Johannesburg Zoo, founded in 1904, houses 2,000 animals across 320 species. They offer family-friendly exhibits, conservation programmes, and interactive activities for all ages. In this feature, we give a brief history of Johannesburg Zoo, the animals and exhibits you can expect to see, the activities they offer, their conservation projects, and everything you need to know to plan your visit.

For thousands of years, human beings have been fascinated by animals. We've painted them, documented their behaviour, and built spaces to observe them more closely. With 2,000 animals from 320 different species spread over 55 hectares, the internationally accredited Johannesburg Zoo is the perfect place to do just this. For families without the means to get out of the city to a wildlife reserve, the zoo has also long presented an opportunity for children to see and learn about wildlife, and the importance of conservation efforts and caring for Africa's unique biodiversity.

A brief history of the Johannesburg Zoo

Johannesburg Zoo was founded in 1904 when the late Hermann Eckstein donated his property to the people of Joburg for recreational use. The land, originally christened 'Sachsenwald' by Eckstein and on which he had planted three million trees, was located in what is now known as the leafy suburb of Saxonwold.
When the zoo first opened, it consisted of one enclosure that housed two lions. Other animals in Johannesburg Zoo's collection at the time were a leopard, a giraffe, two Sable antelopes, a baboon, a genet, a pair of Rhesus monkeys, a pair of porcupines, and a Golden eagle. Today, residents of Saxonwold and Parkview have been known to occasionally hear the resident lions roar at night.

In 1910, the Bandstand was built to host brass bands, and the elephant and rhino houses were built using stone in 1913 and 1915 respectively.

Throughout its existence, Johannesburg Zoo has always been open to all races, and Eckstein would presumably be happy to know that his inheritance has become central to the urban fabric of Joburg. The original 200 acres donated by Eckstein's mining company are also host to Zoo Lake and the South African National Museum of Military History. The zoo's original collection of animals was donated to it by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, and in honour of this donation, the bronze statue of Fitzpatrick's beloved Jock was moved to the zoo.

The early Johannesburg Zoo was a green space with wide avenues that stretched across the property. It was thought of not just as a place for holding animals, but as a garden with planned paths, trees, and lawns. It was, as Kathy Munro puts it, "a place of leisure and a cultural space for bands and concerts". While the animals were originally a mere novelty, scientific study for educational purposes has become increasingly important at the zoo. In recent years, conservation has also become a central focus, as is evidenced by Johannesburg Zoo's Rhino Conservation Programme.

Another key feature of Johannesburg Zoo is the enclosures: while the animals were originally kept in cages or simple houses, the zoo became an early pioneer in creating enclosures that resemble the natural habitats of the animals that live there. This shift dramatically improved public perception of the zoo in the 1960s, and while some of the old enclosures were left intact as heritage structures, this approach continues to inform the design of the individual exhibits. Today, Johannesburg Zoo also hosts several educational programmes, and is part of international breeding programmes.

Animals and exhibits: Who's who at the zoo

Activities: What to do at Johannesburg Zoo

Johannesburg Zoo conservation projects

Modern zoos are about more than viewing animals: they present us with an opportunity to be part of global conservation projects that aim to educate about and protect the world's biodiversity. Johannesburg Zoo is part of an international programme to protect species and ecosystems, and they are home to a number of animals on the IUCN Red List. They also focus on other environmental issues such as water management, waste management, raising awareness about the importance of trees, and creating and implementing anti-litter campaigns. Find out more here.

Currently, Johannesburg Zoo is involved in a number of conservation projects:

RHINO CONSERVATION PROJECT

As part of their efforts to conserve the rhino, the Johannesburg Zoo currently houses both the Black and White Rhino. Currently labelled ' critically endangered' by the IUCN's Red List, it is imperative that more people and organisations become involved in conservation efforts such as this one. Johannesburg Zoo's rhinos are called Zimbi, Peter, and Shaka, and they are a popular attraction at the zoo.

PICKERGILL'S REED FROG
Since 2006, The Amphibian Research Project has worked to assist with the conservation of the endangered amphibian species, the Pickersgill’s Reed Frog, which is a small endemic species that occurs only on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Part of this project involves creating sustainable populations in Johannesburg Zoo, as well as creating a Biodiversity Management Plan aimed specifically at the conservation of the Pickergill's Reed Frog.

WATTLED CRANE
Johannesburg Zoo currently leads the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme to help fight the extinction of these critically endangered birds. Thought to be as little as 250 remaining in the wild, these creatures are now part of a breeding programme set up by the zoo to ensure the survival of the species.

SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL CONSERVATION PROJECT
The Southern Ground-Hornbill has been endangered for many years, which prompted the initiation of the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project in 1999. Since then, Johannesburg Zoo has been involved in promoting education and awareness, mitigating threats to the species, providing artificial nest sites, improving the population size through hand-rearing, and reintroducing some of the animals into the wild.

OWL EDUCATION PROJECT
The aim of the Owl Conservation Project is to promote education about owls and their habitats, as well as create a sustainable insurance population. To quote Johannesburg Zoo: " In order for people and owls to co-exist peacefully, people need to be educated about owls, their biology as well as the benefits of having owls in their communities".

HOW CAN I SUPPORT JOHANNESBURG ZOO'S CONSERVATION EFFORTS?

There are several ways in which you can support Johannesburg Zoo's conservation efforts. These include buying memberships, making donations, or adopting an animal. The Animal Adoption Programme includes all animals, and is open to individuals, corporations, schools, clubs, families, and groups. There are several packages on offer, and they include a personalised adoption certificate. a free entrance and parking voucher, a photograph of your adopted animal, and information about the species. For more information about the programme, visit their website or contact them at +27 11 646 2000 or Ioanna@jhbzoo.org.za.

Plan your visit