Open Today: 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
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For Over Fifty Years

Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

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What we do
The North Carolina Zoo protects wildlife and wild places and inspires people to join us in conserving the natural world.
Tickets
Hours
Maps
Events

Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

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What's New at the Zoo

Something NEW and exciting is always happening at the world's largest natural habitat zoo. 

• Legacy of C'sar

• Summer Camps

• Join Our Team!

Elephant Csar standing in front of a pod with a large beautiful green field with trees . Three female elephants gathered behind him and one near the water behind the pond
Legacy of C'sar
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A group of young campers holding green personal fans stand together, posing in front of a large brass statue of a Bison in a wooded area.
School Grade Summer Camps
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A woman wearing an Iron Hen Cafe hat and uniform leans casually on a wooden restaurant counter next to a cash register. There are food items, kitchen machinery, and kitchen visible behind her. A menu hangs on the wall behind her head.
Seasonal Jobs
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Plan Your Visit
Today at the Zoo
Feeding Times

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Prairie Geyser
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Garden Friends Playground

Open daily

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Carousel

Open every day!

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Kidzone

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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Acacia Station Giraffe Deck

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Weather Permitting

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Treehouse Trek

10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

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A fuzzy brown otter with small, rounded ears, lanky body, and long tail, perches on a small rocky ledge next to a pond.
Connect with us
Instagram @NCZoo

Stay in touch with the Zoo! Follow us on social media for updates on everything from our wildlife conservation efforts to your favorite animals. Share your photos, stories, and videos with us as we celebrate 50 WILD years in 2024.

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Can you spot the hellbender? 🧐 At first glance, the hellbender blends in seamlessly with the rocks they call home. Protect their habitat by respecting it; don’t move, take, or stack rocks along streams or rivers! Moving rocks can destroy the homes of hellbender salamanders, harm their eggs and disturb the many fish and insects that share their habitat! Hellbenders (aka “water dogs” or “snot otters”) are harmless, nonvenomous, giant salamanders whose presence in the environment indicates good water quality! The Eastern Hellbender is a North Carolina state species of special concern, meaning they are a protected species under the law! So, if you spot a Hellbender, don’t disturb them! Instead, help monitor the species by reporting sightings to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at (919) 707-0050.
🚨 Important Weekend Operations Information 🚨 If you are planning to visit the Zoo this weekend, please take the time to read this entire post! ⬇️ Thank you in advance! 😊 With the consistent nice weather on the weekends that we have been having, we have had higher attendance than usual! You might remember that last year, we implemented ticket price changes following a “Peak Season” and “Low Season” schedule. Typically, the opening of Africa parking and admission along with attractions also coincides with this schedule. The first day of “Peak Season” is March 15, which happens to fall on a Sunday this year. Due to the high volume weekends we have already had this year, Africa parking and admission gates will be OPEN starting on Saturday, March 14. Low Season hours will remain on Saturday, March 14: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. with last entry at 3 p.m. Peak Season hours will start on Sunday, March 15: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m. However, attractions such as Carousel and Giraffe Feeding Deck will not be open until Sunday, March 15. Zoofari will open later this month. Check out our website for more information on your favorite attractions. Parking lot shuttle service also returns on Saturday, March 14. Operating from 11:00 a.m. until 30 minutes after closing, this shuttle transports guests OUTSIDE the Park between the North America and Africa parking lots. Use this service if you finish your visit at the opposite entrance from where you parked your car. Keep in mind that the pricing change for Peak Season goes into effect on Sunday, March 15. As always, online ticket sales must be made at least a day in advance of your expected visit; same-day online purchases cannot be processed. See our Admission Pricing Sheet pinned to our profile. During busy season, especially on the weekends, check our website and social media for the latest parking and operations updates. Our website is full of information about tickets, attractions and everything in between, so we encourage everyone to take some time to explore it!
Ronan the Grizzly bear will be off habitat beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 13th. While his habitat is closed for pool maintenance, enjoy Ronan's funny faces while chillin' in the water! 😝🐻
A quick, but important, reminder as we start to enter the busiest season of the year! Online tickets cannot be purchased for same day visits. From our website, “Online ticket sales must be made at least a day in advance of your expected visit; same-day online purchases cannot be processed.” 🎟️ Same day tickets can only be purchased at the admission gates. Last entry into the Zoo is always one hour before closing. You can head to our website to purchase your online tickets or click the link in our bio!
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
A Commitment to Excellence
Large group of Zoo Volunteers
Volunteer

There are many rewarding ways to volunteer your time at our park. Opportunities range from gardening to greeting to helping guests feed giraffes!

An aerial view of the Akiba Bridge, a long wooden bridge with colorful designs and a pergola in the middle that leads from the parking lot, through dense trees, over a lake and ending at the African entrance of the NC Zoo.
Land Acknowledgement

The state of North Carolina is situated on the ancestral homelands of many American Indian tribes who have lived in this place, cared for these lands, and traveled throughout the region for thousands of years. 

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a red shirt and seen from the back, holding a small child with curly hair on her hip, as they interact with a giraffe. The woman is holding a piece of green foliage which the giraffe is gently eating. The giraffe's spotted head and neck dominate the left side of the frame, and the scene takes place at a low wooden fence.

Outreach and Engagement

Our park serves and welcomes everyone, and it is our promise to value equity, respect, inclusivity, and kindness. Everyone can enjoy an unforgettable day trip here.