful fun for the whole family!

Absolutely love the new California Trail expansion. It had amazing views of the bay and the new animal exhibits are HUGE. The animals in them were very playful. The wolves were easy to see and the grizzlies were putting on a show. I absolutely loved it and recommend this zoo. Get a membership to help them out.

Glowfari was beautiful. I definitely recommend going if you can!

The night light show was super fun.

this is the second best zoo i have ever been too! there is a great gift shop, ineradicable animals and a variety of kind helpful workers. I advise this zoo to you above all others! it is great to go alone or with the whole family! there are also many cool attractions! I LOVE THIS ZOO!

Lovely! Very large spaces for the animals. Zoo does a lot of rehabilitation and conservation work. Worth supporting!!

The rate was about a bad behavior of Supervisor Bob Westfall, sleeping while interviewing me for a job. The interview was at his office at Oakland Zoo on November 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM although he was also late for the interview. About the Oakland Zoo, it must be a great place to visit.

Nice views of the city, small and clean. Love the Gondola ride would recommend it, if your not afraid of heights and want to see more great views of the city and park.

It’s a spacious zoo with a wide variety of animals, and the kids love the gondola ride. But the food options are appalling. Given the park is catered to kids, walking distance, and length of stay, it was nice to see they had adequate dining facilities. But they serve absolute garbage, sugar filled junk food - that is remotely nutritious for a child.

Nice paved walkways. The gondola is a popular part of the park. You get a great view from there. You can see Oakland,San Francisco and the bay. Best view from up top is the Bison area. Would recommend.

I love the zoo my favorite animals is a rhino so please a a r

love this zoo its really pretty

I love this zoo, especially the way it is built into the hilly terrain. Its a great place to spend a weekend. Hope it opens to the public again soon!

I love the zoo... great to bring my daughter or just relax since I have season pass 😉

I loved this zoo IT IS AWSOME❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

We went to the glowfari during weekday night. Was a really great experience.

An absolute lovely place to go sight seeing and lounge around. Walked around at about 6pm to 9pm, looking at the theatrical display of wildlife in the form of lighted lanterns. It was like walking through a Christmas wonderland presentation.

One of my favorite parts of living in Oakland is our zoo. My family has maintained a membership since 2016 and it has been worth every penny. We attended Boo @ the Zoo this year. Even with the pandemic restrictions my 4 year old had a GREAT time visiting his favorite habitats while in costume. It was a great replacement for trick or treating this year. He was particularly excited to have his first wolf sighting. The zoo always provides at least a couple of hours of distraction for our family.

Love seeing the animals and I am glad it is open again.

So much fun for everyone! Clean and safe !

Lots of animals out today

We took our 4 year old to Glowfari, what an amazing experience! The displays were well engineered and life like.

Wonderful place for kids. Well organized. Not crowded.

I prefer the Oakland zoo over San Francisco. Thier seems to be more active animals. They also have more stuff for the kids to do. The glowfari was pretty fun

Though on a reservation basis, it seemed a bit crowded but manageable. Nice to see the animals and do our part to support them and staff

Very easy to make reservation during COVID and access to a lot still within zoo. Always a great time!

Glowfari is amazing!! So much fun for all ages! Not too busy, very well controlled. The giant lanterns are beautiful! The gondola ride is the best. I love that you can ride the gondola as many times as you want, included in the admission price. Café offered a variety of prepared snacks, not overly priced. The music and lights pared with the lanterns is very well done. Absolutely loved out even there.

We had a great time , we Celebrated our grand Son 5th Birthdy.

Glofari is where its at.

コロナ禍ですが、安全性を確保するためのたくさんの努力によりリオープニングした2021年2月に訪れました。 ゴンドラに乗ることができたり、平時であればメリーゴーラウンドや様々な子供向けアトラクションも併設されているため子供との遊びにぴったりです。 サンフランシスコズーにはいない象もいます！

Glofari was spectacular! Good for kids as well as adults. The view from the gondola was of the hook!!

Fantastic zoo with a gondola, great views, and beautiful artwork. Not too big, can be conquered in an afternoon. The nighttime Glowfari exhibit is spectacular if you can catch it.

Oakland glo fair

What a fun experience our group had at Glowfari! All the colorful displays were amazing. The staff was friendly and very diligent regarding mask wearing and social distancing. Even had people walking around offering hand sanitizer. This zoo is a great experience in and of itself.💖 Have you ever seen the views from there? Stunning. Glowfari is just an added fun event. 😊

Amazed by the size and history of this place.

Glowfari was great for our 3yo, he had a lot of fun! Even with covid restrictions in place we had a great time.

