Los Angeles Zoo

This was the worst zoo I've ever visited in the country. I felt sorry for the animals, especially the gorillas. Their habitat wasn't suitable for the hot climate. Most animals were hiding. I wanted to love it, but it was sad. The habitats were not suitable. No photo spots or statuary, and obviously no money is going to support this zoo. It's the bare bones minimum. I'm posing on the one statue available for photos, the lizard.

Love the zoo! Perfect for a family trip because it is so much fun for ppl of all ages! The animals are all super cute. The only thing I would recommend is if you are with kids, to bring a stroller since there is a lot of walking.

My 4yo had fun seeing the animals that were there but if im being honest most of the animals looked half dead. At this point release all these animals back into the wild and call it a day. Half of the enclosures were closed and we spent 50$ on 2 waters a soda and one ice cream if my little one does ever want to come back I’ll be sure to bring all my own food and drinks.

The stars go to the workers there especially the elder ones who are super friendly and knowledgeable. Was extremely sad to see 2 elephants in different enclosures. They said it's because one is a male and he will try and be aggressive with the other elder female.. but it is extremely cruel to keep elephants not in a herd or with family. The poor 60yr female elephant should be a matriarch, not depressed alone. All the glass windows were disgustingly dirty. Made it really hard to look through. If you're not in amazing shape don't bother. Huge walk between exhibits all up hills. Not much shade and it is HOT. Almost every drink stand was closed for some reason. Would not go back here again ever.

This looks like a great zoo. Lots of parking and easy to access. The zoo had already started decorating for Christmas. (Would love to see the walkways at night!) It looks like there are a lot of fun exhibits here. Unfortunately we came at a time when most of them were closed, so we didn't get to see many animals. 🤪

Half of animals gone, just left only empty cages. No tiger, no lion, no otter, no rhino, no penguins. I just try to make fun with Piranha smiley. I still lucky to see giraffes, elephants and monkeys.

Zoo is great but still needs the Lions, Tigers, it is still a great place for family day visit, but it might need to have some informative shows with animals and zoo keepers showing the people how animals lived needs a bit of attention to visitors. To make it a Super Great Memorable Visit...

Great zoo! Beware that it is a lot of walking, especially at the beginning. Every time I go, there are zoo volunteers roaming around and eager to share their animal knowledge with guests! They are incredible sources of information :) Lots of nice animal exhibits, my favorites being the chimpanzees and the river otters. There is a great big playground for kids and lots of shade throughout the zoo. A carousel too!

This was the worst zoo I've ever visited in the country. I felt sorry for the animals, especially the gorillas. Their habitat wasn't suitable for the hot climate. Most animals were hiding. I wanted to love it, but it was sad. The habitats were not suitable. No photo spots or statuary, and obviously no money is going to support this zoo. It's the bare bones minimum. I'm posing on the one statue available for photos, the lizard.

Love the zoo! Perfect for a family trip because it is so much fun for ppl of all ages! The animals are all super cute. The only thing I would recommend is if you are with kids, to bring a stroller since there is a lot of walking.

My 4yo had fun seeing the animals that were there but if im being honest most of the animals looked half dead. At this point release all these animals back into the wild and call it a day. Half of the enclosures were closed and we spent 50$ on 2 waters a soda and one ice cream if my little one does ever want to come back I’ll be sure to bring all my own food and drinks.

The stars go to the workers there especially the elder ones who are super friendly and knowledgeable. Was extremely sad to see 2 elephants in different enclosures. They said it's because one is a male and he will try and be aggressive with the other elder female.. but it is extremely cruel to keep elephants not in a herd or with family. The poor 60yr female elephant should be a matriarch, not depressed alone. All the glass windows were disgustingly dirty. Made it really hard to look through. If you're not in amazing shape don't bother. Huge walk between exhibits all up hills. Not much shade and it is HOT. Almost every drink stand was closed for some reason. Would not go back here again ever.

This looks like a great zoo. Lots of parking and easy to access. The zoo had already started decorating for Christmas. (Would love to see the walkways at night!) It looks like there are a lot of fun exhibits here. Unfortunately we came at a time when most of them were closed, so we didn't get to see many animals. 🤪

Half of animals gone, just left only empty cages. No tiger, no lion, no otter, no rhino, no penguins. I just try to make fun with Piranha smiley. I still lucky to see giraffes, elephants and monkeys.

