Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

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I absolutely love zoos! In fact, I think the zoos in Ohio are some of the best in the country. We’re so lucky to have three major zoos (and some pretty awesome regional zoos too). The Cleveland Zoo is my personal favorite, but I also love the Akron Zoo and the Columbus Zoo. I just visited the Cincinnati Zoo for the first time, and my visit has only solidified my opinion that Ohio’s zoos are some of the best things to do in Ohio.

Collage of images at the Cincinnati Zoo, including the Botanical Garden building,  and some of the animals with the words, "Your Family Guide to the Cincinnati Zoo."

One way the Cincinnati Zoo stands out from others across the country is its commitment to “going green.” In 2010, the Zoo earned recognition as the greenest zoo in America. It continues to lead by example in all areas of sustainability and through green initiatives. You might not notice when you visit (but keep an eye out for green practices), but the Zoo uses green building, renewable energy, water conservation, storm water management and other green initiatives to have a positive impact on the planet. Learn more about the zoo’s green initiative and even how you can go green at home.

Going green — just one more reason to love this zoo.

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

The Cincinnati Zoo is huge. Thankfully, it’s also laid out very well, so you don’t have to backtrack to the different exhibits (or at least not often, though I did get turned around a couple times). I will introduce you to the exhibits as my family experienced them. You can either use our path or make your own by checking the Cincinnati zoo map.

Wildlife Canyon

We started our Cincinnati Zoo adventure at Wildlife Canyon. Here, we saw the warty pig, camels, the Przewalski’s horse, the takin, and the capybara. What do all of these animals have in common? They are all ungulates, or hoofed animals. If you, like me, wonder what Przewalski’s horse is, it’s a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse native to the steppes of central Asia. (See, you haven’t even been to Wildlife Canyon yet and you’ve already learned what the word “ungulates” means and what Przewalksi’s horse is!)

Monkey Island

After Wildlife Canyon, we moved on to Monkey Island, where we saw Japanese Macaques. It’s a great place to sit and watch the monkeys play!

Reptile House

Built in 1875, the Reptile House at the Cincinnati Zoo is the oldest American zoo building and is also a National Historic Landmark. Here, you will encounter Chinese alligators, various snakes (including a California King Snake, which I can see anytime I want to in my dining room — but if you aren’t so lucky, you can see one at the Cincinnati Zoo), lizards, and turtles.

Gorilla World

Gorilla peeking through the trees.

Gorilla World is getting a makeover! Actually, it’s more extensive than that. Gorilla World is expanding! The construction noise might be annoying, but it shouldn’t stop you from admiring the Cincinnati Zoo’s gorillas and Colobus monkeys. Eventually Gorilla World will have an indoor facility, where guests can view the gorillas year-round. Until then, the gorillas are on exhibit in their outdoor facility. See if you can spot the baby, Elle!

Cat Canyon and Night Hunters

You can see the small cats in the Night Hunters exhibit, such as Pallas’ cat, bobcat, black-footed cat, sand cat, and my favorite, the fishing cat! The Night Hunters Exhibit also includes other animals like the fossa and Giant fruit bat. This is another kid favorite!

Besides the small cats, guests can see big cats at Cat Canyon. I loved watching the cougars chase each other around their exhibit. It was like watching large versions of my cats!

Manatee Springs

Guests can visit the zoo’s two manatees as well as learn about how they can help conservation efforts. (Before this, I thought only the Columbus Zoo had manatees!)

Siegfried & Roy’s White Lion exhibit

Fun fact: white lions are not albino. “They are leucistic, which is lack of dark pigmentation.” (And now you also know the definition of the word leucistic!)

Jungle Trails

At Jungle Trails, you’ll get a chance to see the chatty gibbons up close. My goodness, the white-handed gibbons were extremely talkative when we visited! Which makes sense – these monkeys “sing” to keep other gibbons away and to protect their families! It was quite an experience to listen to them “sing.” I also enjoyed seeing the orangutans (which are another of my favorite animals to see at the zoo) and the bonobos.