There are two sides of the park and a gondola.

Glofari introduced our family to Oakland Zoo. I was skeptical that lights in a zoo would have much to offer. Boy was I wrong! My kids lept and laughed their way way through the entire lit animal fantasy. The gondola proved a challenge to their bravery which led to a level of happiness rarely seen in them. We went all out at the Landing Cafe with hot cocoa, cotton candy and popcorn all the while reveling in the nighttime view of San Francisco, the Oakland Hills, the neon running gondola and dinosaurs.

This is the best zoo in the bay area!

Love to walk and commune with the animals. So we'll kept and beautiful scenery. Go up the tram.

Glowfari was so much fun! The Oakland Zoo really did a great job of putting on a great show. It was socially distanced and as safe as you could possibly make it with a bunch of families and kids. We will definitely go back when they do this again.

Amazing zoo! Clean, safe and fun environment.

Took my family to Glowfari. It was wonderful. The family loved it and it was good to have a fun, safe outing.

Oakland Zoo is less of a hidden gem since it's expansion but we'll worth the visit. Best view of the Bay Area you can find from the Sky Cafe.

Simple reservation system, you can pay for parking at the window in case you didn't pay ahead, parking is sparse, make sure to have your reservation at the entrance gate. some areas are closed currently.

Excellent... great set up, fun, entertaining family fun

Glowfari was amazing! Definitely worth the price.

Glowfari was very colorful and bright and enjoyed a beautiful evening at the Oakland Zoo

Two moms started a fist fight over one parent comparing the kids child to the baboons in the exhibit.

Educational for all ages.

Purchase your ticket and parking online ahead of time.

Glowfari was awesome

We had a family trip of 4 adults and teenage grand daughter and toddler grandson . We all enjoyed our time there. We purchased the year membership for our grandson and his mom and dad. It's our grandsons 3rd time since the opening . We'll be back soon.

There are lots of animals and even a gondola that gets you to another part of the zoo! There are animals such as lions, bears, flamingos and more.

Good place to take kids. Ample paid parking. (part of membership. So get that.)

Glowfari pretty cool.

The gondola made this zoo experience stand out from others. There are a good variety of animals; this zoo and the neighboring San Francisco zoo each have animals that are not available in the other, so it makes both zoos worthwhile to visit. The animal decorations throughout the zoo are slightly tacky compared to the overall vibe of the zoo, but my understanding is that it is for some nighttime attraction, so I understand its necessity.

The zoo layout is good but when I went, there weren't many animals out to see. There also aren't a ton of bathrooms or rest areas. I did like the feel of the animal enclosures though. They felt open and natural for the animals to enjoy.

Awesome place very clean all animals where out and about great time recommend it to anyone who comes to Oakland

Small zoo, but lots to see. Great for kids and adults. Can do it in 2-3 hours. Not a lot of parking but during covid reservations are necessary so crowds are small.

Always a great time at this zoo. Lots to do and see. Riding the gondola is always a favorite with some of my kids. Some are terrified of it. So I wish there was a way to get to the other side of the zoo aside from the gondola

My little one enjoy to watch the animals

Glowfari was so much better then expected!

Glofari was amazing. Words can't describe. Kids had a blast. Light statues were pure art. So well put together. Felt safe also, everyone had to wear a mask.

It was more than I expected. My niece had the time of her life.

just good I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...not impressed with this zoo in comparison to other zoos! Many exhibits were empty and folks were not respectful of social distancing practices.

The beauty of the Oakland Zoo is that you will have a different experience every time you visit. The views from the upper level are breathtaking, and the gondola that gets you to the upper level is my personal favorite.

Always nice to be back 🙂

Fabulous

Fun rainy day! Got on the gondala without a line!

We went here for Glowfari. The zoo is well-maintained and we were impressed by the very visible commitment to sustainability and animal welfare throughout the zoo. We'll definitely be back!

Love love love this place.

Best zoo in California, I love the zoo and this one is always clean, and the animals are happy.

Very large zoo with plenty of animals, learning centers, and rides for kids.

Awesome, family enjoyed!! Thanks for the churros !!

Glowfari should be a regular attraction! Very beautiful and well done!

Oakland zoo was great on a weekday and not too crowded when we arrived at 10am! The gondola is a great addition to the zoo!! Plenty of room to spread out in the great outdoors and enjoy the animals!!

Great place for family! The employees are friendly and follow safe covid-19 guidelines.

Open and currently practicing covid precautions. Must get your tickets roughly 2 weeks in advance with parking pass. Reserve your date and time space. Animals start getting put away at 4pm. Be sure to go see the elephants and zebras towards the right after ur ride back gondola ride. Wish there was more animals to view but happy with our zoo trip. Easy lovely and chill. Perfect weather and not alot of people. It was great with no lines.

