São Paulo Zoo is one of Brazil’s best-known wildlife attractions, combining classic zoo exhibits with Brazilian native species, conservation programs, and nearby experiences like Simba Safari and the São Paulo Botanical Garden. Opened in 1958, the zoo spans 47 hectares and is home to more than 230 animal species, including endangered Brazilian wildlife.
🎟️ Tickets for São Paulo Zoo and Simba Safari often sell out a few days in advance during school holidays and long weekends. Lock in your visit before your preferred time is gone.
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Getting there:
São Paulo Zoo, Simba Safari, and the Botanical Garden have separate entrances, which are straightforward to enter. For Simba Safari, arrive at least 20 minutes before your booked session.
São Paulo Zoo (ticket offices close one hour before closing)
Simba Safari
Botanical Garden
Pro tip: Visit right at opening on a weekday for cooler weather, more active animals, quieter Botanical Garden trails, and shorter Simba Safari queues.
| Visit type | Route | Duration | Walking distance | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Highlights only | Entrance → native wildlife exhibits → elephants and giraffes → big cats → reptile house → exit | 4-6 hrs | ~4km | You cover the animals most people came for and the strongest Brazilian-species section, but you skip the safari and the slower garden finish. |
Balanced visit | Simba Safari → main zoo loop → big cats → lake area → exit | One full day | ~6km | This gives you the classic zoo and one major add-on, which is the sweet spot for most first-time visitors who want more than just a quick circuit. |
Full exploration | Simba Safari→ main zoo loop → shuttle / walk to Botanical Garden → exit | Two days. Day 1: Zoo + Safari, Day 2: Botanical Garden | ~8km | This works best if you genuinely want the extras; it’s rewarding, but by the final third most visitors feel the distance and pace. |
| Ticket type | What's included | Best for | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
São Paulo Zoo Ticket | Zoo entry + main exhibits | First visit to the zoo, 4 to 6 hours | |
Simba Safari Ticket | Simba Safari with guided tour on truck | Roaming animal encounters beyond standard enclosures | |
Jardim Botánico Ticket | Unlimited 12-month entry to Botanical Garden | Repeat visitors, locals, year-round nature access |
São Paulo Zoo, Simba Safari, and the Botanical Garden are three separate sites within the same complex. All visits are self-guided on foot inside the zoo and garden. Simba Safari runs on guided vehicles with fixed timed departures. Plan your day around safari session times first, then build the rest of your route around them.
Suggested route: Book the first Simba Safari morning session before arriving at the zoo. Start the main zoo circuit immediately after opening while animals are active and temperatures are cooler. Save the Botanical Garden for a separate weekend morning when the museum and greenhouses are open alongside the trails.
Pro tip: Do the safari first, the zoo in one sweep, and treat the Botanical Garden as its own day rather than a rushed final stop.
Experience type: Drive-through safari
The closest thing to a barrier-light animal encounter in the complex. Guided vehicles move through open areas where giraffes, zebras, and ostriches feel far less staged than standard enclosures. Book the earliest session for calmer boarding and more active animals.
Where to find it: Separate entrance at Av. do Cursino, go there early if it’s part of your day.
Experience type: Atlantic Forest trails and botanical garden
The quietest part of the complex. Trails connect orchid gardens, lily pad lakes, and Atlantic Forest fragments across open grounds. The Hidrofitotério, a 1947 aquatic garden with 80 plant compartments, sits furthest in and is missed by most visitors. The museum and greenhouses only open on weekends and holidays from 10am to 4pm, so a weekday visit gives you trails and lakes only.
Where to find it: Separate entrance at Av. Miguel Estefano, 3031, adjacent to but distinct from the zoo gate.
Species / habitat: Bengal tigers in the zoo’s newer big-cat enclosure
Large, naturalistic enclosure with waterfalls, rockwork, and a pool. Multiple sightlines make it one of the strongest viewing spots in the zoo. Stay a few extra minutes rather than moving on after the first sighting.
