A Hot Summer Afternoon at Zoo Tampa

Zoo Tampa (formerly Lowery Park Zoo) is a small 63 acre non profit zoo. Although not the biggest, nor best zoo I have visited, there are several unique exhibits which make it worth a place on your Bay area bucket list. The highlight is Safari Africa, a beautiful exhibit which features: giraffes, elephants, zebras, rhinos, okapi, cheetahs, and meerkats. All the animals in this section have a nice big free roaming space available. Mike and I have lived in the Bay area for 3 years and had a membership here for 2 of the years. This is on our weekend rotation of things to do when we do not feel like traveling or driving all the way to the beaches. We visit mostly to get in some morning exercise (before the extreme heat hits) and also to see the nice exhibits.

Safari Africa

On one occasion we were lucky enough to see this adorable baby elephant. I have been to many zoos and this is the first time I’ve seen a baby. Mavi, an African savanna elephant, was born into captivity on July 29th of 2013.

A group of 4 giraffes. Did you know that giraffes are the tallest animals in the world?

Like many zoos today, they offer the unique experience of giraffe feeding to the public. The line is always long, however, it’s a pretty neat experience to see these beautiful animals up so close. I’ve never done it personally but other guests seem to enjoy this experience.

The zebra has long been one of my favorite animals. The zoo houses Hartmann’s Mountain Zebras. The first baby was born at the zoo in January of 2016.

I absolutely love seeing the meerkats. Really, they are so adorable. The simple reason they stand up all the time? To see predators and look more threatening!

I really love the penguin exhibit here. It’s pretty small and located outside as opposed to the indoor facility you see at most zoos. They often offer penguin encounters where you can take an up close picture. Definitely check the events lineup to see what is going on during your visit.

Even though it always stinks, I love seeing the colorful flamingos. We learned from a zookeeper once that part of the reason they smell so bad is because they pee on their own legs to cool down. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to walk by really quick. It’s lush and tropical and the exhibit fits just perfectly with the climate.

Primate World

In this great exhibit, you will find many endangered species like orangutans and chimpanzees. The primates are very active and vocal in the mornings! We always try to arrive early to see them at their most active time.

Aviaries

Two outdoor aviaries allows you to enjoy a variety of exotic birds in a free flying setting. For any bird lovers out there, this is a pretty cool experience as the birds soar across your head in a tropical environment.

Asian Gardens

Asian Gardens features some of the most exciting animals in the park: leopards, rhinoceros, a Malayan Tiger, and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear. As a cat fan, this is probably my most visited portion of the zoo.

The Sloth Bear is a unique species of bear which eats both plants and insects. This interesting looking bear is found in the lowland forests of Sri Lanka. On our first visit, we were lucky to catch this glimpes of him sitting upright during the day as opposed to sleeping. When we came back later in the day, he was sleeping. We enjoyed the opportunity to view this beautiful endangered bear.

A beautiful leopard. You can purchase tickets for a special leopard encounter. Check with the website for more details.

Malayan tigers are critically endangered. I recently learned that tigers are good swimmers and often go into the water to cool off. To date, I’ve never seen a tiger in the water at this zoo or any others.

The zoo is home to Southern White Rhinos. This baby rhino (look to the left in this pic) was so adorable.

The Florida boardwalk

As you walk along The Florida boardwalk, you will take in the sights of many animals native to the region, including: crocodiles, gopher tortoises, a bald eagle, and The Florida black bear and panther. We were really interesting in seeing the panther, unfortunately it was probably sleeping during our visit due to the extreme heat. We were not too excited about this exhibit as we see gators and turtles at the preserves all the time, however, I imagine it would be more exciting for out of town visitors.

Manatee underwater viewing & aquariums

Surprisingly, this zoo lacks indoor exhibits. You would think with the hot Florida weather we would see more. One exception is a fantastic manatee viewing area – it’s my favorite area of the zoo but can get really crowded. A visit to the air conditioned Manatee underwater viewing and aquarium area is a great way to get out of the sun for a while.  The windows were a bit murky and could definitely use a deep cleaning, as you can see in the photos below. Nevertheless, it is still a nice exhibit.

You will also get to see some forms of sea life, although it is not as extensive as that which you would find at an aquarium. The aquariums feature many different unique forms of sea life including sea turtles and lion fish. Even though lionfish look pretty cool, they are considered dangerous as their spines release venom. They are also considered unsafe to eat.

