Located on St. George's Island in the Bow River just east of downtown Calgary, the Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo offers an extraordinary, 125-acre experience for travelers visiting Alberta. As Canada's most visited zoo and an internationally recognized leader in conservation research, this top-ranked destination houses over 1,000 animals across 272 distinct species. You can explore six immersive zones designed to highlight regional and global wildlife.
At Destination Africa, you will find the Rainforest and African Savannah, home to western lowland gorillas, hippos, red river hogs, and three species of lemurs in the Land of Lemurs. Head over to Wild Canada to observe North American fauna like grizzly bears, polar bears, gray wolves, and river otters. Inside Penguin Plunge, four penguin species—including king and gentoo—thrive in climate-controlled and outdoor habitats. Journey through Exploration Asia to spot Amur tigers, snow leopards, and red pandas, or wander into Prehistoric Park to marvel at life-sized dinosaur replicas amidst lush living plants.
Finish your journey inside the LEED Gold-certified ENMAX Conservatory and Dorothy Harvie Botanical Gardens, featuring themed tropical, arid, and butterfly gardens. Open every day except Christmas Day, it is an essential Calgary highlight.
What to see at Calgary Zoo
- Observe western lowland gorillas, hippos, and three species of lemurs in Destination Africa.
- See North American wildlife like grizzly bears, polar bears, and gray wolves in Wild Canada.
- Walk through ENMAX Conservatory's themed butterfly, tropical, and arid botanical gardens.
- Explore Prehistoric Park featuring life-sized dinosaur models set among living plant species.
- Watch king, gentoo, rockhopper, and Humboldt penguins inside the Penguin Plunge exhibit.
Visiting tips
You can conveniently reach the zoo using Calgary's C-Train light rail, driving via Memorial Drive, or cycling along the Bow River pathway.
How long: Half day · Best time: Warmer months or winter
How to get there & what’s nearby
Calgary Zoo is easy to reach on Calgary’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Calgary travel guide.
See the full Calgary travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.