The Edmonton Valley Zoo is an intimate and interactive experience for people of all ages.
Located along the shores of the North Saskatchewan River, The Edmonton Valley Zoo is just minutes from many of our apartment buildings including Colonial Arms and Crestview Apartments. This facility is as much a conservation and education institution as it is for entertainment. The staff and facilitators at the zoo work hard to engage guests in animal life and environmental conservation.
The zoo is open year-round, only closing for Christmas day, and is home to over 350 exotic and native animals. There are 8 distinct areas for animal observation: The Inner zoo, Makira Outpost, Carnivore Alley, Elephant House, Back Paddocks, and Birds of Prey. Each area is home to different species, including the African serval cat, lemurs, snow leopards, the rare Sichuan takin, and Lucy, the Asian elephant.
The entry plaza is a free area of the zoo where anyone can visit, shop the gift store, dine at the café, play at the fountain, or visit the new otter exhibit without paying an admission fee. Once in the zoo, you can explore all the animal exhibits, the petting zoo, The Wander and the beaver dam play areas, attend an animal talk, ride the train, or rent a paddleboat.
The staff at the Edmonton Valley Zoo continually strive to provide exceptional care and enjoyment with many projects under construction. One of the many future expansions is a children's education centre known as Nature's Wild Backyard. Young visitors can learn about animal enrichment by playing veterinarian and tunneling underground to get face to face with some of the animals.
Since opening in 1959, the Edmonton Valley Zoo has been a place people can visit for enrichment, excitement, and education. The zoo continues to educate and entertain by hosting unique events throughout the year. Their next event, held on October 28th from 11am to 4pm, is Boo! at the Zoo!, a fun event where children can trick or treat throughout the zoo in their favourite costumes.
So, take the short drive and explore this unique facility any time of the year!