ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Zoo Overview

Spanning nearly 60 acres, ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers natural habitats, educational shows, interactive animal encounters, water play areas, and a selection of rides. Located about 5 miles from downtown Tampa, the zoo is home to over 1,000 animals from around the globe, including African elephants, koalas, orangutans, penguins, and tigers.

Manatee Hospital

A notable highlight is Florida's first nonprofit acute care manatee hospital. This makes ZooTampa one of the few places in Florida where you can see manatees year-round.

Other Attractions

Other highlights include meeting animals through Wildlife Connections, enjoying the Whimsical & Wild Jungle Carousel with 33 animal rides, and exploring a section dedicated to Florida wildlife. Look out for the new Australia Realm opening in 2024, complete with rides, a splash pad, and the Wallaby Signature Encounter.

Interactive Animal Encounters

When not admiring manatees or exploring the Australia Realm, you can enjoy various interactive animal encounters. These range from feeding an Indian rhino to posing for photos with koala bears.

Visitor Experience

Recent visitors generally had positive experiences, especially recommending the zoo for families with young children. They also praised the friendly staff and the well-maintained facilities. Additionally, access to all rides is included in the general admission ticket, although some visitors noted that ticket prices were on the higher side.

Hours

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours during certain seasons.

Tickets

When purchased in advance online, single-day tickets for adults (ages 12 and older) are approximately $48. Tickets for children aged 3 to 11 are around $38, while children younger than 2 can enter for free. Note that Signature Animal Encounters will incur additional costs. If you've purchased a CityPASS, your zoo admission is covered. Parking is free, and with ZooTampa's "Not-So-Perfect Weather Program," you can get a free return visit (within 30 days) if the weather affects your visit.

For more information, visit the zoo's website.