Karachi has rapidly grown into a mega metropolis, but the hustle and bustle of city life leaves very little time for relaxation. Thankfully, there are a few attractions in the concrete jungle where you can enjoy a peaceful evening with your family. Among these attractions are the zoos in Karachi, which provide a perfect opportunity to take a breather while getting up-close with the wildlife.
While you may have heard of one or two of them in spite of having lived in Karachi all your life, they are surely worth visiting or revisiting, especially if your kids are fond of animals.
Zoos and Mini Zoos in Karachi
Yes, you read that right! Karachi not only has a range of zoos but there are also a couple of mini zoos hidden in this populated city that await your arrival. Here is a list of the zoos in Karachi:
- Karachi Zoo
- Danzoo
- Karachi Safari Park
- Landhi Korangi Zoo
- Mufti Ramzan Family Park and Mini Zoo
- Arif Hussain Shaheed Mini Zoo Park
Now, let’s discuss what awaits you when you visit these amazing zoos in Karachi.
Karachi Zoo
Location: Nishtar Road, Garden East, Millat Nagar, Karachi
Timings: 8 am to 8 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 30
Spread over 33 acres, Karachi Zoo opened its doors for the public in 1878, and they remain open ever since. It is Pakistan’s second-oldest zoo, with Lahore Zoo being the oldest (1872). Now also known as Karachi Zoological Gardens, it was once famous as Mahatma Gandhi Garden before the partition of the Indian subcontinent. The zoo is also home to a Natural History Museum.
There are more than 80 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish in Karachi Zoo with a total of more than 800 animals. However, the most famous among these have always been the elephants. The Elephant House was home to ‘Anarkali’, a female Asian elephant, for a number of years before she passed away in July 2006 at the age of 65. Two female African bush elephants now grace the premises. They were originally born in Tanzania in 2007 and were brought to the zoo in May 2010 from Karachi Safari Park and are named ‘Noor Jahan’ and ‘Madhu Bala’.
The Natural History Museum is another famous exhibit here, where stuffed animals, as well as preserved animal parts, are on display, including horns, antlers, skins, and feathers. Zoology students often frequent the place for research purposes. The museum was renovated in 1992 along with the Reptile House, which contains 13 different species of lizards and snakes. Newly born tortoises and crocodiles can also be seen here in different enclosures.
If you’re visiting the zoo, do not forget to appreciate the beautiful Mughal Garden that is now open for the public (as of Dec 2019) and contains flower exhibits as well as Mughal-styled fountains. A visit to the Karachi Municipal Aquarium located inside the zoo is also a must, as it contains 28 tanks full of more than 30 species of fish. Flamingos, swans, peacocks, Asiatic black bears, elephants, lions, white lions, Bengal tigers, deer, monkeys, zebras, Mugger crocodiles, tortoises, and Indian cobras are just some of the many animals you can witness when you visit Karachi Zoo.
Danzoo
Location: Precinct 19, Bahria Town, Karachi
Timings: 12 noon to 11 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 500 (adults), Rs. 300 (children between 1 to 12 years). 1-year-olds have free entry.
Danzoo or ‘Day And Night Zoo’ is located in Bahria Town Karachi, and covers around 70 acres of land. The zoo is home to a range of exotic animals and was inaugurated on the 15th of May 2018. As the name states, the zoo offers both day and night-time safari adventures, with animals and birds that have been imported from around the globe. It is Pakistan’s first international standard zoo. While you can explore the area on foot, a golf-cart ride is highly recommended, which will take you around the park free of cost.
The zoo also has a boating lake and several food outlets to complete a fun-filled day. Two types of boating rides are available here. You can enjoy a boat ride for Rs. 100 per person with life jackets being mandatory for children. Adults can also enjoy a water cycle ride for Rs. 150. However, wearing helmets is mandatory for your safety. Lions, white lions, Bengal tigers, leopards, cheetahs, monkeys, Asiatic black bears, deer, giraffes, panthers, zebras, ostriches, peacocks, parrots, doves, macaws, white swans, black swans, ducks, geese, pythons, cobras, iguanas, and tortoises are among the animals that’ll welcome you at Danzoo.
A live animal show is also held every weekend at 8 pm where various trainers educate the audience about different animals and give kids a chance to get up-close and personal with some of the tamed creatures.
Karachi Safari Park
Location: University Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Timings: 6 am to 8 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 50
Opening in 1970, Karachi Safari Park is spread over 148 acres and offers chairlift rides and a bus safari ride along with two natural lakes, which are home to swans, ducks, and geese. Among the animals, elephants are the most popular, along with zebras, deer, and a few other species. Children can feed the elephants with their own hands too, which always leaves them awed.
There are plenty of other things to do at Karachi Safari Park as well. This includes taking a bus ride through the Safari to witness animals in their natural habitat and taking a 10-minute long chairlift ride to the hilltop and back again, passing over forested caverns, and the swan lake. A playground has also been developed for children with numerous rides. A number of development projects have been proposed for the park and only time will tell if they see the light of day in the years to come.
Landhi Korangi Zoo
Location: Sector 35 F, Landhi Town, Karachi
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 30
Established in 1990, Landhi Korangi Zoo is spread over 4 acres and is home to lions, tigers, monkeys, peacocks, deer, zebras, and crocodiles. It also has an indoor aquarium with a large range of aquatic species. It was Pakistan’s largest aquarium when it opened its doors to the public in 2012. The ticket for the aquarium is an additional Rs. 20 per person.
Mufti Ramzan Family Park and Mini Zoo
Location: Block D, North Nazimabad Town, Karachi
Timings: 4 pm to 11 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 10
Known previously as Umar Bin Khalil Park, Mufti Ramzan Family Park was inaugurated in 2013 and is a fun place to spend an evening with your kids. The park is clean and well maintained with proper paths laid out for walking. The mini zoo here houses rabbits, peacocks, monkeys, goats, and other small animals. There’s also a small food area, a children’s playground, and a fish aquarium. The pond in the park is ideal for paddle boating, and there’s also a rink for roller-skating.
Arif Hussain Shaheed Mini Zoo Park
Location: Off University Road, Block 16, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi
Timings: 4 pm to 11:30 pm daily
Ticket Price: Rs. 10
Arif Hussain Shaheed Mini Zoo Park was established in 2009 as an area park in Block 16 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal. However, along with a children’s play area and jogging track, it also accommodates a mini zoo within its premises. It was previously known as Mehmud Ghaznavi Park and Bagh-e-Rizwan Park and Mini Zoo. The zoo area is home to a range of birds in enclosures, including ostriches, peacocks, swans, and other fowls.
This concludes our list of zoos in Karachi. If you or your children are fond of animals, these places are a must-visit on a weekend outing.
For more information about places to visit in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan, keep reading Zameen Blog, Pakistan’s best tourism and lifestyle blog.
