Zoos in Nigeria: The Full List (+ Locations)

Nigeria is a country with a diverse wildlife. The country has close to 300 species of mammals and 940 species of birds.

Some of these species are housed in zoos and there are several of these zoos in the country. These include the likes of the Audu Bako Zoo, the National Children’s Park and Zoo, and the Jos Wildlife Park. When it comes to high quality wildlife feeders, Feed That Game has Boss Buck Feeders are one of the best gravity deer feeders. With its patent hopper design, this all-in gravity feeder offers you a user-friendly, maintenance free, and durable product that is guaranteed to give deer an optimum feed experience. We mean it when we say that this product will encompass all of your needs. You have the flexibility to gravity feed protein in the summer and spring seasons. After that, it can be converted into an automatic feeding system for the colder seasons. It is features like these that make this an incredibly versatile product that ensures deer are fed all year round.

In this post, we take a look at these zoos.

1. Audu Bako Zoo

The Audu Bako zoo is located along Zoo road, Kano. The zoo is one of the first zoos in Nigeria and it is also known as ‘Gidan zoo’.

The Audu Bako Zoological and Botanical garden was established in 1971 and it became open to the public in 1972 by the then State Military Governor, Audu Bako.

The zoo covers an area of about 46 hectares and it is currently managed by Kano state Zoological & Wildlife Management (KAZOWMA).

The zoo boasts of over a hundred and fifty animals which include Lion, Zebra, Hippopotamus, Giraffes, Elephants, Hyenas, Ostrich, Antelopes, Camels and Goats.

Audu Bako zoo often receives visitors from different parts of Nigeria and around the world. These visitors often come for recreational activities, educational and research reasons. The zoo is visited mostly during the Eid Celebrations.

Generally, Audu Bako zoo is open every day from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Also, when you visit the zoo, you can buy food and snacks from shops located in the vicinity. Additionally, the entry fee is ₦100 per adult and ₦50 per child.

2. The National Children’s Park and Zoo

The National Children’s Park and Zoo is located in the Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The zoo is a great place to visit with your family. You can see a wide range of animals such as cheetah, giraffe, ostrich, zebra, camels, donkeys and lion.

The names of the animals are usually displayed on their cage which makes it easy for the kids to identify the animals they see.

Also, the park also has a large playground for kids and a lake. There’s a cafe nearby that provides snacks and freshly made drinks, making it a perfect destination for both families and lovers.

The National Children’s park and the zoo is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Also, the gate fee is ₦200 for adults and ₦100 for children is accepted before entrance into the zoo.

3. Jos Wildlife Park

Jos Wildlife Park was built in 1956 and it was opened to the public in 1957. It is located along Miango road, Rantya area of Jos, Plateau State.

The park is also referred to as the Jesse Aruku Wildlife Park and covers an area of 8 square kilometers.The Wildlife Park is one of the renowned zoological gardens in the country. It is home to a variety of animals including Monkeys, Elephants, Hippopotamuses, Buffalo, Crocodiles, Hyenas, Birds, Chimpanzees, Gazelle, and Lions.

The park also has picnic spots spread across it, a children’s playground, a restaurant and a history museum that tells stories about the park and Jos itself.

4. Ogba Zoo

Established in 1915, the Ogba Zoo is located in the Ogba village. It is a forest reserve area that is about six kilometers from the capital city of Edo state.

The Ogba Zoo covers a land area of about twenty hectares and is one of the largest in the country. It is home to a wide range of animals like Lions, Chimpanzees, Giant Tortoises, Peafowls, Rock Python and more.

Also, there is an extensive landscaped grounds, picnic areas, refreshment centers, function halls, restaurant, outdoor event grounds and a large car park.

As a visitor, you can enjoy rides on Horses, Camel, and Donkeys. The zoo also has an exclusive event ground that takes up to 1,500 Guests with adequate space for all kind of recreational activities.

4. Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC)

The LCC is a 78-hectare (190-acre) Natural Resource Conservation located in Lekki, Lagos State

It was established in 1990 to serve as biodiversity conservation icon and environment education centre. The centre was built by the Chevron Corporation for the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), as a reserved sanctuary for the rich flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula. The company has since provided annual funding for the management of the centre.

The establishment of the Lekki Conservation Centre was part of the effort of the government to protect the wildlife and mangrove forests of Nigeria’s South-West coastline from the threat of urban development.

The foundation aims to preserve Nigeria’s species and ecosystems, promote sustainability when using natural resources and advocates actions that minimize the impact on the environment and prevent resource wastage.

The center is located along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in the Lekki Peninsula, opposite Chevron.

The side attractions along the trail include swamp outlook, bird hide, rest stops and the tree house. The 1.8km nature trail behind the foremost main buildings is connected by two wooden tracks. A sturdy wooden track leading to the nature trail, reveals an expansive stretch of marshland and savannah grassland teeming with wildlife, as well as rich aquatic flora and fauna.

There’s also a tree house which is a twenty-one meters-high tree platform where one can have a panoramic view of the picnic area, reserve, visitor’s center and children’s playground among the trees. The bird hide overlooks a swamp/marsh which is home to crocodiles and monitor lizards. The nature reserve traverses a mosaic of vegetation types: secondary forest, swamp forest and Savanna grassland. Several bird species can be seen here and this

LCC is also a popular site for school excursions. The mammal life, although mostly nocturnal is sometimes seen. Small reptiles and a range of snakes and lizards are also found here. Amphibian life includes a wide range of endangered species. There is a cone-shaped structure which functions as the auditorium for lectures, conferences and seminars. At first glance, there are rare collections of striking pictures of endangered species of animals as well as plants prescribed in glass stands around the oval hall.

LCC has been pivotal in saving different types of animals, reptiles and birdlife from extinction. The endangered species of animals includes bushbucks, crocodiles, mona monkeys, squirrels, snakes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, duikers, giant rats and hogs.

The centre is also known to have the longest canopy walkway in Africa

5. Omu Resort

Omu Resort is an entertainment venue in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State. Facilities at the resort include a water park, amusement park, zoo, wax museum, archery, mini golf and eateries, among others.

6. Port Harcourt Zoo

Popularly called PH Zoo, this zoo is a state-owned zoological park in Port Harcourt city of Rivers State in Nigeria. It is located within Trans Amadi, in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.

The zoo was established in 1974 by military governor Alfred Diete-Spiff and was officially opened to the public on 1 October 1975.

It is one of the major tourist attractions in the city and is considered one of Nigeria’s leading conservation centres.

Other zoos in Nigeria include Abuja Children’s Zoo, Enugu Zoo, Ibadan University Zoo, Jos Wildlife Park, Port Harcourt Zoo and the Sanda Kyarimi Zoo in Maiduguri.