The Belo Horizonte Zoo (Fundação Zoo-Botânica) sits in the Pampulha district north of the city. It opened in 1959 and now holds around 1,200 animals across roughly 600 species, with a strong emphasis on Brazilian fauna — jaguars, tapirs, capybaras, giant anteaters, and a wide range of birds and reptiles.
The grounds also include a botanical garden and a small aquarium. The whole park is large enough that getting around takes the better part of a morning, and walking is the only way to do it. A practical stop with children, and a useful way to see Brazilian wildlife you would otherwise need to travel days to encounter.