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13 reviews for Calgary Zoo Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park
All Reviews
I absolutely LOVE this zoo. I have only been to a few zoos in my lifetime, but the Calgary Zoo is my favourite.
It's not cheap (around $20 I think?), but for double that you can get a year's membership. There are obvious times to avoid going (the last month before school gets out, and basically all summer, at least if you're like me and hate kids), but when it's not too busy it's so much fun.
Getting there via the C Train is super easy, it has it's own stop and you just walk underground to get there.
The exhibits are well organized and they have a lot of variety. There's a Canadian Wildlife exhibit, Africa, everything. I wish they had more sea animals, but that's alright. My favourites are the hippos, elephants, and owls.
The food is, as expected, fairly pricy and not that great. Still, it's fun to eat popcorn or ice cream and watch all the little shows they put on.
This is a fun place to go, and I definitely want to check out Zoo Lights next Christmas.
I may not be the biggest fan of zoos, but I can tell you that for whatever reason, I make it a point to visit the local zoo in whichever city I am living.
I must say, and this completely shocked me, but The Calgary Zoo is one of the best zoos I have ever been too. Between the exhibits and the layout, few zoos that I've seen can even come close to competing.
What I hate is when a zoo is in the middle of NOWHERE. So unless you have a car, it takes you hours on end to get there via public transit. I once visited The Toronto Zoo and it took us 2.5 hours to get there on transit. Then, once we got there, we found the layout to be a complete disappointment. The animal enclosures were so spread out that we spent the majority of our time walking from one to the next. And what was even more disappointing is that when we got to the next enclosure, a lot of the time, the animals weren't even there.
The Calgary Zoo has its own C-Train stop. The city clearly put a lot of thought into it. It takes about 10 minutes to get there on the train from downtown Calgary.
The other thing I love about The Calgary Zoo is that it's spaced out properly. You do walk from one enclosure to the next, but they are close to one another and the animals are always in full view. The other thing I love are the exhibits. The Calgary Zoo was renovated a few years ago and they built some incredible displays and exhibits. Plus let's not forget the fact that The Calgary Zoo puts on a slew of festivities throughout the year including Zoo Lights and birthday parties where you can actually spend the night at the zoo!
I have never been more impressed with a zoo.
It is evident that a lot of planning, care and thought went into the creation and construction of The Calgary Zoo. It's leaps and bounds ahead of a lot of the other zoos out there and I'm proud to say it's in my hometown.
As zoo's go, this one is really well sectioned and organised. There are plenty of events for children and adults to enjoy, such as feedings.
I personally am not a big fan of zoo's as caged animals do not impress. There is a section within Calgary zoo where you can watch the animals on larger plains which is much more exciting. I didn't visit the botanical and plant gardens that are meant to be excellent.
There are excellent deals on yearly passes, the animal variety is great and as zoo's go this one is pretty good.
The Calgary Zoo - one of Calgary's biggest tourist attractions, day trips and entertainment venues. I've had so many different experiences with the zoo, I figured I'd bullet list the pros and cons of each part to keep it from becoming a massive blob of words.
On daytrips (Grab the young'uns, let's go to the zoo!):
-It's pretty expensive to buy a single day or family pass to the zoo
(FUN FACT: If you plan to visit the zoo more than twice in one year, it is completely worth it to support the zoo fully and just buy an annual membership)
- Kitamba Cafe has the best poutine in Calgary. That's a fact.
-Stay away from the hot dogs. Just... no. It's not worth it, and there is better zoo food to be had.
-Skip the Canadian Wilds! Go for a hike if you really need to see it.
-All of the Africa exhibit = super awesome
-Siberian Tigers. are. so. cool. Just don't jump the fence!
-Gorilla show is funny and so worth it
If you plan ahead, you can get some one on one time with the animals, like say the elephants. It is so worth it.
Special Zoo Events:
-Zoolights really are all that. They also make a great date, full of romance and hot chocolate.
-Boo at the zoo is really cute.
Kids stuff:
-You can have catered sleepovers for kid's birthdays and special occasions. Very cool, very professional, all kids seem to love it AND they get to chill out with some animals.