Zoo is great but still needs the Lions, Tigers, it is still a great place for family day visit, but it might need to have some informative shows with animals and zoo keepers showing the people how animals lived needs a bit of attention to visitors. To make it a Super Great Memorable Visit...

Great zoo! Beware that it is a lot of walking, especially at the beginning. Every time I go, there are zoo volunteers roaming around and eager to share their animal knowledge with guests! They are incredible sources of information :) Lots of nice animal exhibits, my favorites being the chimpanzees and the river otters. There is a great big playground for kids and lots of shade throughout the zoo. A carousel too!

I recently made an online purchase for a family package for three people, which cost $190. It came with two complimentary tickets, and we receive discounts on food and other event tickets. My mother-in-law and I have found a suitable location to visit regularly. We are both looking forward to returning throughout the year. There were numerous school buses there the day we arrived. The park was busy but not too crowded to enjoy all the features. We heard that the elephants were about to come out for feeding. Tiny, an older elephant, has her food cut specifically because she has only one tooth, and she is still encouraged to graze for food. She was part of the circus, so she loves it when everyone claps. While we were going to different attractions, we ran into Muriel, a 99-year-young docent who educated us about echidnas. What an amazing time we got to spend with Muriel! She patiently answered all our questions and even shared some additional information. We noticed a few several food trucks and other vendors selling hats, gloves, food. Parking is free which is a big plus !

Not sure what happened to our LA Zoo, I wish I could say so many good things. This is a place we're tourist come to visit and family bring their children to enjoy a day of seeing animals. I use to love coming here. But things have changed, the place is very outdated and unkept. I took our grandchildren. You can't see some of the animals like seals because the glass is filled with calcium buildup. The aviary show is at 12 and no more showings, no lions ( is that possible!!! A zoo without lions, no bueno). I use to be a proud member. Unfortunately, not planning to come anytime soon. I do have to say at least there is no trash on the floor.

I have lived in California for over 4+ decades. I have only been to the LA Zoo once. It was with one of my youngest brother's family. He had an annual pass at the time. It's a good size zoo. Love the animals here especially the giraffes. We did the safari ride which was fantastic. Got to see the animals in a controlled wild atmosphere. If I live closer to this zoo, I would get their annual pass.

I attended the Holiday Zoo Lights event and I was pleasantly surprised to see more interactive activities. They had acapella carolers called "Tinseltones Carolers" who sang holiday classics next to photos with Santa. We stayed for a few songs before proceeding on the walk. Santa photos are an additional charge depending on your photo package. I really liked the butterfly theme this year. They also had a section for kids to play with instruments. It wasn't too busy when I went so you can go at your own pace and have plenty of space to get those photos without other people under the tunnel.

I paid like $90 for the annual pass for me and my wife. With a child under 2, this was the perfect way to go out walking with our stroller. Since my son was 3 months, we've come to the zoo well over a dozen times for a stroll. Parking is free, member only entrance is so quick, and you can literally come any time! Going to renew my membership In 2025 for sure!

I've always supported the LA Zoo for many years and enjoyed their Halloween, Chinese New Year, Christmas Lights and other events. Since I've been doing research overseas, I've had to revive my membership to go back and enjoy the animals and also hang out in one of the most green and home to animals you don't ordinarily see in Los Angeles landscapes. I went straight to see the Giraffe, Leopard, Tigers, Elephants, Rhinoceros, gorilla, chimpanzee and Zebra enclosures. They seem to be healthier and bulkier than in the past many years. You see, I spent some time in Africa doing HIV research and usually fly to Kruger to see them in the wild. It's mating season so I get to see the courtship rituals and their attempt at such while visitors rile themselves up to the act, LOL. The Okapi and Tapir were great looking considering they seem to be undernourished in the past compared to those in other zoos. The Aviary seemed not so crowded for so many other reasons, and the reptiles are dull-looking, and appears to be alone (no mates, therefore?) in their enclosures. I counted several closures and staff and subcontractors are all over the place, fixing or repairing enclosures and the like. Yesterday was about 100 degrees so the animals were away from the eager crowds, too. The gorilla even mooned the crowd which drew us to loud screams and laughters, hahahaha! It was really fun to see such rare trained reactions and behavior from both species of animals (us?)! I can go on and on but if you have time, please visit the LA zoo either in the daytime or nighttime events and support an iconic zoo.