Need to see how it is in the summer, but I like it so far! Animals looked happy and a lot of trees. To bad not everything is open.

Love this place. Staff is polite and helpful. Kids love gandola the most. Animals are been taken care well.

Zoo Fari was wonderful.

Had a great time! A.wonderful place for families and all people to enjoy!

Awesome place to visit. Altogether a new experience with glowing animals, plants and underwater creatures. Gondola ride was an add-on.

Love the vibe of this little zoo. There are a lot of hills so if you're bringing anyone with limitations, keep that in mind.

Went at night to see the glow Safari. It was really nice! All the lights & the set up was impressive. Must see if you have little ones!

Had A Great Time...Food Was Great!!! We Got There At 230pm And Left At 5pm...We Still Didn't See All Of The Animals...We Are Glad We Have Season Passes So Next Time We Can See The Rest Of The Animals 💗💗💗

Good place to take kids under 10. Only bad part about the zoo is if you don't have reservations you have to park at the front entrance and hike your way up the hill. Its a very tiring hike . If your vaccinated you are not required to wear a mask but if your not then mask is required

Bought a membership :) -1 star because the gondola was breaking down with a loud alarm and stop-go-stopping for 25 minutes while we waited in line and it caused a lot of guest tension, which is hard when you are sensitive to that sort of thing. The Landing food and staff were lovely. Animals looked very happy and well cared for. Thought gift shop would be open later than it was, but that's okay. Appreciated the large parking lots, was a bit of a walk but the zoo is huge so you'll be walking anyway. Can't wait to come back.

I am a member of this Zoo and it is always a pleasure going. I have never been bored at this Zoo. There are a bunch of animals to see and things to do there. Also their food is not bad but it is expensive so I recommend bringing a sandwich if your going to go.

Amazing experience. The California trail requires taking a gondola ride. The line for the ride can get busy but you'll get your chance within 30 mins. Beautiful exhibits and can see that they really take good care of all animals.

Great zoo. Lots of animals, not too over priced. I really enjoyed the gondola ride to the top of the hill. I esoecially liked the grizzly bears, Buffalo and turtles. Everything was great.

Make sure book tickets for parking lots before come here. U can buy entrance tickets on online but I found that only available in the afternoon at that day. I can't guarantee car paking tickets on online. Free for cable car and there is restaurants to buy snacks.it is so hot 🔥 outside so need sun screens and sun glasses.there is small playground for children and it cost 4 dollars each person.also try ride on little train to check on some animal species. usually people spends time around 2 or 3 hr there.

An amazing place for family and friends! Lots of beautiful animals here to see. Thanks for the staff taking great care of this place!

The Oakland zoo is very good. It has a new California trail and the gondola people running it were super nice. We got to see the sun bear which is rare. The hornbill was super funny because it was putting on a show for us. In the California trail the bears were active.

First time at this zoo and my kids had a great time. Had to make reservations and prepaid for parking. Gondola up to the California trail was very cool.

Great place for kids! Gondola ride in the sky. A kid train to ride. Kiddie carnival rides and great viewing of animals and birds! Whimsical man-made cloth animals and flowers. Food was expensive but the experience was fun for us adults too!

Was a good visit. Took my parents here. The California trail was closed for a private event by the time we visited the entry point and it was not notified anywhere before or there was not timing as to when will it reopen. Felt highly unprofessional on their part. Overall I would rate 3/5.

Glowfari was amazing!!!! Thank you whoever made it happen. It was 1000 times better than “zoo lights”.

Had a great time here with the family. Kids range in age from 13-3 and everyone saw something they thought was cool. You can order/eat food in the park but expect to pay park prices. There are, however, water bottle refilling stations so you can refill your personal bottles when necessary. Masks are required outside of eating areas but everything is open otherwise. You are still required to prebuy tickets for a scheduled time/day. A great way to spend a day with the fam, definitely recommend!

My review is for the "Glowfari" yearly event at the Oakland Zoo. This is a pretty cool thing to do for kids and adults. Being born and raised in San Francisco and with visiting the SF zoo this was an amazing introduction and experience for my first time. Tickets are 20 dollars and free parking. I definitely recommend dressing warm and packing your own snacks and drinks because the food spots in the Zoo are mostly closed and it might have to do with covid. The Glowfari is going on until the end of January and I definitely recommend it. If can't make it this year you should absolutely make plans for it at the end of the year.