Corporate events:
I helped organize an event at the zoo once, and it was painless. They make it so easy, help with any special needs you have and are always on the ball. Ours was an informal family event, and everyone really enjoyed their time there.
Formal Events/Weddings:
-Again great service, and they are able to keep sections of the zoo private for the participants. The food is pretty good for banquet food, and the event being held at the zoo gives it some pizzazz.
Overall, I'm a pretty big fan of our zoo. That being said, I do have some issues with zoos in general, animal captivity and safety. I feel that the zoo generally does a decent job at addressing these concerns.
The Calgary Zoo is a great place to visit any time of the year and during different times of the day. They have fire pits and warming stations on cold days and cooling stations on hot ones. There are a wide variety of events and programs, from Zoolights to the Safari Brunch and from school programs to singles events. You can book the Zoo for a corporate banquet or even a wedding reception. Although if you're looking to hire a pianist, be forewarned that there is no piano on-site.
I'm not wild about seeing caged animals but I do applaud the Calgary Zoo for its dedication to animal conservation. At least the animals aren't crowded and they have made a good attempt at creating surroundings that bear some resemblance to an animals' natural environment. They have been revamping the place steadily throughout the past few years.
The staff have enrichment programs to keep the animals active. Even the tortoises get their daily workout in the rain forest. Beware of the ice-cream obsessed geese, though. On one visit, I was chased around by one who eyed my ice cream lustily. One family laughed heartily as they filmed me running to avoid the goose's teeth, all while screeching "Get away! You can't have my ice cream! It's MINE!"
Smart layout. It's very easy to spend time in one area each visit (e.g. Africa, North America, Eurasia, Australia, etc.). I'm looking forward to seeing the Dorothy Harvie Conservatory once it has been completely revamped. I miss the butterflies. It was decent enough before but what I saw today from the outside looked stunning.
Having visited the Zoo several times with family, friends and by myself, I can say that the animals are more active when it's not so warm out and they are pretty active right before mealtime. If you want to avoid crowds, go on a weekday or during holidays. For instance, fellow shutterbugs tell me that Boxing Day is a great day to go to the Zoo.
I was sad to hear today that the manta rays are gone. A staff member said they weren't doing so well in Calgary so they were sent to another zoo, which is the best decision they could have made.
Having paid $30 to see Sea Life Park Hawaii, I consider the $14 admission to the Calgary Zoo a steal. If you want to really get your money's worth, get an Annual Pass or Discovery Passport. You get discounts to the gift store, Zoo events, food and more. I bought my pass last November and I feel I've definitely got my money's worth.
It's hard to not like the zoo; you get to look at animals. It's really that simple.
Sure it can cost a bit to go and seeing absolutely everything isn't really conducive to having a good time (it's just too big). So don't see everything, plan what you want to see and what you want to skip -do you really need to go to the Botanical Gardens? What in the Canadian Wilds have you not actually seen in the Canadian wild?
Good for a date with a lucky lady/gentleman or with your nieces and nephews (sons, daughters, kid next door, anyone 10 and under really). Have fun!
I've always enjoyed my journeys to the Calgary Zoo. It's the second largest in the country and offer a delightful variety of beasts from all over the globe. Their exhibits include the Arctic Shores and Antarctic Landing, their Australia exhibit (which I feel is rather small), their gorgeous and massive botanical gardens and Dorthy Farvie Conservatory, the Canadian Wilds display, their nocturnal building with Creatures of the Evening, Destination Africa, Eurasia, their Prehistoric Park, and a fairly kick-ass primates display.
Overall, there's plenty to see here. Of course, prices can be somewhat ridiculous, but it's always worth a go.
I am SO happy that I decided to visit this zoo! I thought it would be weak but was completely wrong! It took me about four hours to cover everything. The vast array of animals were impressive in themselves but the fact that they had amazing habitats is what really did it for me. The animals actually seemed happy! They were up and frolicking as opposed to laying around praying for death as I'm used to. Plus, I can't think of a single zoo animal that was missing!
