The North Carolina Zoo, the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, offers an unparalleled blend of wildlife and conservation. Spread across 2,600 wooded acres, it’s home to more than 1,700 animals representing 250-plus species. The zoo’s immersive habitats transport visitors across continents, from Africa’s Watani Grasslands — where giraffes, rhinos and elephants roam — to North America’s cypress swamps and rocky deserts. And with the much-anticipated Asia region opening in 2026 — featuring tigers, red pandas and Komodo dragons — there’s always something new to explore.
Beyond the animals, the zoo leads the way in sustainability, composting 2,000 tons of organic waste annually and implementing green practices like high-efficiency lighting and reduced plastic use. You can enhance your experience with feeding times, scenic hiking trails, wheelchair-accessible trams and exhibits, a giraffe-feeding deck, paddleboats and must-try local eats like Billy D’s fried chicken.
In the Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden, wander through vibrant trails bursting with tropical plants and dazzling flowers as winged wonders flutter all around you. This immersive experience is a celebration of nature’s artistry.
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Zoofari Through Watani
Journey across the 40-acre Watani Grasslands aboard an open-air vehicle on this one-hour tour. Led by an experienced zoo educator, this exclusive outing introduces you to nine incredible species — nearly 100 animals in all.
Accessibility at the Zoo
Animals for All
Caregivers and personal attendants are given free admission, wheelchairs are available for rent, and wheelchair-accessible areas include the Endangered Species Carousel, the Acacia Station Giraffe Deck and Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden. The buses and trams that provide in-park and parking lot transportation are also wheelchair accessible.