I think we should give the LA Zoo a bit more credit! There is a variety of animals housed at the LA Zoo and during this visit, was actually able to see most of the big cats (except the lion) chilling at their enclosures, elephants roaming, giant otters splash in and out of water, etc. In terms of activities, the noon Bird Show was really wonderful with various endangered birds soaring over the audiences' heads. The demonstration also sought to teach and encourage conservation efforts!! The down side of the LA Zoo would be that the shuttles have to be paid to ride. This is a smaller zoo so don't expect to see red pandas, or any pandas for that matter. During the visit there were a lot of construction, meaning that habitats were temporarily closed or that some animal enclosures felt incomplete. Nonetheless the LA Zoo is worth a visit, especially for a family outing! You can pack water, snacks, and even lunch so there's no need to buy food (don't know if they are good) and expensive water/snacks, and still have a picnic near your favorite enclosures. Personally, I can spend the whole day here to find all the animals and try to catch all the different activities. But if you're the type to speed through this, you can also stop by other free museums in the area like Griffith Observatory, Travel Town, etc. All pretty family friendly and easy to visit!

Terrible! LA Zoo is one of the worst Zoos I've ever been too! It is consistently voted one of the worst Zoos in America. The LA Zoo is also the worst zoo for elephants due to their treatment of elephants as well according to some reports. They say Billy the Elephant is mistreated and in constant pain mentally and physically. Not sure how this reports know this. LA Zoo is lacking so many animals. We didn't see any lions, bears or tigers. This zoo is really lacking in quality. I bought the family membership and we've only gone two times. I'm not really in a rush to go back as it's a waste of time and money. Every time, we go. We end up spending more money on entertainment and food because our son is so bored coming here.

It's a zoo. I've been twice and I don't feel the need to come back, though I can see the value in membership or frequent patronage. Unlike a fixed museum, zoo exhibits may differ from visit to visit with some animals unavailable or out of sight, and LA Zoo does have some interesting attractions. They also do fun events like "Boo At The Zoo" for Halloween or "Brew At The Zoo" beer fests. Highlights for me are the komodo dragon, the snake house and the giant bronze snake that you can take pictures with, the lions (Leo here), and the goat petting zoo! Be sure to check out the old zoo at Griffith Park as well - an abandoned, graffitied maze of horrifically small animal cages and enclosures. As of a few years ago, you could still explore most of what remains.

This is a very cute zoo. Its perfect for the summer weather because it isn't that big where you can't see everything. We were able to see everything in about two hours and that includes taking our sweet time. I loved how clean everything was and how organized things were. I didn't enjoy that there aren't many food options but other than that I enjoyed this place very much. I hope to come again, the animals here are interesting and are for sure animals I would like to see up close again (especially the Giraffes)!

It was my sons first time coming to The zoo and he had a wonderful time :') I suggest taking a stroller and lots of water, they also let you rent out strollers and wheelchairs! It is definitely a lot of walking but so worth it they also have restrooms EVERYWHERE which is super cool. They also have a playground for your little ones to enjoy and take a break. They also sell beers/alcoholic beverages which my husband was very happy about. Great time for everyone in the family. Also free parking!

On Saturday, the weather was great for a visit to the LA Zoo with the family. My sister and her kids enjoyed the first time to the Los Angeles Zoo. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes; there will be a lot of walking. Definitely an enjoyable way to spend the entire day at the LA Zoo.

I've been coming to the LA Zoo since I was young and have taken my children throughout the years. My youngest son and I are keeping our annual zoo trip tradition alive for as long as we can. Love seeing the growth of the giraffe family. A must do is grab lunch and sit to watch the chimpanzees eat and frolick. Finally got to see the elephants. The last two times we have come, the elephants have not been out or well. We were disappointed that a lot of exhibits/areas were closed but we can clearly see there is a lot of construction going on. Hoping for a new and improved experience next time. *Tickets are still affordable which I appreciate. *Yay for free parking. **Tip: Bring your own water bottle. Refill stations throughout the zoo.