Koala Bear

This is one of the few zoos that houses a Koala Bear. Koala bears are a unique sight only found in a handful of zoos, such as the San Diego Zoo, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the Los Angeles Zoo. According to the Zookeeper chat we attended, Koalas barely drink any water. They get their water from eating Eucalyptus plants. I love attending these talks because you can learn so many interesting tidbits. They are free so you might as well see if anything is going on the day of your visit (check your map for more details).

On another interesting and disgusting! side note, we learned that Koalas babies eat their mother’s fecal matter in order to obtain necessary bacteria for digestion. Coprophagia refers to the consumption of fecal matter and is actually common amongst many animal and insect species, including: flies, gorillas, and elephants.

Safari ride

One unique extra experience which is included with your admission is a guided safari tram ride takes you through a special section of the park that is closed to pedestrians. This entertaining ride gives you an up close look at gopher tortoises, rhinos, Okapi, elephants, and more! It would have been more interesting if the ride traveled through the entire zoo (like Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo), however, the ride is a nice relaxing breezy break from walking around in the blazing heat all afternoon and the staff tries hard to make it entertaining. The line is often long, so get here right at opening if possible.

Rides included with admission

This zoo is unique in that several amusement park rides are scattered amongst the zoo: a carousel, a small roller coaster, a water ride, bumper boats, and a few other kiddie rides. Personally, I felt it took away from the peaceful nature of a zoo, but those with kids might appreciate the extra entertainment. On the other hand, the water ride is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day – you will get absolutely soaked! I’ve only been on it a few times (on really hot days), but let’s just say I cooled off quite a bit.

Please check out the zoo website for a full list of attractions and exhibits.

Best time to visit

This zoo is small, nicely laid out, and easy to walk around. There is some attractive landscaping in certain parts of the zoo, but just not enough shade to justify a summer visit unless you have a membership and can leave at any time and not feel like you wasted a bunch of money. A visit during the really hot season (July, August, and September), is honestly unbearable due to the hot, humid temperatures. A late fall or winter visit would be ideal. If you are a local, I recommend a membership as it will pay for itself in just a few visits and you also get entry to holiday events for free.

Dining at the zoo

You will find a variety of restaurants scattered throughout the park. There is even a Starbucks for those who can’t go without their morning coffee! Safari Lodge is a casual restaurant serving favorites like pasta, tacos, and sandwiches. I recommend enjoying a coffee at the zoo and packing a picnic lunch (we usually pick up some to-go salads or wraps from Trader Joe’s). If it’s too hot to dine outside, consider visiting a local restaurant after your visit Ella’s Folk Art Cafe and Mekenita Cantina are 2 great choices in the vicinity.

Special events

The Zoo holds an exciting assortment of events throughout the year, including the annual Zoo Run Run (a 5k race and walk that runs through the zoo and along the Hillsborough River), Creatures of the Night (a festive annual Halloween event featuring a pumpkin toss), and Wild Wonderland (a holiday extravaganza complete with a million lights, holiday treats, and fake snow). What I like best about memberships is that you get free entry to these events. This is a really nice perk if you live in the area as other zoos typically charge upwards of $20 a person for Halloween and Christmas lighting events. A few pics from the festive Christmas event.

Annual Memberships

Annual passes are available for $284 per family (4 plus 2 guests each visit). This is a great deal for zoo lovers as it includes reciprocal admission to over 160 zoos. Individual plus one guest is $129, and 2 person households plus one guest is $184.

I think it is a pretty good deal as members receive numerous benefits including: free admission to events, free parking, free beer samplings (1-3pm), restaurant and shop discounts, and discounts to participating zoos. This really is the best value as in all honestly this zoo is quite overpriced based on the size and focus on amusement rides rather than animals.

Things to know before your visit

• Summer temperatures in Tampa can climb into the high 90’s with very high humidity! It’s best to avoid a visit this time of year. Unfortunately, they offer no early hours during the hot season.
• Your admission ticket includes all rides found within the park. If you pay for one day, you will receive free admission for the rest of the year.
• You can apply the price of your admission ticket towards an annual pass.
• Wear plenty of sunblock and preferably a hat to shield the sun. Both will be more pricey at the gift shop.
• Drink plenty of water throughout your visit.
• Food and drink are not allowed in the park. However, there is a shaded picnic area right outside the park. You can get a stamp and re-enter the park.
• Giraffe feedings are an additional $3 fee.
• Discount coupons can be found at The Tampa Visitor’s Center.
• -Taking your time and including lunch, a visit will take you approximately 2 hours.

Location, Hours & Pricing Information

Address: 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
Hours: 9:30am-5:00pm
Admission: Adult tickets are $50, children are $40 (ages 3-11). Senior and advance purchase discounts are available. Note that all pricing is current as of September 2025. Please check with the website for updates and special promotions.