Zoológico de Brasilia — Attraction in Região Geográfica Imediata do Distrito Federal

OVERVIEW Gather those ankle-biters, grab your sunscreen, and prepare for a day of wild family fun! We hit up the Brasília Zoo last week, and let me just say—it’s a zoo and then some. If you’ve got a crew that loves animals (or just needs a place to run around outside), this is the spot.

STAR ATTRACTIONS • Hippos: The kiddos were hippo-tized by these gentle giants. • Rhino: Big, loud, and practically prehistoric—the showstopper in my book. • Capybara: Like a giant hamster that doubles as an ottoman—my kids couldn’t stop fawning over these chill creatures!

PLAYGROUND PERFECTION When your mini-explorers get tired of pointing at hippos, there are playgrounds galore. Slides, swings, climbing structures—you name it. My brood burned off enough energy to almost sleep in the car ride home (hey, a dad can dream, right?).

FOOD FIASCO Full transparency, folks: the restaurant needs a little TLC. Hot dogs came out deep freeze style, though the buns were baked to golden perfection (#irony). Pizza was the saving grace for my hungry kiddos, but if you’re anything like me and want to avoid the Frozen Dog Debacle of 2025, bring your own sandwiches, snacks, or order items that don’t require a major thaw.

PJ DAD’S PRO TIPS • Pack a Picnic: The zoo is fantastic, but the restaurant can be hit or miss. A cooler of sandwiches will go a long way. • Stroller & Sunscreen: It’s a big place, so come ready to walk. You won’t regret hauling that stroller if you’ve got little ones. • Sister-Special Recommendation: If your sister’s visiting and she’s anything like mine—i.e., loves a good stroll with scenic views—bring her here for a guaranteed day of walking wonders.

FINAL TAKE Would I do it again? Ab-so-lutely. Brasília Zoo gets two giraffe necks way up in my Dad Books for overall fun. Next time, though, I’m definitely bringing a lunch for the family and maybe a spare lunch for that moment Dad inevitably misplaces the first one. If you’re looking to let the kiddos go bananas while soaking up local wildlife, add the Brasília Zoo to your must-do list—just watch out for those frozen hot...

There is an abundance of animals, but the layout of the zoo is quite confusing and maps not provided. The maps included on signs inside the park are broken or faded and do not help. Interesting to have both natural and caged animals on the property. Kids, ages 6 and 10, enjoyed but struggled with the amount of walking required. Only one restaurant was open and was at the very end of our visit, however there were popcorn vendors every 50 feet! Also, be prepared to be accosted upon entering the park by people selling items. One gentleman put his hands on the window and directed the toy toward the children. When they refused to take it, he tossed it in their lap. Our driver, not knowing this happened, proceeded forward with the gentleman chasing and yelling. Very frustrating and a little scary to our children who did...

Really cool zoo. You can see many birds, some monkeys and capybaras walking around freely. You can enter the zoo by car, but walking around seems to be a more exciting experience. If you can, go early in the morning, before 9am, and see the monkeys being fed. They greet the worker by jumping inside the boat that is used to transport the food to the island where the monkeys live. He hands them some bananas while talking to them. You can see the bond there. Worth waking up a bit earlier. The zoo has beautiful maned wolves - Lobo guará . They are curious and approach the fence to get closer to you. Amazing animals. Admissions: 10...