Oakland Zoo: Savanna to California Trail
This tour covers about three hours in Oakland Zoo, 100 acres in the hills of Knowland Park. The first half loops the valley: Wild Australia, the Tropical Rainforest, the Children's Zoo and the African Savanna. Then the gondola, free with admission and ADA-accessible, lifts you to the California Trail, where native animals and rescued wildlife live on the hilltop.
The pages are built to open by themselves. When your phone asks, allow location access, turn on Headphone mode, tap the screen once, and keep the screen on. Then wander: each stop opens, and in Headphone mode plays, as you come within about 30 meters of the habitat.
The zoo charges admission, requires advance reservations and sells parking passes; check oaklandzoo.org for prices and seasonal hours. Paths in the valley climb and dip, and the California Trail is exposed and often warm, so bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Animals can choose where to be, so you may not see every one. Start at the main entrance by the flamingos.
16 stops on this tour:
Main Entrance - Flamingos at the Gate
Wild Australia - Ride the Outback Express
Sun Bears - Smallest Bears, Longest Tongues
Tiger Habitat - A Home for Rescued Cats
Rainforest Apes - Chimps, Gibbons and Siamangs
Children's Zoo - Otters, Gators and Goats
African Savanna - Giraffes Up Close
Lions - Where Elephants Once Roamed
Gondola - Four Minutes to the Hilltop
Visitor Center - The Landing at 650 Feet
Bald Eagles - A Comeback Story
Gray Wolves - Back in California
Condors and Jaguars - Giants of the Past
Grizzly Bears - The Bear on the Flag
Mountain Lions - Rescued Cubs Grown Up
Bay Overlook - Bison Below, the Bay Beyond
Plan your visit
- Route: 16 stops · about 1.5 miles · walking, one way
- Time: about 3 hours at an easy pace, with stops
- Start: Main Entrance (directions)
- Cost: free tour; the site itself charges an entrance fee
- Audio: narrated - tap ▶ Listen at the top of any stop
Stops on this tour
- Main Entrance - Flamingos at the Gate
- Wild Australia - Ride the Outback Express
- Sun Bears - Smallest Bears, Longest Tongues
- Tiger Habitat - A Home for Rescued Cats
- Rainforest Apes - Chimps, Gibbons and Siamangs
- Children's Zoo - Otters, Gators and Goats
- African Savanna - Giraffes Up Close
- Lions - Where Elephants Once Roamed
- Gondola - Four Minutes to the Hilltop
- Visitor Center - The Landing at 650 Feet
- Bald Eagles - A Comeback Story
- Gray Wolves - Back in California
- Condors and Jaguars - Giants of the Past
- Grizzly Bears - The Bear on the Flag
- Mountain Lions - Rescued Cubs Grown Up
- Bay Overlook - Bison Below, the Bay Beyond
More tours nearby
- UC Berkeley Campus Walk (10 mi) - Free speech, Nobel science, a 307-foot tower and a creek that started it all on a walking loop through Cal.
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco (17 mi) - 1,017 acres of wonder - museums, gardens, bison, and windmills in the heart of SF!
- San Francisco Waterfront Tour (19 mi) - From the Golden Gate to the Ferry Building
- Fort Funston Historic & Scenic Tour (20 mi) - Coastal Defense History Meets Natural Beauty