Glowfari was really great. Adults and children all had lots of fun. Everything was very pretty and well made. Complimentary sparkling apple cider at the top of the gondola ride was a nice touch.

It was sure a fun experience to have with your family and kids. So many fun thing to do and see. Make sure you go ride the train as well it has a fun time and you can experience even more.

I can’t post the video of the train but the zoo was super fun this weekend! All the animals were out except the tigers. So much so that I forgot to take pictures this time around. Very nice weather to go. The only thing I do not like is there is no way for you to go see some of the animals without using the gondola….that’s a cool feature but some people really don’t enjoy those type of lifts and not being able to see a part of the zoo simply because i don’t want to use a gandola certainly taints my opinion of the zoo. The part of the zoo I could go was very cool and the area that seemed to be the glowfari looks like it would be super cool but it was sold out already. Mostly a very good trip to the zoo but with not nearly any food being available and not being able to see part of the zoo. I would say it’s a good zoo. Not great. All staff were nice and friendly except the train driver. She was not mean however she did not seem to enjoy her job in the slightest. I’m not sure she actually said one word the whole time. She just kept side eyeing the people in the train behind us. Overall a good trip and I would recommend if your ok not seeing part of the zoo due to the gandola. Or you don’t have any issues with a gandola.

First time Oakland Zoo visitor , went to see Glowfari!! Beautiful. Well organized, wasn't too crowded. Must visit with kids. Glowfari total time wouldn't exceed 2.5 hours with multiple stops for pics and gondola ride

Went to the glow-fari exhibit and it was cool to see all the animal sculptures lit up at night. Would go back and see it again. Was a fun experience for the whole family!

Great place for families, great food wonderful staff

Kid friendly place..very good experience..my 5 year old loved the mini gondola ride

It was great! We even got to see the tortoises go inside for lunch. We've never seen them move so fast! Not too crowded. People still space and mask so that's nice.

The goats and sheep are so gentle. The best part is the barn cats! There are 3, so soft, so sweet if you can catch them when they're awake. My kid's favorite part of the zoo.

My daughter loves it here, super educational and fun to meet new kids to play with.

Oakland Zoo is just awesome! It's green and natural, beautiful enclosures, animals look healthy and happy, clean, and café food is good. The bats & lemurs are my fav animals in this part of the park.

Very nice. Kids enjoy much..

very interesting visit. The animals are cute. It is our first time to pet the goat. Unique experience. The lions were sleeping. The lizard were doing push ups. The wolfs are patrolling… strongly encourage visitors to come early as the zoo closes early.

Amazing family experience! My kids loved it, and we all had a lot of fun spending the day! It's also close by anyone in the Bay Area.

Awesome place I'm so happy we have something like this around us.

Good for the family Educational and entertaining Would take my family there again

Amazing Zoo! So many places and animals. Love the Gondola. Great for family and kids! Don’t forget to make time after you exit the zoo for some train ride and more ($2 a ride).

Family-oriented zoo featuring over 850 native and exotic animals. The zoo has three areas, exotic animals and country fair (tickets for rides have to be bought separately) and the California native animals on a high plateau, connected through a gondola. The animals have large, naturalistic habitats. Petting zoo for smaller children. Restaurant with a great view of the East Bay at the top gondola station.

Did you know members are allowed to come early before the zoo opens up to everyone else at 9am? Definitely worth the membership. We have also found that the animals are out more in the mornings maybe bc it's cooler outside? We go often and always have a great time. Make sure to wear comfy walking shoes.

It was a good place for small children, but I grew up going to Louisville Zoo, which was a much better layout. Oakland Zoo had some good animals, but no polar bear, penguins, or sea creatures like Louisville Zoo. Also no gorillas. I won't return a second time.

Truly a great zoo. We love the California trail and gondola. I’m sure that the animals would prefer being in the wild but from what apparently most of them are rescued and would have had a different fate if not taken in by the the Oakland zoo. I highly recommend this zoo, it’s much bigger and better than the SF zoo. We recently visited during the glowfari exhibit. It was really nice.

Very nice zoo, the animals are plenty of good quality habitats and kids can still see them. We loved this zoo is not too big, young kids can walk and have interesting variety of animals grouped in 4 areas, 3 on the entry level and 1 in the upper, the ride up is also a highlight. The place was not crowded with exception of the restaurant, we could see everything with calm and enjoy every exhibit. There was also an especial event with big animals that are illuminated once the sun sets. Arrive early if you want to park next to the entry gate and bring snacks/lunch box, the food offer inside is very bad.