PAWS & RELAX! The L.A Zoo is a wonderful place to go to reflect on nature and the beauty of the animal kingdom. It's been a bit since my last visit and although the animals are always a marvel to see I had a few disappointments this visit. First off, most of the animals were gone. No lions, tigers, or bears were found! I spotted one elephant's butt but he was resting in the back. I figured "oh maybe all the animals are resting", nope! A lot of the enclosures were empty, which was kind of eerie. Also, a lot of the enclosures that did have animals only had one. For instance, their was one gorilla and one rhino by themselves. Additionally, I noticed a lot of the eateries were closed. They're currently renovating one eatery and converting it into a Pink's hot dog so that was understandable. However, their were many other food spots that could've been open and they weren't. It was an interesting experience as some parts of the zoo felt like an abandoned mall. I also miss the zoo's fresh eucalyptus scent that you enjoyed when you walked in, it's also gone. As for the good, The L.A zoo is still a fun time as you get to see the iconic Reggie the Alligator and his friend Tina. Also, the flamingos, meerkats, and giraffes are certainly a main event! I snagged a lot of fun pics on this trip of the animals that were there. I absolutely loved the tropical enclosure with the Caiman lizard and piranhas! Oh and I recommend visiting the Aviary it's arguably the most beautiful spot of the zoo. I will give major kudos to L.A zoo's food scene. Reggie's Bistro has some of the best food I've had at a recreational spot (zoo, theme park, etc.) They have great Mediterranean/Vegetarian dishes and juicy burgers. The gift shops are very pricey. My Mom bought me a cool hat as a gift for $35 bucks plus tax and I thought they overcharged her! Overall, I recommend this zoo, it's a great place to bring families and friends, however there is room for improvement to restore this zoo to its former glory!

I have visited several zoos and botanical gardens across the country during my travels, Los Angeles ranks in the middle of about the 10 I have been to. There is a wide range of animals to observe and learn about but not much interaction with staff, for presentations, guidance or insight at many exhibits. The lay out is hilly and difficult for some to navigate and get around. There is the shuttle options but..,,,The international Market is decent, the evening at the Zoo is cool with the night lights. Very festive during the winter holiday season

It's been over 38 years since I've been back to this zoo and surprisingly had a good time. It's now $22 adult admission with discounts for seniors and children which can be bought at the counter. Came on a Saturday morning during June Gloom right when it opened so weather was cool and animals were out! Almost all exhibits we went to at least one animal was present: flamingo, meerkat, giraffe, gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, crocodile, cockatoo, rhino, elephant, tiger, sea lions, porcupine, koala. The reptile lair area was small and stuffy so I don't recommend it. No bags get checked so you can bring food in discreetly. Lines for subpar food do get long so we went out to the vendors at the entrance and had lunch. As long as you get a stamp, you can re-enter anytime. So happy these food vendors are there cuz you get better food and value with no lines: tortas, tacos, fries, hotdogs, pupusas, birria, aguas Frescas. Price was reasonable enough given the circumstances of not having to eat inside the zoo and not having to drive somewhere else. All vendors provided seating too. There are also souvenirs to buy as well. Free parking. I think everything can be seen in 5 hours in a leisurely way.

Such a nice family outing day! Although it was a warm summer day we were surrounded by a lot of shady green trees. Definitely give yourself 5-6 hours to enjoy the entire zoo. It's a huge place! Make sure you have on comfy shoes since some areas are a short incline up. I know it's hot and there's only so much we could do but I think it would be a neat idea if the zoo provided ice blocks and water pools to help all the animals stay cool and hydrated.

It was a decent place to get your steps in while being able to see the animals. But there were as much since some areas were closed for refurbishment. Some area are steep and uphill so not really good for people who has a hard time walking. Their boo at the zoo event this year was a bit sad compared to last year. The reason is because there were less candy stops. Since one of the main locations was closed.

this place was super fun and open and there was so many kids that loved it. It was our very first time here at the LA zoo we normally always go to the San Diego zoo parking was free I believe, it was just a far walk to the entrance lol in front of the entrance there was so many cool vendors that were selling food like corn, a lot hotdogs, and even clothes and all different kinds of food which was super cool. It reminded me of a farmers market. tickets were just a reasonable price, but we really loved the environment. We loved how they had face painting and they had all of these photo opportunities for the kids. our favorite highlight of the week was basically the chimpanzees exhibit and they were fighting and they were yelling and screaming and talking basically and one of the chimpanzees threw poop and it was just a show there was hundreds of people watching it, and it was almost about the time that they were closing so it was like the best!! they had all different kinds of elephants as well from different areas of the countries which was super cool !! overall, our kids loved seeing the zoo. They just love animals and I think it is such a fun family filled day to do that especially if it was on a weekday, but we went on a weekend so it was a little packed. Definitely would recommend going to the zoo with your family , it was just so fun!!

