Oakland Zoo

Bet you didn’t know that the city of Oakland has its own African savannah, where a herd of giraffes comb tree branches for leaves, or that a tropical rainforest can be found here, with drooping vines and lush foliage keeping the tigers, chimpanzees, and blue and yellow macaws feeling right at home. In fact, more than 660 native and exotic animals call a special part of Oakland home – the zoo.

The Oakland Zoo has been around since 1922, moving to its current location within Knowland Park’s 525 acres in 1936. After settling into a permanent home, the zoo has undergone non-stop improvement, and a range of new features have been added to the grounds in the last decade. These include Karibu Village, completed in 2001, an endangered species carousel, completed in 2002, and a brand new, 4-acre children’s zoo, unveiled in 2005.

The spacious new children’s zoo includes plenty of room for “monkeying” around. In the Wilds Discover Area alone, there’s a Lilly Pad Hop, Redwood Tree Slide, Bug Climbers and Giant Orb Weaver Spider Web. Of course, kids get a close-up look at animals of all stripes, like pot-bellied pigs and tortoises, one of them more than 100 years old. They also get to visit an enormous bat exhibit where the only Malayan fruit bats in the country are on public view, boasting six-foot wingspans during flight.

In the main zoo area, the tigers will charm you with their playfulness, the monkeys may stop their climbing for a game of peek-a-boo, and the camels may demonstrate why they’ve earned a reputation for getting frisky. If you are an animal lover, there’s plenty to see and learn, and you’ll appreciate knowing that the Oakland Zoo has earned an international reputation for conservation efforts as it works to protect endangered species and educate the public about preserving wild habitats.

Recently, the Oakland Zoo hosted the 14th Annual “Celebrating Elephants” day, when interactive booths located by the elephant area taught guests about the animal’s behavior, diet, life cycle and social structure. Other public events like Overnight stays, Sundown Safaris, ZooLights and a Walk in the Wild happen regularly at the zoo, so stay posted. And if you haven’t been on the train ride lately, it now includes a trek through kangaroo country.

HelloSanFrancisco Tip: Be sure to catch at least one animal feeding while you're at the zoo. The elephants are fed five times a day, beginning at 10:15 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.. Giraffes are fed at 11:30 a.m. and the sun bears at 3:30 p.m.

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.