Almaty Zoo

Almaty Zoo is a city zoo in north-east Almaty, Kazakhstan, listed at Yesenberlin Street 166, although some listings give Ormanov Street 66. It is one of the city's most popular family destinations, with a collection that combines animals native to Central Asia with species from other continents. Its official site is almatyzoo.kz.

Visitors walk through landscaped paths past enclosures for big cats, bears, primates, hoofed animals, birds and reptiles. Regional wildlife is a particular interest, with animals of the steppe and mountains such as wolves, deer and birds of prey, alongside species like lions, tigers and monkeys. The exotarium, which houses reptiles, fish and other small animals, is closed on Tuesdays. Shaded areas, playgrounds and food kiosks make the site suitable for a relaxed family outing, and seasonal events are sometimes held.

The zoo is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00, with the ticket office open from 09:00 to 18:00, though the official site also shows 09:00 to 19:30 in some seasons. Adult tickets for age 12 and over cost KZT 1,427, tickets for ages 7 to 12 cost KZT 562, and children under 6 enter free. Tickets can be bought through the Kaspi.kz app, which allows visitors to skip the queue at the entrance.

A full visit takes two to three hours, and morning is the best time because animals are more active and the heat is lower in summer. Crowds are heaviest on weekends, public holidays and school holidays, particularly around midday, while weekday mornings are calm. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, bring water and sun protection, and check opening times before travelling because the schedule varies by season. Taxis via Yandex Go or inDrive and city buses toward Yesenberlin Street are the main ways to arrive.