What a fantastic zoo. One of the best (next to San Diego). A little confusing on where to go though. Expect to spend at least half a day here to see everything, so bring lunch of plan on eating lunch here. Also, I've gone a few times and it always seems like the temperature at the zoo is always hotter than the rest of Calgary, so if it's going to be hot out, make sure you plan and dress for extra hot weather.

It was a great experience for our kids. Dinosaurs made our little one felt like he is in Jurassic!. Penguins and colorful fishes is one of my other son's favorite. Plus the butterflies that completes the day of my young lady who stayed in the garden for almost 2 hrs.

As a family we visited in august 2023. We arrived when they opened, to make sure we didn’t get caught up in crowds and also because the day was set to be a scorcher at 35 degrees. We started with the penguins, which was worth the entry price alone! You can get up close to them, and we enjoyed getting splashed as they swim up close. We walked around prehistoric park afterwards. We were all impressed with this. A great walk with animatronic dinosaurs and lots to read and learn. We stopped for our packed lunch, then went round and saw the animals. The zoo doesn’t have hundreds of different animals, they seem to have fewer than other zoos I’ve been to, but they give large areas for the animals to live in. Obviously a good thing. So if there’s a certain animal you are hoping to see, best check the website so you aren’t disappointed. We were at the zoo about 4.5 hours in total, and ended the day with an ice cream from the shop, which was massive and a very fair price.

It is huge. We got totally turned around. Could not figure how to get to places. I will go back to see what we missed. Not cheap over 100 for a couple adult and 1 child plus parking. Loved the giraffes and hippos, and penguins.

We had a splendid time at the zoo, though we were disappointed by a few attractions being closed. It's likely even more enjoyable in the summer. It's worth adding to your itinerary regardless of when you visit Calgary. Just temper your expectations if you're going in winter.

My family had a day on the ground in Calgary following a tour of more remote places in the Rockies, so I asked a Canadian friend what to do. His first recommendation was the Zoo, and it’s hard to fault. This is one of the best zoos we have been to, and it takes a while to see it all, so give yourself time. While it’s not open plan, the animals have space, and all appear very healthy and active. The enclosures allow good viewing, and zoo employees and volunteers always seem to be on hand to provide facts about the animals—both as species and individuals. The zoo is split into geographical sections—Canada, Asia, Africa, etc—with a separate penguin facility. Being Australian, we’d seen plenty of penguins, some in the wild, and a lot in zoos. Why go halfway to the wrong pole to see birds native to Australian, New Zealand, and other Southern Hemisphere coastlines or waters? But Calgary’s penguin facility was better than anything we’d seen in Australia or New Zealand—climate controlled, and very up-close, with staff on hand to control visitor conduct and ensure the birds’ safety. It was the first exhibit we went through, and we went through again at the end. A definite highlight. It was also great to get up close to some of the large mammals we had seen only from a distance or not at all in the wild in Canada—polar bears, brown bears, black bears, wolves and cougars. All the advice we’d received was that we didn’t want to see a cougar in the wild, and we weren’t that keen on bears or wolves either. The zoo put us literally within meters of them. There are also some great aviaries. There are also a few places to eat, with a good selection of food. We were there for hours. They don’t let you in within an hour of closing time (5PM), but my advice is to give yourself three or four hours to take it all in.

The zoo is a great activity for any age. There are certain days of the month they do the penguin walk, you can review on their website before hand. The zoo is huge with different themed sections to explore. You can literally spend all day there exploring if you want.

From the splendour of the Rocky Mountains to the heart of Destination Africa, the zoo houses over 1,000 animals worldwide. Here are some highlights: African Rainforest: Trek through this area to see the gorilla troop. African Savannah: Safari over this region to watch the Hippo's swim. Canadian Wilds: Climb to see grizzly bears. Penguin Plunge: Cool off and observe four species of penguins. Exploration Asia: Visit endangered red pandas and Amur tigers. Dorothy Harvie Gardens: Wind down your trip with a fragrant garden walk. ENMAX Conservatory: Sit with the butterflies (seasonal). Notably, every visit helps protect endangered animals at home and in the wild. The zoo also features the unique and immersive Gateway to Asia building, which includes Komodo dragons, white-handed gibbons, and a Malayan tapir.

We took our granddaughter to the Calgary Zoo for her first visit. She absolutely loved it. The highlight was definitely the giraffe’s and the hippopotamus’ as they were quite active compared to the other animals who were busy napping. Unfortunately the penguin exhibit was closed which was a bit of a bummer. I would definitely return in the future.

Attended the Polar Bear special event night. Absolutely amazing to experience. Firstly a private viewing at 5PM to see the astounding new enclosures with is plunge pools, water cooled rocks and cold showers that the bears activate by standing on a sensor pad. Then a really good 4-course gourmet meal, cash bar and 3 excellent presentations. I learned so many incredible things about our largest land mammals.. The size of these bears (1,100 lbs) and their height standing (over 10 feet) is incredible to see up close. We will do this again, as there are so many fun facts to learn. Thanks to our amazing zoo, and to Baffin and Siku.