National Zoo of Malaysia — Attraction in Ampang Jaya Municipal Council

This Zoo has improved overall in terms of cleanliness and animal wellbeing. It may have been contributed by the ticket sales which included the Panda observation for the last 20 years, and Kudos to all staff in the Zoo who has done a great job in raising these Pandas here, and as a result I am quite sure these benefited the wellbeing of the other animals too. My main worry now is that these Pandas are scheduled to travel back to China for good soon, what will be the fate of this Zoo post their departure? Will there be replacement Pandas? What will happen to this huge Panda complex built?

There are still many areas for this Zoo to improve on, a few suggestions:

1. No outside food and drinks allowed- this is a good policy if you can enforce it and if there are enough F&B outlets available inside. Before visiting we called up the Zoo hotline and checked if we can bring our own food and do a picnic, the answer was no, but later we saw many visitors with their own outside food in the Zoo.

2. No proper F&B outlets, once upon a time there used to be a fast food chain located inside this zoo, it was subsequently replaced by a local restaurant, and now totally closed and abandoned leaving visitors with no choice but to only buy food and drinks from kiosks and mini canteen setup, this is really disappointing especially for Tourists.

3. Animal show at 11am, the amphitheater lack of ventilation and was very warm and humid. Poor quality mic and speakers makes it difficult for people to hear what the zoo staff are announcing. Some of the Zoo trainers only spoke in Malay and they were trying to interact with a crowd of tourists which was clearly silly as they could not understand Malay. Either have a dual language session ( Malay and English) or get the Malay staff to learn and speak in basic English to provide a more meaningful interaction with the crowd. Suggest to install those large commercial ceiling fans from Benimafans to improve the ventilation.

4. Tram/Buggy rides: these rides are meaningless as it does not allow you to hop off and hop on again at regular intervals. It is a 1 off and once you get off you need to walk the rest of the way.

5. Birthday promotion- this is a great complimentary offer, however the rules makes no sense. It requires you to be entitled only on your birthday exact date and 30 days within that date. Most businesses will honor 1 week before or after the birthday or within the same month of the birthday, but here this...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Zoo Negara to celebrate my birthday, and I must say—it was a delightful experience from start to finish. One of the best perks? Free entry for birthday celebrants! The process was incredibly smooth: just scan the QR code provided on their website and head straight to Counter 4. The staff were friendly and efficient, making the whole registration feel effortless and welcoming.

🐾 Animal Welfare and Atmosphere From the moment I stepped in, I could tell that the animals here are well cared for and content. Their enclosures were clean, spacious, and thoughtfully designed to mimic natural habitats. Many of the animals were active and engaging, and even those that were resting seemed peaceful and healthy. It was heartwarming to see how cheerful and well-fed they appeared—clearly a testament to the dedication of the zoo staff.

Of course, like any zoo, some animals were taking their midday naps during my visit. But I noticed that they perked up when the zookeepers came around with food. It was fascinating to observe how feeding time brought out their natural behaviors and interactions. If you're hoping to catch them in action, timing your visit around feeding schedules might be a good idea!

🎭 Animal Show Highlights One of the standout moments was the animal show, which featured a lively performance by birds and a fur seal. The birds showcased their intelligence and agility with impressive tricks, while the fur seal stole the spotlight with its playful antics and charming personality. The show was well-paced, educational, and entertaining for both kids and adults. It added a dynamic layer to the visit and gave us a deeper appreciation for the animals’ abilities and the bond they share with their trainers.

🌿 Overall Impressions Zoo Negara offers more than just a walk among animals—it’s an immersive experience that balances education, conservation, and entertainment. Whether you're an animal lover, a family looking for a fun day out, or someone like me enjoying a birthday treat, this zoo delivers...

I arrived at opening time on a Monday morning. There were so few people I virtually had the park to myself. The zoo is quite large (100 acres) and well laid out with easy to follow signs everywhere. There are almost 500 species of animals and all are well cared for. The grounds are kept clean by a large group of workers. A few of the enclosures appear to be a little small (rhinos) but most animals have adequate space. The panda section is beautiful and contains two of the laziest pandas known to man. The keeper told me they sleep 14-18 hours a day (often in the funniest positions). They have their own kitchen and hospital onsite. Make sure not to miss the panda house. There are groups (more like gangs) of monkeys that roam the zoo. DO NOT FEED them and it's best to avoid them. While they may appear cute, they're unpredictable little critters and will often steal your belongings or bite and scratch with little provocation. There is a Bird Aviary that you can walk into and interact will flamingos, chickens/roosters, and a few peacocks. All of quite friendly and will pose for some great shots. My favorite was the Malayan Tiger. As I approached he was waking up and sleepily staggering out of his house. When he saw me, he became playful and tried to hide behind a small tree (FYI: large tigers cannot hide behind small trees). He gazed at me from behind his rock wanting to play, eat me, or both. As I was leaving he ran over to the fence and laid on a rock looking at me. I stayed for awhile and listened as he told me all his problems (there's a video, be sure to turn up your volume. He's a very talkative tiger). The ticket price was high, over $20 US for a foreigner. If you book a day in advance, you can use the Klook app for a significant discount as well as family packages. This is a must-see place if you're in the city. Besides all the animals, much of the zoo is a well-kept forest with spectacular views of the mountains in...