Wolf Woods

I love wolves and I love visiting them at the zoo! The Cincinnati Zoo features Mexican gray wolves. Also part of this exhibit are river otters. I love that they educate guests about conservation efforts of the Ohio woodlands and its species here.

Africa

A mama giraffe with her baby at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The Africa exhibit allows guests to travel to Africa without ever leaving the zoo! Here are some of the animals you will encounter at the Africa exhibit:

  • Painted Dog Valley. There were nine painted dogs in the exhibit when we visited. Nine! I heard someone say that they were all part of the same litter that was born at the zoo not too long ago. Most of them were sleeping, but they were still fun to watch! Painted Dog Valley is also worth visiting because of the exhibit itself – it is absolutely beautiful, and it is one of the greenest zoos in the country.
  • Meerkats. The Lion King was my favorite movie as a child, so I love meerkats!
  • Giraffe Ridge. The viewing deck at Giraffe Ridge allows guests to get face-to-face with these African beauties. This exhibit also allows guests opportunities to feed the giraffes throughout the day. This is a must-see exhibit, even if you don’t decide to feed the giraffes.
  • Lions. In addition to the white lions, the Cincinnati Zoo also features “regular” African lions.
  • Cheetahs. The Cincinnati Zoo offers two ways to experience the cheetah exhibit. The first is to simply view them in their habitat. The second is to watch them run! Click here to find out times to see the cheetahs run.
  • Elephant Reserve. The Cincinnati Zoo features Indian Elephants and Bull Elephants. In addition to viewing these creatures in their habitats, guests can also watch them get their baths at bath time! We happened to stop by this exhibit at bath time. Click here to find out the bath time for the day you plan to visit.
  • Hippo Cove. The Cincinnati Zoo has recently welcomed the birth of baby hippo Fiona! Baby Fiona was born prematurely, so the zoo is taking great precautions with her — and she only comes out to play if she wants to. For “Team Fiona” updates, click here.  There were so many people pressed up against the glass that we probably wouldn’t have been able to see her anyway. It was still cool to watch her parents play together while cooling off in the water!

Other Exhibits at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is huge. We took our time touring the zoo and didn’t get to see everything. These two areas, in particular, might be worth some extra time.

  • Spaulding Children’s Zoo. I’m a little too old to play here, but the children’s zoo is one reason that the Cincinnati Zoo is one of the best things to do in Ohio for families!  The Spaulding Children’s Zoo features a playground and petting zoo, as well as animal encounters. Kids absolutely love the opportunity to interact with the animals, and the keepers are quite involved.
  • Botanical Gardens. As you’ve probably noticed, the Cincinnati Zoo’s full name is actually the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Besides all of the cool animals, the zoo also features beautiful gardens, such as the butterfly garden and the P&G Discovery Forest, which is an indoor greenhouse where guests can see the sloth, boa constrictor, and the blue and gold macaw.

Tips for visiting the Cincinnati Zoo

I absolutely loved my time at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden! I highly recommend that you make this zoo part of your Ohio vacation. Here are my recommendations to make your trip better:

  • Pace yourself. As you have probably gathered, the Cincinnati Zoo is huge. Take breaks when you need to! It’s not worth it to “see it all” if everyone’s tired and grumpy!
  • Hydrate! You can ask any dining location for cups of water. Dehydration will definitely prevent you from enjoying your trip to the Cincinnati Zoo.
  • Look at the map. The zoo is laid out well, and we only got turned around once or twice. Just be sure to look at the map to make sure you know where you are!

About the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Location: 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.

Hours: Generally, the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., though hours vary for special events and season ticket holders.

Admission (2024 prices): 

  • Single day tickets purchased online begin at $7 and go up depending on date of admission.
  • Multi-day tickets and ride add-on tickets cost more. See the zoo admission link above to learn more.
  • Parking costs $10.

Food

Visitors can bring food and drink (excluding alcohol) into the zoo. The zoo also offers plenty of dining options. We at at Cincy’s Smokehouse BBQ, and their food is delicious! Their meals are served with homemade potato chips, and they are amazing! (You also get a good amount of chips! I couldn’t eat them all, and I was starving when we finally got our food.) Click here to find out information about dining options at the zoo.