Parking is free so that's a plus. This is also less expensive than San Diego zoo. The zoo is bigger than the Santa Barbara zoo but smaller than San Diego zoo. I do love the food they had available around the park. I was sad they didn't have raspberry whip but either way I like pineapple. I love their churros and kettle corn. I hadn't here since I was college and I'm glad they kept their primate collection. Will be back.

What a sad Zoo :( Granted, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is my local zoo, so I might be a bit spoiled, but I expected more. I was in town for work and decided to visit during some free time. Unfortunately, what I encountered were mainly closed exhibits, outdated/old exhibits, and small, unnatural exhibits. There were hardly any animals out. The grounds are pretty, as they're located in Griffith Park, but the exhibits don't reflect the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It was odd and honestly quite depressing. The giraffe exhibit was smaller than my backyard. It's disheartening to see a zoo in a city like Los Angeles fall so short. Los Angeles has some major problems and the Zoo is one of them. Zoos already face significant criticism, and this experience only adds to the negative perception. I hope feedback like this reaches someone who can bring about much-needed improvements.

Animals were cool good for walking and photos pretty cool place to see diffrent type of animals

Don't do it! Don't go here! Used to be a great zoo, but now 90% of the areas are either closed of you can't see the animals. Super disappointed. Way to expensive for the limited enclosures that actually have animals and were not closed. More were closed and had no animals then were open. The funny thing is at the ticket window it listed only 2 areas as closed. Seriously there were at least 20-30 areas closed. What a joke!! Don't waste your money!

I had not been to the L.A Zoo in years! Today was a holiday so it probably wasn't the best time to go, because it was packed. Nevertheless we had a nice time. We saw a couple of animals that the Zoo close to home doesn't have, so that was nice! My kids were so excited to go to a new zoo. Although we got to see a lot of animals we haven't seen in a while a lot of the sun exhibits were empty. Some animals were also sleeping or hiding, but that is just regular animal behavior. They are getting ready to have their annual zoo lights, which will be back for.

Fantastic holiday light show! We love our holidays to be more about the unfiltered sensations that include optical illusions. Lovely night out with perfect weather! Ticket cost is $35 per person, and we suggest taking an Uber to avoid the traffic. This is a must see venue!

Great place to visit with kids and families, there is alotnof uphill and downhill which maybe difficult to walk for older people or those who push strollers. I gave 3 stars because the playground is very confusing, and there is not much variet of activities to do for families once you have the membership.

I never really thought too much about the LA Zoo. When I thought of "zoo," the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park would spring to mind. Even the Santa Ana Zoo or Santa Barbara Zoo would pop up first before the one in LA. It's interesting how most of the zoos are in cities that start with an "S"...but I digress. My son is obsessively in love with animals. As a result, I got a family pass, which is actually a ridiculously good deal. The drive from Long Beach is not the best, but the free parking can't be beat. My kids can spend over an hour staring at snakes, and the play area is a must stop on every visit. We're now fans and plan to stay members for the foreseeable future.

I appreciate the cleanliness of the Zoo and the healthier snack options. Specifically, being a person who has a Gluten allergy, I appreciated seeing Gluten Free items clearly labeled. There were protesters outside the Zoo, which I respect and understand. But that did make me feel uneasy about going and trying to have a good time. More than a handful of exhibits were closed but we still were able to see a variety of animals. Overall a good time. Definitely wear walking shoes!

