North Carolina Zoo

North Carolina Zoo Attractions

Make time to enjoy one or more of the North Carolina Zoo's seasonal, permanent, and additional attractions.

Not only does the North Carolina Zoo have animal habitats to explore, but you can also take advantage of the other on-site attractions from a carousel, butterfly garden, ropes course, treehouse adventure, safari tours, hiking trails, and playground perfect for kids.

Carousel

Hours: Open Daily April – October, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Additional Fee $3 per person
Where: Located in Junction Plaza
Weather dependent

The Zoo’s 36-foot Endangered Species Carousel is very popular with families with young children.  The unique ride-figure is the polar bear, which was fabricated specifically for the NC Zoo. Each animal figure is hand-painted fiberglass with glass eyes. Parents are required to stand next to a small child at no cost. A ticket is required for the child. Carousel figures include zebras, bears, sea lions, elephants, gorillas, and other animals. For smaller children, there is also a spinning tub shaped like a bird’s nest. The ride is ADA compliant and includes a swan bench seat that accommodates wheelchairs.

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden

Hours: Open Daily April – October, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Additional Fee $3 per person
Where: Located in Junction Plaza

Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden is a dazzling new habitat featuring native U.S. and exotic species of butterflies complete with beautiful gardens. This walk-thru habitat features dozens of different butterfly species living among tropical plants and colorful flowers. Children under 12 must be accompanied into the garden by a ticketed adult.

Acacia Station Giraffe Deck

Hours: Open Daily April – October, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Cost: Additional Fee $5 per person
Where: Located in Africa Region
Weather dependent

On the Giraffe Deck, you’ll be able to get eye-to-eye with these long-legged giants. The deck has a beautiful treetop view looking downward on the habitat, so it’s a great place for group photos and for viewing our herd of giraffes. The Acacia Station Giraffe Deck is listed as “View 4” on the Park Map.

Treehouse Trek

Air Hike Ropes Course

Hours: Open Daily April – October, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Additional Fee of $15 per person
Where: Located in Africa Region (near Lemur Island)
Weather dependent

For those seeking to challenge their physical abilities, the North Carolina Zoo’s new Air Hike is a must for fun and adventure! This elevated course features a series of activities designed to safely test your balance and climbing skills plus increase self-reliance. After putting on a harness and donning a helmet, you and your friends will climb up the rope tunnel to the central hub platform. From there, 11 other platforms beckon you to complete 23 obstacles. A skilled guide will encourage you along and give tips for navigating the system. Obstacles include swinging logs, plank walk, tight rope, Burma bridge, spider web, post hop, and balance beam to name a few.

  • Purchase your tickets at the Air Hike entrance. Cash, credit, debit, and Zoo gift cards accepted.
  • Expect to spend around 30 to 60 minutes on the course.
  • Ticket sales end at 4 p.m.

Zoofari

Hours: Open Daily April – October
Thursday 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m
Friday 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m
Saturday 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.
Cost: Private Tours $250 – $700 (maximum 28 guests), Public Tours $25 per guest
Where: Located in Africa Region
Weather dependent

Get aboard a specially outfitted, open-air vehicle for an exclusive tour of the 40-acre Watani Grasslands!  An experienced zoo educator will introduce you to nine species—nearly 100 animals! Discover rhinoceroses, gazelles, greater kudus, ostriches, and many exotic antelope. Guests may even get a special view of the elephants

Kidzone

Hours: Open Daily April – October, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Located in the North American Plaza
Weather dependent

Nature Play Areas

  • Stream: We have a stream for your kids to jump and splash around in. Don’t forget your rain boots or water sandals! If your little one is still in diapers, swim diapers are required. The stream is open seasonally.
  • Fort Making: We are continuing to build forts in the woods behind the barn. How good are your knot tying and shelter-building skills?
  • Mud Cafe: Skip on over to the Mud Cafe to order up a serving of crunchy blueberry pancakes for breakfast or grilled cheese and dirt for lunch. Don’t forget to tip your cook! Or try your aim at mud-slinging! We have a tub of sticky mud and a target for you to try to hit.
  • Treetop Trail: Open

Garden Friends Playground

Hours: Everyday
Cost: Free
Where: Located in North America near the Rocky Coast
Weather dependent

The 5,625-square-foot play area transforms gigantic sculptures of bugs, leaves, flowers, and insects into slides, climbing configurations, swings, and other play structures for children. Open during Zoo hours.

Hiking Trails

Hours: Open Daily 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

The North Carolina Zoo invites its guests to venture down one of our many hiking trails. Please respect the Zoo rules and the privacy of adjacent land owners.

Handicapped Accessible Trail 0.2 miles long

The trail begins at the north end of the Zoo’s North America Region parking lot the trail is accessible for wheelchair users with a wide, level gravel-paved path. This portion ends at a service road (please do not walk down the service road to the parking lot) before connecting to Purgatory Trail on the other side.

Purgatory Trail 0.7 miles long

Purgatory Trail begins at the north end of the Handicapped-accessible Trail (see above), on the other side of the service road (please do not walk down the service road). This trail continues uphill for a mile to the top of scenic Purgatory Mountain. It is a fairly easy walk.

Middle Mountain Trail 1.5 miles long

This trail branches off Purgatory Trail and heads north along a rocky ridge to the top of Middle Mountain. The trail then follows switchbacks down the steep north slope of the mountain, ending at the trailhead on Woodell Country Road. .

Mountain Laurel Trail 0.8 miles long

This trail links the Purgatory Trail and Middle Mountain Trail, forming a loop with these two trails. It follows the sides of a ravine above a small creek, passing a large stand of mountain laurel at the southernmost point of the trail.

Moonshine Run Trail 1.3 miles long

This trail branches both left and right off Purgatory Trail at the foot of the Purgatory Mountain summit knob. It makes a complete circuit loop around the mountain while traversing the most rugged and remote areas accessible in this trail system.