Zoo & aquariumLIVE DEALWHAT'S ON
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Zoo & aquarium · Admission from $73 · 3 verified savings
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Admission from $73. Open 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California invites visitors to observe wildlife including African elephants at Elephant Odyssey, the zoo's largest land mammal exhibit. At the Elephant Care Center within that exhibit, visitors watch wildlife care experts perform foot care on elephants and observe them participating in their own healthcare routines, with opportunities to chat with specialists. The zoo features upgraded experiences, youth programs, activities, and dining options throughout the grounds. Tickets are sold online through the venue's website, which also publishes admission prices and operating hours. Children are admitted free during October 1-31, according to the site listing through October 31. AAA members can save 10 percent on the 1-Day Pass by showing a valid membership card at any ticket window. Additional information and current offers appear at zoo.sandiegozoo.org.
See who pays what, then book on San Diego Zoo’s own ticket page. You choose and pay there, not here.
These are San Diego Zoo’s own prices. You choose and pay on San Diego Zoo’s ticket page, not here.
Prices from San Diego Zoo’s own ticket page. Fees, if any, are shown at checkout. The checkout shows today’s prices.
Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Buy tickets on tickets.sandiegozoo.org →Prices quoted from zoo.sandiegozoo.org. Prices can change — the link above goes to the page they came from.
One reason to go, each in the venue’s own words, with the date we checked it.
August 7, 2026News
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced the birth of a baby porcupine, called a porcupette, born to parents Gracie and Picante, according to Fox 5 San Diego.
“San Diego Zoo announces birth of porcupine”
An aerial tram providing views over the zoo and Balboa Park as it transports guests between two stations across the treetops.
Rider requirements:
Children younger than 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Garden area in the Outback featuring Australian and New Zealand plants including eucalyptus, Queensland lacebark trees, and flame trees alongside koalas and other animals from the region.
Lost Forest habitat displaying Indonesian babirusas, pig-like animals with distinctive upper tusks that grow through their snouts, found nowhere else in the wild.
Africa Rocks exhibit featuring white-fronted and white-throated bee-eaters, colorful birds that hunt insects in flight and nest in colonies on earthen banks.
Africa Rocks Acacia Woodland area where visitors observe black-headed weavers and their intricate hanging nests woven from leaf strips.
Lost Forest habitat with giant rock outcroppings, ropes, hammocks, waterfalls and streams where endangered bonobos climb and rest in an African rainforest setting.
Discovery Outpost display of about 2,000 species of rainforest plants related to pineapples, featuring fantastical shapes and colorful flowers.
Elephant Odyssey exhibit displaying endangered California condors, large vultures that soar on thermal currents and feed on carrion.
Elephant Odyssey area featuring dromedary camels, domesticated animals that can carry heavy loads and travel long distances in desert environments.
Fast land animals on display in the Urban Jungle. The zoo's cheetah ambassadors may be seen walking with specialists, in the ambassador area, or during the Animals in Action experience.
A critically endangered species found in the Reptile Walk at Discovery Outpost. Visitors can observe this petite alligator with protective scales and bony eyelid plates.
A mysterious Southeast Asian cat with cloud-like spots and unusually large canine teeth. Clouded leopards serve as animal ambassadors and appear in the Animals in Action encounter.
Visit polar bears in Northern Frontier with an underwater viewing room, life-size statues, and a den to crawl through.
Colorful insects displayed in the Elephant Odyssey that collect and use animal manure. Visitors can watch these beetles work and learn about their ecological importance.
View African elephants in a large habitat where you can observe them eating and see the Elephant Care Center where wildlife specialists demonstrate animal healthcare routines.
Madagascar's top predator, related to the mongoose, displayed in Africa Rocks. These small but effective hunters weigh 12 to 22 pounds and control lemur populations.
Ancient tortoises over 100 years old at Discovery Outpost, some residents since 1928. Each has a unique personality and is identified by painted numbers on its shell.
Ethiopian mountain primates identifiable by hourglass-shaped bare patches on chest and neck. They live in family units and eat mostly grasses.
Collection of about 50 ginger species from the Zingiberaceae family, including culinary and medicinal varieties from the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Pacific.
Masai giraffes with oak-leaf patterned coats share space with Soemmerring's gazelles. Feeding stations allow close observation of giraffes eating acacia branches.
Walk-through aviary in a lush African forest setting with waterfalls and gentle showers. Features gorillas and birds in naturally planted environments.
Two grizzly bear brothers that play together and enjoy soaking in a pool. Displays brown fur tipped with white or tan coloring.
Water ride
Group of over 20 baboons led by a dominant male. They climb cliff faces, vocalize, groom each other, and chase around their expansive habitat.