Awesome free gondola ride as well as train ride (open until 4:30 pm). It’s an awesome place to go on a weekend to spot some animals like giraffes, elephants, tigers, different birds, chimpanzees, different monkeys and many more. I had an awesome time being my first time in Bay Area. Good 3 -4 hours of fun with family or friends.

A large space with beautiful views of the bay. The docents were amazing in each area we encountered them in. They were knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely friendly. The pricing at the cafe was decent, especially for the portions, compared to what we typically encounter at zoos. For the amount of space the zoo has, I was a little surprised not to see a larger variety of animals, but the animals that were there were really a delight. They all seemed very well cared for. The habitats were kept clean with access to food and water for the animals and it was really nice to learn so much about each species there.

I am not a zoo person and this is my 2nd zoo visit in 20+ years. A pretty well maintained zoo with amazing staff. The price they charge is very reasonable and includes the gondola ride. The entire zoo is well maintained, well routed, well marked so you know exactly where you are. The beautiful animals all look healthy, which I feel very good about. There is a small cafe that has decent food options. If you think about getting a pizza slice, make sure to know it's HUGE. I am not kidding ... it's equivalent of 3-4 slices from a large Papa John's pizza. It can get crowded but the zoo has enough land and attractions to sparse the crowd out. It helps that you need to register and buy tickets prior which helps with parking. We went in early and it worked well ... it did get crowded after 1PM. Overall, a great place to visit with kids and family. There is something for everybody here.

It's my second time coming. I like their free gondola rides. Also, it's a nice place with two main areas to take a look at. Very friendly to kids in their many playgrounds inside.

The Oakland Zoo, nestled in the Bay Area's scenic landscape, is more than just a place to observe animals; it's a sanctuary dedicated to education, conservation, and exceptional visitor experiences. The zoo's habitats are thoughtfully designed, mirroring natural environments and prioritizing animal well-being. Guests can encounter diverse wildlife, from majestic elephants to colorful birds, and learn through informative signs and passionate zookeeper presentations. Highlights include "Behind-the-Scenes" tours, engaging children’s areas, and eco-conscious facility designs. With breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and San Francisco Bay, the Oakland Zoo stands as a must-visit destination that cultivates deep respect for the natural world.

I had a remarkable visit to the Oakland Zoo, where I had the chance to see black bears, grizzly bears, zebras, and giraffes. Witnessing these majestic creatures up close was truly an unforgettable experience. The zoo's efforts in creating natural and spacious habitats were evident, providing a more authentic environment for the animals. It's definitely a place I would recommend to anyone interested in observing these fascinating species in a well-maintained setting.

Wonderful zoo. Plenty of animals to visit and area to walk around. Recommend to head up via gondola first before the line gets long. Folks at the park are all very helpful and friendly. Do prepare to do a lot of walking.. we spent around 4 hours at the zoo including ~30 mins for food.

My husband, my in-laws, my 2yo, and myself went to the zoo on a weekend and had a great time. We saw a lot of animals, enjoyed the gondola ride a lot, and appreciated some areas at up to allow kids to play and run around. One downside was that food booths were marked with incorrect prices and the one I went to didn't have most items listed. I ended up with a couple of warm waters. We also found the zoo map really confusing and it wasn't clear that we entered from the lower entrance instead of the main entrance.

It was an magnificent day we could see the rainbow start and end point .Awesome to see all the animals healthy and in perfect spot where you could see them perfectly and observe the animals and their nature .. the enclosures were big enough to ensure the roaming space for animals and was clean and tidy (especially the carnivores) . the gandola was a bit busy due to the huge mass of people but was worth it we had unexpected experiences . the food was kinda expensive and not really worth it not recommended for foods rest everything was beyound the imagination we had a chance to see and grab some pictures with the rainbow as well best experience as of zoo in my whole life awesome place if you love animals awesome and funny staffs make you feel like home if you have any questions loved it ❤️❤️❤️❤️ definitely coming again with whole of my family ❤️🐾

What an amazing experience for the kiddo. She’s about a year and a half and loved Glowfari. All the lights and running around with other kids was the best. The only issue we ran into was the mud but luckily it did not rain while we were there. Such a beautiful display and so enjoyable for the kids.

The best zoo I've ever gone to in my entire life, it has so many amazing animals and the best part are the gondolas which are basically giant carts hanging from a wire that is attached high in the sky and the carts are completely free and take you from one side of the zoo to the other!!!!!

I love the Oakland Zoo! It's affordable, fun and they take great care of the animals. The gondola ride up to the California trail has some of the best views of the Bay you'll see anywhere!

Great zoo experience. We loved that they manage visitor traffic by scheduling your visit times. This allows you to enjoy the habitats without it being overcrowded. We had a lovely experience.