Turtle Back Zoo Carousel — Attraction in West Orange

I recently visited Turtle Back Zoo in Essex, New Jersey, and it was an absolutely delightful experience! The zoo offers a fantastic blend of engaging exhibits and interactive experiences that make it a perfect outing for families, couples, and solo adventurers alike.

One of the highlights of Turtle Back Zoo is the diverse array of animals. From majestic big cats and playful primates to fascinating reptiles and colorful birds, the zoo's well-designed habitats provide excellent viewing opportunities and educational insights. The animals appear well-cared for, and the zoo’s commitment to conservation and animal welfare is evident throughout the facility.

The layout of the zoo is very visitor-friendly, with clear signage and well-maintained pathways. There are plenty of shaded areas and benches for resting, which is especially nice on a warm day. The zoo is also very accessible, making it easy to navigate with strollers or wheelchairs.

The interactive exhibits are a real treat, particularly for children. The petting zoo and touch tanks allow for up-close encounters with a variety of animals, fostering a sense of connection and curiosity. The train ride and carousel add a whimsical touch to the visit, and the recently added treetop adventure course offers an exciting challenge for older kids and adults.

Additionally, Turtle Back Zoo offers various educational programs and presentations that are both informative and entertaining. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, always ready to share interesting facts and stories about the animals.

Overall, Turtle Back Zoo is a must-visit destination in Essex, New Jersey. Its combination of educational value, family-friendly attractions, and beautiful surroundings make it a standout choice for a day of fun and learning. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom in a well-maintained and welcoming...

Let me get one thing straight, I have been to many zoos and out of all the zoos i have been to this one is the ABSOLUTE WORST! The zoos i have been to were Dubai, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan , Egypt and KSA and i came across the world to see this zoo but this is a big disappointment and I will tell you my side of the story.First of all they let us pay full price which seems normal BUT my aunt went here before and let them in for free because there were not alot of animals bit to us they didn’t tell us and then when we paid all she told us was to take a picture of the map because there were no maps but then once we did we went to the giraffe feeding area but they made us PAY 5 DOLLARS for 2 PIECES OF LETTUCE and when we wanted to cut it in half she told us we couldn’t and that we had to buy more tickets then across the giraffes were supposed to be lions and hyenas but the only thing we saw was 1 hyena which was really disappointing because it was sleeping then once we went to see the red pandas but they only thing i saw was 1 panda that was sleeping and barely showed we wanted to see some more animals but they were off exhibit which was really disappointing and then the only thing that was fun was the touch tank we only saw a few animals and when we told the employees they told us the animals were not used to they humidity but they got the animals FROM AFRICA so they are ALREADY USED TO IT! There were also many paths that were closed and we wanted to see the bear path but it was closed as well as the butterfly path was closed and even if it wasn’t ,it needs money. But when we went to complain the complain lady said this is the situation and it is not their problem she was also very impolite.This is such a disappointing zoo i really want to give them 0 stars but i cant this is literally the worst...

Turtle Back Zoo was a great experience for me and my family! The kids enjoyed themselves (6, 3, and 18 months). They all enjoyed themselves, seeing all the animals, feeding the giraffes, and I think it was a goat. The zoo has a park for kids to play at, and parents can sit down.

I will definitely recommend bringing a wagon or stroller or something similar. It's a lot of walking that includes hills. I saw a few people have carts/ strollers that I think they rented from the Zoo, but I'm not sure of the price. I highly recommend bringing a water bottle for everyone in the family. There's water fountains where you can refill them. I also recommend bringing snacks for the kids. We had got food and ice cream when we left. Overall, a great experience for everyone...