Where to find it: In the big-cat section of the main zoo circuit.
Species / habitat: Rare Brazilian parrot species
Easy to rush past near the entrance, but one of the zoo's most significant conservation stories. The electric-blue plumage is striking in morning light. Read the signs here as they explain why this species matters beyond the photograph.
Where to find it: Near the entrance area, before the deeper main loop pulls you onward.
Species / habitat: Endangered Brazilian primates
Golden lion tamarins and native primates are small, fast, and easy to miss if you are moving with a crowd. These habitats represent some of the zoo's most serious conservation work. Slow down and give them proper attention.
Where to find it: In the Brazilian wildlife / primate areas along the main route.
Species / habitat: South American canid
Looks nothing like the wolf most visitors expect. Long-legged, fox-faced, and quieter in behavior. Rewards patient viewing. Many walk on if the animal is farther back, which is exactly the wrong instinct here.
Where to find it: In the native fauna section of the zoo.
Species / habitat: Reptiles and amphibians
A smart midday stop when outdoor heat reduces animal activity. Viewing is tighter and more controlled than large enclosures. Do not rush past the anaconda and alligator displays where the best details are in how well the animals blend into the habitat.
Where to find it: On the main zoo route, usually best tackled after the large outdoor exhibits.
Pro tip: As São Paulo Zoo and the Botanical Garden need excessive walking, plan rest stops and realistic timeframes rather than trying to cover everything in one push.
São Paulo Zoo, Simba Safari, and the Botanical Garden work especially well for children because the day naturally alternates between big animals, short rides, play-style moments, and shaded outdoor breaks.
Pro tip: The Botanical Garden works well as a final stop if children still have energy but need a quieter setting.
Personal photography is welcome across all three attractions. The best light and animal activity is in the first two hours after opening. Avoid flash inside enclosed houses and at close viewing areas. On safari, patience matters more than equipment.
Distance: Next door — 5 min walk
Why people combine them: It gives you the calm, shaded finish that the zoo itself doesn’t, and it’s by far the easiest same-day pairing.
Distance: 15km — 30–50 min by car
Why people combine them: It appeals to the same animal-loving crowd, but with an indoor, marine-focused experience that contrasts nicely with the zoo’s outdoor walking day.
Parque da Mônica
Distance: About 10km — 15 min by car
Worth knowing: It’s a strong backup if you’re traveling with children and want to turn the day into a broader family outing rather than a wildlife-only plan.
Ibirapuera Park
Distance: About 8km — 25 min by car
Worth knowing: Better as a relaxed second stop than a same-day rush, especially if you want open space and a slower city finish after the zoo.
Pro tip: If you’re doing the safari, don’t wait until 1pm to eat, as late-morning food lines rise fast, and a packed snack buys you flexibility when the park is hottest.
Água Funda is practical for the complex, but it’s not the most rewarding base for most São Paulo trips.
For most visits, São Paulo Zoo takes 4 to 6 hours. It's a full day if you add Simba Safari. But two days is realistic if you add the Botanical Garden, particularly if you want weekend access to the Botanical Garden museum and greenhouses.
Strongly recommended for weekends, holidays, and July school break. Simba Safari sessions have fixed capacity and fill fastest on weekend mornings.
At opening or within the first 30 minutes. Animals are most active, temperatures are cooler, and safari queues are shortest in the first two hours across all three attractions.
São Paulo Zoo and Simba Safari work together on the same day with an early start. The Botanical Garden is better as a separate visit, especially on a weekend when the museum and greenhouses are open alongside the trails.
São Paulo Zoo has over 2,000 animals across 230+ species, including lions, jaguars, elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, and chimpanzees. Native Brazilian species include maned wolves, golden lion tamarins, Lear's Macaws, flamingos, and axolotls. Simba Safari confirmed animals include lions and other open-area wildlife on guided vehicle routes.
