Located three miles south of downtown on I-35E at the Marsalis Avenue exit at 650 South R.L. Thronton Freeway. A 67.5-foot giraffe statue, said to be the largest in Texas, greets visitors at the entrance. The 95-acre zoo features rare and endangered species and includes a gorilla conservation center. The 25-acre Wilds of Africa re-creates six habitats: bush, desert, forest, mountain, and woodland, and was named the best African exhibit in the United States. Visitors can take a Monorail Safari through the African exhibit and walk the 1,500-foot Nature Trail.
The naturalistic, open-air environment of the chimpanzee forest encourages the primates to climb, fish and interact. Noteworthy in the reptile house is the colection of rattlesnakes. A walk-through tropical rain forest features exotic birds.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed Christmas day.