National Zoological Gardens of South Africa

The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, commonly called the Pretoria Zoo, is located at 232 Boom Street in central Pretoria, Gauteng province, South Africa. Founded in 1899, it is the national zoo and is regarded as one of the largest zoos in the world by area, covering about 85 hectares on the slopes of a hill north of the city centre. The zoo houses thousands of animals from many species, including big cats, elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, primates, reptiles, birds and a large aquarium and reptile park. Because of the size and terrain, visitors usually choose between walking the routes, hiring a golf cart or riding a cable car that carries passengers up and over the hillside and gives an overview of the enclosures. Visitors can also take a self-guided walk through the aquarium and reptile section, and children's play areas and lawns are available. Programmes sometimes include guided night walks where visitors observe nocturnal animals, and behind-the-scenes tours, which need advance booking. A typical visit takes around four hours, and covering the whole site takes longer. The paths are hilly, so comfortable shoes and water are recommended, particularly in summer heat. Weekday mornings are calmest, when animals are more active and school groups are the main crowd, while weekends and school holidays are busy with local families. The best photographs come from the cable car and the raised viewing points overlooking the main enclosures. Photography is generally permitted without flash. Restaurants, kiosks and picnic areas are found throughout the grounds. Uber or Bolt from central Pretoria is the simplest way to arrive, and the trip from Pretoria Station is short.