Had a very entertaining and fun time at the LA Zoo today. upon arriving to the zoo, the staff that I encountered at the ticket booth, were very nice and the line moved swiftly. The second we entered the zoo we were greeted by staff that invited the kids to draw on the ground with various colors of chalk which they did and really enjoyed. Immediately followed by the quick stop to the concession stand for some drinks, churros, ice cream, and various other snacks. Then we were off to start our exciting animal sightseeing day. The first group of animals we saw were a flamboyance of flamingos (in Leman terms a flock of flamingos). We went on to see monkeys, gorillas, various reptiles, like snakes, Komodo dragons, a baby elephant and my favorite was the tiger. We were even able to get up close and person with a group of giraffes, which was completely freakin awesome. I can't help but truly, truly hope all of the animals here at the zoo/in captivity are happy and treated well by professional/amazing zoologist. They say 93% of communication is nonverbal and I saw a chimpanzee that looked like he or she had a hint of sadness in their eyes. I'm gonna be optimistic and say that I might've been Trippin and it was all in my head. I did, however, have the pleasure of witnessing a tiger drinking water and playing with a large ball. As well as having the opportunity to see a bunch of monkeys playing around and it seemed as though they were having a blast. It appears to be a common oversight that the L.A. Zoo is also a botanical garden. Which makes perfect sense because some of the cute, exotic and amazing animals definitely steal the spotlight.

I remember coming here as a kid thinking this Zoo was big and had a lot of ground to cover. Even as an adult I still think the same. There is a lot of ground to cover so be prepared to do a lot of walking and wear comfortable shoes! They do have a driver operated tram which provides a tour of the Zoo. While they do serve beer and soft drinks, they do not sell any coffee at the Zoo!! I searched high and low and couldn't even find a canned coffee for purchase at one of the kiosks, which was so disappointing. There is free parking, which is nice! The exhibits could use an upgrade but are still decent. They have a beautiful auditorium for lectures and gatherings. The LA Zoo attracts a lot of families with children but I did see several adult groups and couples.

It's not the biggest zoo out there, you really can't compare it to some like the San Diego Zoo, but we always have a good time. It's a really nice place to take your family and walk around for a few hours. They don't have some of the more popular zoo animals like lions, tigers, hippos, pandas, etc., but they do have an expansive chimpanzee exhibit, giraffes, gorillas and some other interesting exhibits. I also think the concessions are surprisingly good for reasonable prices, and the season pass is quite a good deal if you want to come more than a couple times per year. Overall a fun time, and I recently read some of the animals are rescued from illegal trafficking, which I think is great!

The section between the gorillas and the giraffes is closed for construction of the new vulture habitat. The bathrooms by the zebras and gorilla grill are also closed. They have a new addition to the zoo!! A baby rhino named Marshall is in the habitat next to where the Hippos used to be. I hope they have a larger one planned for him when he gets larger. I love all the new decorations they have up for this years zoo lights. I enjoy coming every year for this event.

I came here for their members event for the LA Zoo Lights. I actually decided to become a member because you get a discount for the zoo light tickets. They also had a members only entrance which is really nice as the entrance line gets very long. As soon as you walk in you can walk up to the member booth and get 2 free refillable hot chocolate cups that you could refill for $3.49. You could also get a buy 1 get 1 free churro ticket and 2 free carosoul tickets. I do wish they had given 3 free tickets though because most parents come with their child to the event so I think 3 would have been better. They had lots of really cool lights for kids and even play areas for them. I think they did an amazing job and I had a lot of fun with my family. Members also get a 10% discount inside the shops. I do wish they had more photo opportunities this year as 2 years ago they had many more.

If you are new to LA and the traffic, pack your patients and enjoy the ride. I suggest you plan double if not triple your time in miles. I am a Nanny And I take care of a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old. I purchased the tickets online the night before ($39 for an adult and a 5-year-old, the 18 month- old was free) - a Sunday and we went to the zoo on Monday. We arrived at about 9:50 a.m., they opened at 10:00 a.m. . It was maybe a 5-minute line to get right into the gate with our online reservation. They have ramps for wheelchairs/strollers and then they have stairs. This is throughout the entire zoo, which I really liked and it makes sense. In the beginning it was hit or miss on seeing some of the exhibits, animals were just not super active or did not want to be seen. They have cafes / snack shops throughout the zoo. Super overpriced. A 16 oz can of cold water was $13.99, ridiculous!! I highly suggest bringing your own snacks and water for sure and if money is not a factor, go for it! You do not have to pay to park and driving time took us about 40 minutes from El Monte to this location. There were also quite a few exhibits that had signs stating that they were temporarily closed There were several shady spaces and a lot of benches throughout. It was a super hot day and I knew at 10:00 a.m. that we were going to need to take our time as well as take several breaks for water / bathroom. I am posting some of the pictures, not all of them. I think it's worth it to go, if you like the zoo. Some of the exhibits are with koalas, elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, birds, giraffes and many others. Staff was so-so, not super friendly - they just all seemed like they were just there to do their job and that was it. I would suggest getting there early if you want parking in the first row right across from the zoo, otherwise I don't feel the walk would be bad if you parked anywhere else within the time frame of arriving. To the Los Angeles zoo, it would be nice if the greenery covering the zoo part in the signage was cleaned up, so when we take a picture of the Los Angeles zoo sign, we can get the entire picture / wording.

