If you're looking for a summer outing that delivers on all fronts — and that particular exhausted happiness that only comes from a full day of family adventure — look no further than the Oklahoma City Zoo.
First things first: the new African exhibit
We had been eagerly anticipating the newly finished African exhibit, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The space is stunning — wide, open, and thoughtfully designed to make you feel like you've stepped onto an entirely different continent. But here's the detail that really made our family light up: the exhibit is home to some incredible reptiles.
We're usually lingering in the Herpetarium, but the reptile enclosures in the African exhibit were top notch. Each reptile had a brand new setup and even digital name displays. The kids were glued to the glass, peppering us with questions about scales, heat lamps, and whether any of them could be pets (the answer, for the record, is no unless it's a Uromastyx). The crowd favorite was the African dwarf crocodile named Pork Bun.
The rest of the zoo delivered, too
Beyond the African exhibit, we wandered through the rest of the zoo at a wonderfully unhurried pace. There's something about the OKC Zoo that manages to feel both expansive and manageable — you never feel like you're missing something crucial, but there's always another path to explore. The animals seemed happy and active (always a good sign), and the grounds are clean and well-kept.
By mid-afternoon, with snacks consumed and steps accumulated, we were hot and so were the animals.
Would we go back?
No doubt. Whether you're local or just passing through Oklahoma City, the zoo is a genuinely world class zoo and a great way to spend the day. Go for the big animals, stay for the reptiles — trust us on that one.