The Johannesburg Zoo was established in 1904 and covers a massive 55 ha of land which was actually donated by the magnate Hermann Ekstein for public use. It has around 300 species of wild animals including white lions, Siberian tigers (the only zoo in South Africa to breed them), hippos, chimpanzees, elephants and gorillas. In fact, till 2014, a polar bear used to call this zoo home. Nocturnal animals like bats and owls can also be seen during the many night safaris conducted by the zoo. This sanctuary, yet again, doubles up as an educational tool for children and teaches them about the importance of preserving wildlife.

Having undergone a major transformation during 2004 and 2005, the Johannesburg Zoo now has a walk-in aviary along with dedicated houses for reptiles and apes. The Zoo Trot that takes place every second Sunday of every month is a lot of fun for those who love running around open spaces. This wildlife paradise is located in the Parkview suburb and has extremely high standards when it comes to the well-being of its animals. Visitors can even adopt an animal under the zoo’s ‘Adoption Programme’.