I've been going here for the last 30+ years. I feel like it continues to get better and better. It's been nice sharing the experience with my son, and this last time we went really took the cake! I've been going here for the last 30+ years. I feel like it continues to get better and better. It's been nice sharing the experience with my son, and this last time we went really took the cake! We went for a special tour thanks to Camp Conrad Chinnock, the JDRF, and Padre Foundation. We all had so much fun! Each group of 10 was given their own docent that gave us our very own tour complete with fascinating facts. After the tour, we got to watch an amazing bird show. The rain didn't stop us from having a blast. I can't recommend the zoo enough. P.S. Xander even made a new diabuddy while we were there.

When I am not sweating - 5 stars. When I am sweating - 2 stars. There's a lot of walking to be sweating. Sure - we don't like the idea of captivity- but we think they do a good job and we do like to enjoy what we have. We love the bird show. We love reptile building. We love australian selects. We love sleeping bear who hibernates 24/7 We love how different poops smell. Gorillas enjoy me. Why not have a beer and then laugh on the carousel while looking at one spot? Bring an umbrella. Pay $5 for the all day tram to go in between exhibits every 20 mins Thank you

Boo at the zoo this year was not as good as last years. A couple of the stations were stingy when giving the candies out. Last year, the last 30mins of the last day before the event ended- all the stations were giving out the candies like crazy. There was nothing like that this year. We even saw the ladies with the full size bars bringing the boxes back into the offices. Who knows, maybe the employees keep the rest that were not given out. Also to note, some areas throughout the zoo were closed off or being repaired.

There are very few animals, which is probably good. Most exhibits are closed. The greenery is nice and you can get a lot of exercise walking. We logged 4 miles walking. The food is pretty good. Maybe the era of a "zoo" should come to an end. The animals that were there looked bad. A tiger looked half dead. An alligator also looked dead. The "bird show" was sad. The falcon landed on the grass and just sat there. Perhaps just having this as a park and not keeping animals in captivity is best.

Finally got a chance to visit this place after years, especially during the Boo event. I wasn't sure how the candy giving would work, but they had more than enough. The candy stations were spread throughout the park, but mainly focused around the beginning. They gave up top tier candy (snickers, twix and more)! Parking was plentiful, with even the furthest parking taking a few minutes walk. Free parking is rare, so highly appreciated. There were many employees available to help and some were giving out the extra exhibit informations. There was much more to the park than I thought! There were all different animals and amphibians that were unique. One con is that there were a decent amount of exhibits were closed and some animals were sleeping in hidden spots. Not much we can do about that, but overall, a good time.

I have never been to a zoo! This was my first time! I've always wanted to see a giraffe and elephant up close. It felt so surreal and beautiful at the same time. I met a few of the zoo employees and you can tell they love what they do. They show so much love towards the animals and they told me they're like family. That's the vibe you get coming here. So peaceful and beautiful. There is plenty of free parking and if it's sunny make sure you bring a hat. It was a hot day today so bring water too and parking under a tree helped with the heat. I'm glad to see the animals are so well taken care of and it was so clean.

Enjoyed time spent at this zoo~came in a few hours prior to closing some of the exhibit was ready to shut the gates-Trolley operator offered discounts to drive us closer to the exhibits we wanted to visit. I as an adult was in awe~a Zebra came up really close to the fence to greet me; thoroughly touched. Didn't really get to see elephants (only caught a glimpse of their backside). Yelpers reviewed this zoo isn't that huge~as compared to the Bronx Zoo, but for me-this zoo was the perfect size without completely tiring me out. My kid was amazed at the animals she got to say "hi" to before ending our trip to Southern California.