Dark gray bird of prey with distinctive crest and powerful talons larger than grizzly bear claws. Viewed along the Eagle Trail with other raptors.
Showcase of endangered Hawaiian plants including koa trees, loulu palms, and cabbage on a stick plants, set among lava rocks to mimic the islands.
See jaguars in a marshy wetland habitat with rocks, trees, and a stream flowing into a pond. Includes a climbable saber-toothed cat statue for children.
View king cobras and other cobra species in the Reptile House. Learn about their defensive hood display and nesting behavior.
Watch small African antelope with specially adapted hooves navigate rocky terrain in the Africa Rocks area.
See koalas in the Outback area with elevated walkways at eye level. Includes a play structure with life-size koala sculptures for children to climb.
See laughing kookaburras in the Outback area. These large kingfishers are known for their distinctive vocalizations and snake-eating behavior.
See multiple lemur species including ring-tailed, red ruffed, and blue-eyed black lemurs at Africa Rocks.
Venomous snakes with green camouflage native to China, found in Discovery Outpost and Asian Passage. Visitors can try to spot them in their forest-floor habitat.
Powerful predatory cats in Northern Frontier. Orphaned animals now provide visitors a chance to see the stealthy hunters that roam the hills near San Diego.
African penguin colony in Africa Rocks. Watch these birds move on land and swim swiftly in water, with underwater viewing available.
Arctic bears in Northern Frontier at Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge. Underwater viewing room shows their swimming ability, plus interactive elements like statues and a den to crawl through.
Small hippos in Lost Forest sharing habitat with Wolf's monkeys. Less aquatic than common hippos, they are largely nocturnal and roam the outdoor area at night.
Thirteen rattlesnake species from various regions, viewable in the Reptile House, along Reptile Walk, and in Elephant Odyssey. Learn about their heat-sensing pits and keratin rattles.
Small carnivores from bamboo forests in China, housed in Asian Passage. Their reddish coat and white face mask provide camouflage in their natural habitat.
Exotic plant garden at Discovery Outpost featuring green iguanas and other reptiles among dragon trees and carefully selected vegetation suited to their needs.
Rhinos in Urban Jungle, including greater one-horned rhinos with distinctive folded skin. Learn why they wallow in mud to protect their sensitive skin.
Small African cat at Africa Rocks with large ears and long limbs. Known for leaping nine feet straight up to catch birds and hunting rodents.
Mountain cat on Center Street with smoky gray fur and blurred markings for camouflage. Features large furred paws and a long tail for warmth in high elevations.
Southeast Asian rainforest recreation in Asian Passage with cascading waterfalls, streams, and thousands of exotic plants including colorful camellias.
View Malayan and Baird's tapirs in shaded exhibits with pools. Located in Elephant Odyssey and Lost Forest along Tiger Trail.
A secluded garden in Lost Forest featuring bamboo, Asian pines, flowering trees, and shrubs with year-round blooms, including Japanese maples and magnolias.
Tropical Asian rainforest simulation in Lost Forest featuring tigers, tapirs, fishing cats, and milky storks among lush vegetation.
Large pond habitat at Discovery Outpost with softshell turtles, painted terrapins, and a Malaysian giant turtle. Underwater viewing window available.
Grevy's zebras at Northern Frontier, the largest zebra species with distinctive thin stripes and large rounded ears.
Open-air play area in Elephant Odyssey with a maze of satellite tracking collars, fossil dig, and puzzles for children to explore and solve.
Walk an elevated canopy walkway through Lost Forest to observe rare monkeys including colobus, capuchin, and mangabey species from tree-branch and ground levels.
A climbing and exploration area in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp featuring an ancient oak tree with Spanish moss and a rope bridge.
A shaded rainforest refuge in the Lost Forest with a winding stream, ferns of various sizes, and flowering plants. Visitors can stroll through this peaceful canyon and observe diverse flora.
Daily shows featuring wildlife ambassadors and care specialists at multiple venues throughout the zoo, with presentations on conservation and animal behavior.
Children admitted free to the San Diego Zoo during October 1-31
October visit dates — year not stated; confirm dates and booking deadline with the venue.
“October 1-31 KIDS FREE”
Children free with paying adult admission during October
October visit dates — year not stated; confirm dates and booking deadline with the venue.
“October 1-31 KIDS FREE”
AAA Members can save 10% on 1-Day Pass at San Diego Zoo or Safari Park by showing valid membership card at ticket window
“AAA Members: show your valid membership card at any ticket window year round to save 10 percent on the 1-Day Pass”
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Within 25 miles of San Diego Zoo. Dates and wording are each venue’s own.
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