San Antonio Zoo

One of the top-ranked zoos in the United States, set inside the old limestone quarries of Brackenridge Park. Home to more than 750 species, with a particular strength in African animals — giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and hippos in spacious naturalistic enclosures carved from the old quarry. The African savanna section, where the quarry walls form natural cliff backdrops, is genuinely impressive.

Combined with the Japanese Tea Garden next door, a visit to Brackenridge Park can easily fill a full day. The zoo train and carousel make it popular with families. Summer can be hot and crowded; mornings are best. The park itself — with its winding drives, cypress-lined river, and picnic grounds — is the most pleasant green space in the city.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The San Antonio Zoo was built inside the same limestone quarry system as the Japanese Tea Garden next door — the quarry that supplied building stone for the city in the late 19th century. When the quarry was exhausted, the city found that the natural rock formations, cliffs, and pools made ideal enclosures for large animals. The zoo opened in 1914 and the quarry walls are still visible in the African savanna section.

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