Lions and tigers and ocelots! Oh my! Yeah, I didn't see bears. I saw gorillas and pandas and birds and reptiles! OMG! It was so much fun! So we went here for my kid's birthday with her friends. The best deal is the $199 deluxe membership (see pic), which you can buy online. If you are military, you get an extra $10 off any membership. You can also get $3 off any individual ticket at the gate. This is an excellent place to get your steps in and cheaper than a $25 a month gym membership! Entertainment and exercise! Parking is FREE! There can be long lines when it first opens. There is a separate line for members. I got the $300 membership hood for 3 adults and can bring a guest. I this membership and the deluxe you can include your children or grandchildren (2-17 years of age... I do not have any in this range) up to 8 (YES, 8 children!). $7.99 for a refillable cup that you can always bring back (refills are $1.99)

I love the LA Zoo! ...been a member for many years. They have fun seasonal events and it is a great place to walk and take beautiful pictures of the animals

For Me one of the worst Zoo ever. Bec there's a lot of renovation happening. There's no Map. It's just Digital. Most of the cages are Empty. There's nothing Extraordinary.

Don't expect the San Diego zoo and you will have a great time at the LA Zoo. For only $22 per person it is a great day of fun. Another perk is parking is free. To get through seeing just about every exhibit we were there for around 3 hours. We didn't have kids with us so that was plenty of time to see everything and realize how great it was to go with only adults!

I'm not a huge zoo person but my visiting sister-in-law is. So, off we go to the LA Zoo. I love that there's free parking and a TON of food and clothing vendors lined up outside before the entrance. I also love that you can bring in food and drinks. Had we known that literally no one would even check a bag, we may have decided to bring some stuff to make our day more enjoyable, lol. My brother and sister-in-law are members at their home zoo in Jacksonville, so they were prepared to get their tickets for 50% off. They weren't prepared for all 4 of us to get the discount, so that was also great! And, if we bring the ticket stuff back within one year, we can save $3.00 off adult admission. It was nice to see the meerkats, the flamingos, the elephants, and the backside of the newly-arrived rhino. We had amusing encounters with the hornbills, the greater roadrunner who was very excited to show us his kill, and some of the primates who were putting on a show for us. We didn't get to see any tigers or the snow leopard, and the alpha gorilla wasn't interested in seeing people. It was a nice day all around (except for the screeching children), with plenty of zoo employees and volunteers to tell us about the animals and/or point out where they're resting in their areas. Wear comfy shoes and maybe bring a hat to protect your self from the sun.

As someone born and raised in LA... being taken to the LA Zoo with my friend was so heartbreaking and depressing... Both of us were disappointed. 1 * = not good? I would go even beyond that and say BAD. -* Can I give zero stars?? I demand better from the LA Zoo... As an LA native, I'm embarrassed for Los Angeles. Wow. Forget bringing family or friends visiting to this place. I'd be so embarrassed! (not that my friend should be embarrassed - love u!) Even my Aunt said she wants to visit San Diego *instead* of the LA Zoo when she comes out here --and now I know why!! Maybe I'll tell her we we should go to the sanctuary I visited, that way we can at least connect with happy animals, no one wants to see sad animals - wow... Thinking why would I even go to a zoo, when visiting a sanctuary is an *Upgrade* (just went recently and what a difference!) to say the least... Seems obvious when you think about it... Anyways, c'mon LA Zoo... GET IT TOGETHER! (yeeesh...)

Tonight we enjoyed the preview night for the annual Zoo Lights event. The family has a blast with cool lighting and music. We enjoyed the churros and hot cocoa as well. It was really a perfect evening. Thank you to all the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens staff who made this event memorable for my family! We will be back again to enjoy the zoo.

Zoos are a carryover from the past with a more positive connotation nowadays as places of conservation, animal husbandry, and habitat education. Less caged animal situations and more wide-open exhibits with plenty of space for animals to roam, in addition to toys to keep them alert, make zoos more palatable for a PC public. The LA Zoo has been Around since 1962 although at a different location. Now located across from the Gene Autry Museum and within reasonable driving distance of the Griffith Observatory, the LA Zoo is a green forest paradise in the rolling hills of a big city. The areas are broken up into various continents with a good sprinkling of birds, mammals, reptiles (one of the best collections of North American snakes), in little cul de sacs. What? Each area would have these u shaped sections with two to three enclosures in the section with benches to sit and observe. There were quite a few empty enclosures which was surprising; however, overall, the large animals had room to roam and play, the birds were aplenty, and the snakes in the reptile house were visually close and very active.