Visiting the Sacramento Zoo

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The Sacramento Zoo is a great place for local families to get outdoors and see some animals! We love the Sacramento Zoo because it is flat with a good variety of animals. This zoo is on the smaller side and can easily be visited in 2 hours.  We love this zoo for its family-friendly atmosphere.

Three kids with their back to the camera, looking at flamingos behind a fence.

The Sacramento Zoo was one of the first places we visited after our world was turned upside down in 2020. They are dedicated to keeping the park a safe place for families and have clear rules in place for keeping everyone safe. 

Keep in mind that you will need to plan your trip ahead of time; at least the day before but a few days is even better. You will also need to plan on having everyone in your group over the age of 2 wear masks while visiting the zoo. (This rule is subject to change but was accurate at the time of publication)

More places to go with kids in California:

A zebra eating from a box of food at the Sacramento Zoo.

I have visited this zoo with my kids several times in the last 4 years of living in Fairfield. It is easy enough to manage with multiple kids and kids of all ages truly enjoy this zoo.

The enclosure set-up makes it easy to see most of the animals and although they don’t have all of your typical zoo animals (no elephants), they have so many great ones that it more than makes up for it. 

A lion laying on top of a rock.

We love seeing the lions and other big cats because they will regularly come out and walk real close to you and you can see their fur and tails up close. There are many flamingos to watch right at the entrance of the zoo, alongside an alligator enclosure. There are also many birds throughout the park. 

The Sacramento Zoo has a great selection of chimps and monkeys. They also have many giraffes – including babies. They even offer a giraffe experience where you can feed the giraffes. So fun!

Fun places to travel with kids:

Two girls sitting on a ledge, watching a giraffe at the Sacramento Zoo.

Train and Carousel

There is a small trail and carousel inside the zoo. They are lots of fun for the kids! Both of them attractions are currently open. The areas are sanitized in between each group. Tickets for these rides are not included with the cost of admission. You can pay for your ticket at the site of the ride with a debit or credit card. The Zoo is not currently accepting cash.

Eating lunch at Sacramento Zoo

There are several areas to sit and eat throughout the zoo, including benches and picnic benches. You can bring your own food into the zoo or purchase food from their food stands.

You can also order your meal online from the Kampala Cafe by visiting this site. 

We love bringing our own lunch to the zoo or hitting In-N-Out on our way home.

Three kids sitting on a bench and having a snack.

Do I need to reserve tickets?

Yes, tickets must be reserved ahead of time and a timed admission must be reserved. If you need to cancel, email them here:

Special Covid-19 Rules

There are special guidelines in place. I am writing this post in March of 2021. Since these rules change regularly, I advise you to read up on their current rules here. 

Is there a fee for parking?

No, there is no fee for parking. Street parking for the Sacramento Zoo is available at no cost. There has been ample parking during every visit we have taken to the Sacramento Zoo. 

Two girls sitting next to one of the animal enclosures at the Sacramento Zoo.

What about strollers?

The entire zoo is very stroller friendly. You can being your own stroller or rent a double stroller from the zoo. 

Sacramento Zoo memberships

If you plan on visiting the Sacramento zoo more than 1 or 2 times in a year than it may make sense to purchase a membership.

We purchased a membership and it has take the pressure off from feeling we have to see everything during our visit. I love going to the Sacramento zoo, spending an hour and a half to two hours and end heading home.

If you see everything and still have more time, head across the street and visit Fairytale Town.

Close up of a meerkat at the Sacramento Zoo.

Animals to visit at the Sacramento Zoo

Although the Sacramento Zoo is on the smaller side, there are still many animals to see! 

Map of the Sacramento Zoo.

Mammals:

  • Black and White Ruffed Lemur
  • Chimpanzee
  • Coquerel’s Sifaka
  • Mongoose Lemur
  • Squirrel Monkey
  • Sumatran Orangutan
  • White-faced Saki
  • White-handed Gibbon
  • Wolf’s Guenon
  • African Lion
  • Jaguar
  • Snow Leopard
  • Eastern Bongo
  • Grevy’s Zebra
  • Masai Giraffe
  • Okapi
  • Red River Hog
  • Reticulated Giraffe
  • Aardvark
  • Giant Anteater
  • Meerkat
  • North American River Otter
  • Red Kangaroo
  • Red Panda – My favorite!!!

A red panda laying on a branch in a tree at the Sacramento Zoo.

Birds:

  • Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
  • American White Pelican
  • Azure-winged Magpie
  • Black Crowned Crane
  • Burrowing Owl
  • Caribbean Flamingo
  • Comb Duck
  • Crested Coua
  • Crested Screamer
  • Emu
  • Fulvous Whistling Duck
  • Greater Roadrunner
  • Hawk-headed Parrot
  • Himalayan Monal
  • Laughing Kookaburra
  • Ostrich
  • Red-billed Hornbill
  • Southern White-faced Owl
  • Spur-winged Lapwing
  • Tawny Frogmouth
  • Thick-billed Parrot
  • White-faced Whistling Duck

An osterich at the Sacramento Zoo.

Amphibians and Fish: 

  • Amazon Milk Frog
  • Aquatic Caecillian
  • California Newt
  • California Tiger Salamander
  • Golden Mantella
  • Green & Black Poison Dart Frog
  • Green Mantella
  • Phantasmal Dart Frog
  • Sambava Tomato Frog
  • Smoky Jungle Frog
  • White’s Tree Frog
  • Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog
  • Goldfish
  • Koi

Three kids looking at birds at the Sacramento Zoo.

Reptiles and More:

Note: At the time of publication (March 2021), the reptile house is closed. 

  • Chinese Crocodile Lizard
  • Common Chuckwalla
  • European Legless Lizard
  • Green Crested Basilisk
  • Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
  • Mexican Beaded Lizard
  • Prehensile-tailed Skink
  • Rhinoceros Iguana
  • Standing’s Day Gecko
  • Tokay Gecko
  • Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle
  • Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
  • Hamilton’s Pond Turtle
  • Madagascar Big-headed Turtle
  • Madagascar Flat-tailed Tortoise
  • Spider Tortoise
  • Spur-thighed Tortoise
  • Western Pond Turtle
  • Ball Python
  • Giant Garter Snake
  • Green Tree Python
  • Madagascar Tree Boa
  • Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
  • Pacific Gopher Snake
  • Puerto Rican Boa
  • American Alligator
  • Curlyhair Tarantula
  • Smooth-fronted Caiman

Collage photo of pictures at the zoo with the words "A trip to the Sacramento Zoo" in green lettering.

Have you visited the Sacramento Zoo lately? What did you think?

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