I had only 4 hours to spend here, not enough time to cover all the extensive
exhibits. If time is short for you I suggest going to the website and pick
out the things you definitely want to see when you arrive at the zoo.
The zoo is not a cheap family outing but you do get your money's worth.
Highly recommend, especially for kids.
Check my photos.
The zoo is definitely a place to enjoy yourself, especially with kids in the warmer months. Here's a secret though, go on a brisk day in the winter and you'll likely have the whole place to yourself. The zoo is open every day of the year, except Christmas.
Even if you go on a cold day, rest assured that there's two great indoor animal enclosures where you can keep warm and see the animals - the African area where you can view the hippos & giraffes, and the rain forest where you can see the gorillas, alligators and birds.
If you go on a hot summer day, indulge in a delicious soft ice cream cone. I don't know what's in the mix, but those babies don't melt. You can walk from one end of the zoo to the other and you'll still have an intact ice cream cone...who knew chemicals could taste so good?
Everyone who I asked about Calgary recommended that I go to the zoo, and I enjoy looking at lazy animals as much as the next person, so to the zoo I went. Coming from Washington, DC, where most attractions and museums are free, I was skeptical about the $16 entrance fee, but it was well worth it. The Calgary Zoo has its fare share of big and exotic animals, like Bactrian camels, snow leopards, giraffes, and elephants, and they were ALL out and about on the day I went. Even the red panda! And everyone knows that all red pandas do is sleep.
The grounds are extensive, but certainly doable in one afternoon, if you skip the gardens and Prehistoric Park. As an East Coast American, I thoroughly enjoyed the Canadian Wilds exhibit, since the only "wildlife" I ever see are squirrels and pigeons. However, this one exhibit is gigantic and dwarfs the other sections of the zoo; there could be a little more variety in the non-native species. The zoo does do a good job with its presentation, though, making for quite an enjoyable way to while away the time.
I've never walked around the zoo to look at animals. I guess I just don't find that stimulating enough; I could do it on 17th Ave and have a more entertaining time. But I did attend their Zoo Lights spectacle last year with a bunch of other two-legged animals looking to capture that Christmas spirit through tiny, LCD multi-coloured lights strewn all over the place.
It does add something to the zoo, and if you like it during the day you'll probably love it in all it's incandescent glory....
I just checked their website to see when the Zoo Lights start (Nov. 28) and was saddened to hear the "behind the scenes" giraffe show planned for this weekend for "adults only" has been cancelled. That's a shame. Sickos everywhere are probably pondering how to pass the weekend now. I imagine that show would have been something: giraffes dressed in leather masks, with whips and ass-less chaps slapping each other around while people get their kicks....
What the hell is going on down there anyway? This takes the whole "you get to look at animals" thing to a new level. I know it's a slow time of year for them, but they have the lights and that should bring a fair number of people in; they don't have to whore their giraffes out. Who would pay for that, anyway? There is a lot I don't understand about man's relationship with animals or why we want to watch them.....
The Zoo is a must see during a visit to Calgary.
Took my kids down to the Zoo on a snowy January weekend to preview Dinosaurs Alive. It was OUTSTANDING!!! Thought my four year old son was cold because he was shivering but he was actually scared by the 30-foot moving T-Rex that was roaring up a storm. The animatronic dinosaurs are fantastic. We'll definitely be going back...especially now that he knows the dinosaurs aren't real.
We warmed up by checking out Destination Africa...there was a baby giraffe frolicking about, the hippos were swimming in their huge tank and we checked out the gorillas, including the baby who is growing up quickly. There are several gorillas on loan from the Bronx Zoo and it's an active enclosure...they even have 2 colobus monkeys hanging about.
On warmer days, we make a point of checking out the Canadian Wilds which is a fantastic display with Grizzly Bears, Wolves, Otters, Burrowing Owls, Moose, Bison, and Porcupines to name a few.
I've visited a host of zoos in my travels but continue to be impressed by the quality of exhibits and the conservation efforts of the Calgary Zoo.
We've always had a great time at the Zoo and we make regular visits with our Discovery Seasons Pass. We always recommend the zoo to visitors, particularly families. It's first class.
