Open Today: 9 A.M. - 5 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.
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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. 

• Need a Map? Download the App!

• Recycle Electronics to Save Gorillas

• Tips to Beat the Heat

A hand holding a phone showing the home screen of the North Carolina Zoo app. The elephant habitat is in the background with two elephants, green trees, and a blue sunny sky.
North Carolina Zoo App
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Close-up of a large black gorilla's head and chest emerging from a dense background of bright green foliage.
Gorillas on the Line
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Desert Chuckwalla Lizard, a large, grey lizard with wrinkled skin, rests on a light-colored rock surrounded by small green plants.
Summer Tips
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Plan Your Visit
Today at the Zoo
Meet the Keeper

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Prairie Geyser
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Garden Friends Playground

Open daily

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Kidzone

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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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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It’s Save the Frogs Day, which is very fitting since that is exactly what we are trying to do - SAVE THE FROGS! 🐸 Conservation of the Gopher Frog is one of our regional conservation programs here at the North Carolina Zoo. Gopher Frogs are state-listed as endangered in the state of North Carolina. Gopher frog eggs are collected and head started here onsite at the Zoo, which means exactly what it sounds like: giving them a head start in life! They are kept safe from predators and fed regularly to ensure they have the best chance at survival as they morph through their life phases to adulthood. Once they are froglets, also called “metamorphs”, the stage between tadpole and adult frog they are then released into the wild in their natural habitat, the eastern part of North Carolina. Our goal is that the head-started, released frogs will thrive in the wild and hopefully boost the wild population numbers if they are successfully able to breed.
Y’all may not have asked for a 3 minute sand cat kitten video, but we are giving you one anyways!🐱😘
We’re only 5️⃣ days away from this year’s plant sale! A few important things to remember…The plant sale is one day only, on Saturday, May 2 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Types of plants for sale will be varieties of natives, succulents, and cacti. We can’t wait to see you there! 💚 It will be held at the Solar Pointe picnic area at the south end of the North America Parking lot near the North America entrance. ☀️ Forms of payment accepted: cash, checks, and card! All proceeds from the Plant Sale will directly benefit the Zoo's Horticulture Department. 💰 ‼️ Zoo admission is not required to shop the plant sale. ‼️
Our Salamander Saturday event on May 2nd is fast approaching! This a free event (with Zoo admission), to celebrate salamanders with crafts, games & education. You might even get the chance to meet some ambassador animals! 👀 We hope to see YOU🫵 in Kidzone, located in North America, on THE Salamander Saturday from 10am - 2pm! 💚
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.