Going to the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden has been on my bucket list of off-duty activities since last year. I know it sounds underwhelming, but stay with me.
I never thought of Manila Zoo again after that one fieldtrip we had in elementary. At the time, it was a rundown place with only Mali the elephant —sometimes called the world’s saddest elephant—- bringing it any fame. Or infamy, as it were.
The zoo pinged my radar last year when it reopened after extensive renovations. While I wouldn’t boast of the variety of animals and plants kept inside the zoo, I was pretty impressed by the relaxing atmosphere and thoughtful design which went into the place. Going to the Manila Zoo now appears to be a perfectly respectful to take a half-day stroll during the weekend.
Visitor Information, Location, and Fees
The Manila Zoo is tucked away in the heart of Malate. Much like Arroceros Forest Park, you can find yourself in a little pocket of nature after walking only a few minutes away from a mall or high-rise condominium.
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Situated along Adriatico St, the zoo is a five to ten-minute walk from either Taft Avenue or Roxas Boulevard. Personally, it took me around 30-40 minutes to make the trek from Manila Zoo back to the area of the Philippine General Hospital.
But obviously you can take public transportation. The zoo is easily accessible by jeep or LRT along Taft Avenue, followed by a short 10-minute walk around the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
You can still hear the bustle of the city in some parts of the zoo, which I imagine is a nightmare for the animals. It must be even worse on weekdays. But most of the time, I enjoyed a quiet stroll through the zoo. (Sometimes a little too quiet —it was barely at half-capacity, I think. Where are the tourists of Manila?)
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time from their website: https://manilazoo.ph/
I didn’t get to purchase tickets beforehand as this was a spontaneous kind of visit, but I had no problems paying onsite via GCash. The ticketing booths also accept cash, but only exact value.
For non-Manila residents, the price of admission is now PHP300. Students get to pay only PHP200, while discounts apply for senior citizens and persons with disability. Manila residents pay half the full price.
The zoo is open 9AM-8PM on Tuesdays to Sundays, and 11AM-8PM on Mondays and Holidays. However, I found most food stalls closed by 5:30PM, so keep that in mind when you visit!
Zoo Highlights
It was pretty hilarious to see that majority of the animals listed in the zoo map or guide simple were not there. Hilarious or depressing —take your pick.
I didn’t see the promised elephant (may she rest in peace), or the giraffe, or even the hippopotamus. The sign read “White Bengal Tiger”, but an orange tiger was sleeping in the enclosure instead…
And yet despite all the missing animals, I still enjoyed my visit. Highlights are a matter of perspective.
Case in point: surprise capybaras.
Aside from the capybaras, I found the architecture and design of the park to be its own delight. Despite the limitations in space, walking through the pathways felt comfortable and refreshing.
Walking into the Butterfly Garden was also so nice. There weren’t many butterflies at first glance, but the design of the space was immediately enough to entertain.
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I also have to give props to the playful and interactive design of the Manila Zoo Primates & Children’s Park! I only wish there were more children around to play in the swings and monkey bars…
One last thing I appreciated about the architecture of the zoo: it’s built to be PWD friendly! I visited at the same time as two families with grandparents who were wheelchair-bound, and they seemed to have no problem getting around. In hindsight this should actually be the bare minimum, following a recent PHP1.7 billion renovation…
Final Thoughts
With all the little delights the zoo has to offer, I think I’ll probably be dropping by a second time just to get away from the city (while still being inside the city). However, Arroceros Forest Park and Luneta Park are still the cheaper alternatives.
It’s also nice to know you’re contributing somewhat to the welfare of these animals and to local tourism. (Local tourism to this zoo might be in a really tight pinch —the zoo souvenir shop had to close down.) Plus, city zoos make learning more accessible for students on a field trip (like my young self back in preparatory year).
Some people might have qualms about zoos; I don’t particularly want to discuss philosophy here. But if you’re okay with zoos and similar gardens, then I think visiting this place is a neat way to spend an hour or two. (Nothing longer than that because the place is so small.)
I hope you won’t be too disheartened by the missing animals. I’d much prefer to go on a walk and see some plants, rather than have the zoo struggle with the upkeep and feeding of way too many animals crowded together.
I’ll probably plan my visit better so that I can try out The Aviary Cafe.
Getting another 4000 steps in, seeing capybaras in real life, and really just not spending another Sunday afternoon at the mall made the trip more than worth the price of admission. Tara?
Here’s to the more random walks in the future!
jari m 
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