Yes, open daily. Trails and gardens accessible every day from 9am. Museum and greenhouses open weekends and holidays only, 10am to 4pm. The Cerrado Greenhouse is currently temporarily closed.
Guided vehicle sessions on fixed timed departures throughout the day, approximately 40 minutes per session. First departure weekdays 9:30am, weekends and holidays 9am. Last session 5pm daily. Arrive at least 20 minutes before your chosen session.
Unlimited entry for 12 months from purchase date, valid once per day. Nominal and non-transferable. Includes 20% guest discount and 20% off at Zoo São Paulo restaurants.
Re-entry is not permitted at São Paulo Zoo, Simba Safari, or the Botanical Garden once you exit.
No. São Paulo Zoo, Simba Safari, and the Botanical Garden are each sold separately. There are no combo passes available.
São Paulo Zoo main paths are paved with accessible parking near the entrance. The Botanical Garden has ramps on most routes, an accessible museum, and an accessible Nascente Trail. Historic greenhouses cannot be adapted due to heritage protection. Contact Simba Safari directly for vehicle boarding accessibility information before visiting.
Witness close-up encounters for a wildlife experience at the heart of São Paulo.
Inclusions #
Entry to Simba Safari
Guided tour in an official safari truck
Sightings of 40 exotic species
Access to the 3km forest circuit
Exclusions #
Access to the São Paulo Zoo
Access to the Botanical Garden
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Get unlimited access to one of São Paulo's most peaceful green spaces, at Atlantic Forest.
Inclusions #
Unlimited entry for 12 months from the date of purchase
Access to all open gardens, trails, and visiting areas
Access to Nascente Trail and Terra Batida trekking trails
20% discount for guests visiting on the same day
10% off at Acqua Zoo, Zoo Mineração, and Jardim Botânico SP for pass holders
20% off at Zoo São Paulo restaurants
Exclusions #
Weekday Botanical Museum entry (weekends and holidays only)
Weekday greenhouse access (weekends and holidays only)
Access to São Paulo Zoo
Access to Simba Safari
Special events requiring separate tickets
Benefits not included on maintenance days, when at full capacity, or due to force majeure, at the sole discretion of the park, without prior notice
See lions, giraffes, and over 2,000 animals across 230+ species in one of São Paulo’s largest wildlife parks.
Inclusions #
Entry to São Paulo Zoo
Access to animal exhibits and habitats
Access to zoo walking circuits and viewing areas across 47 hectares
Exclusions #
Access to São Paulo Botanical Garden
Access to Simba Safari
Guided tours
Animal encounters
The only combo that pairs the zoo and safari with 12 months of unlimited Botanical Garden returns, all in one complex.
Inclusions #
São Paulo Zoo
Entry to São Paulo Zoo
Access to animal exhibits and habitats across 47 hectares
Simba Safari
Entry to Simba Safari
Guided tour in an official open-sided safari truck
Sightings of 40 exotic species across the 3km forest circuit
São Paulo Botanical Garden
Unlimited entry for 12 months from the date of purchase
Access to all open gardens, trails, and visiting areas
Access to Nascente Trail and Terra Batida Trail
20% discount for guests visiting on the same day
10% off at Acqua Zoo, Zoo Mineração, and Jardim Botânico SP for pass holders
20% off at Zoo São Paulo restaurants
Exclusions #
São Paulo Zoo
Guided tours and animal encounters
Access to Mundo Dino
Access to Acqua Zoo
Simba Safari
São Paulo Botanical Garden
Weekday Botanical Museum entry (weekends and holidays only)
Weekday greenhouse access (weekends and holidays only)
Special events requiring separate tickets
São Paulo Zoo
Simba Safari
São Paulo Zoo
Simba Safari
São Paulo Botanical Garden
São Paulo Zoo
Simba Safari
Jardim Botânico
São Paulo Zoo
Simba Safari
Jardim Botânico