About
Buffalo Zoo Animal Experiences and Camps offers educational animal experiences that include hands-on and immersive learning activities. The program includes options such as summer zoo camp, educational field trips, train rides, carousel rides, and the Wild Explorer VR Experience.
• Schedule: Open 7 days a week 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, last entry at 4:00 PM.
The Buffalo Zoological Gardens was established in 1875 and is the third oldest institution of its kind in the United States. The Zoo’s mission is to provide the general public with an educationally, culturally and recreationally significant community resource through the advancement and encouragement of the science of zoology, conservation of the world’s wildlife, and innovative exhibition of diverse species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Its philosophy is to exhibit animals and plants in ecological habitats and geographical arrangements that represent the biomes of the world, and its programs focus on giving visitors a better understanding of the natural world, how animals relate to each other, to their environment and to humankind, and increasing awareness for the importance of conservation.
Buffalo Zoo Animal Experiences and Camps take place across multiple areas of the Zoo, including M&T Bank Rainforest Falls, Delta Sonic Heritage Farm, the Children’s Zoo, Gorilla Habitat, Lion and Tiger Habicat, Giraffe House, Animal Hospital, Reptile House, Main Animal Building, Vanishing Animals exhibit, The Bone Zone, Ecostation, Otter Creek, African Watering Hole, South American Rainforest, Arctic Edge, and the Zootique gift shop, which was renovated from a historic children’s barn. Rainforest Falls is a fully enclosed South American exhibit that provides a four-season attraction, and the Wild Explorer VR Experience is open year round in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls.
The Buffalo Zoo and M&T Bank offer free admission to the community on select Third Thursdays. The Buffalo Zoo is a proud partner of KultureCity, and through this partnership sensory bags are available that include noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, visual cue cards, and a KultureCity VIP lanyard. Guests can request a sensory bag at admissions during their visit to the Zoo; the bags are free, require a license in exchange, and must be returned to admissions at the end of each visit. The Rotary Club of Buffalo funded the Children’s Zoo, and the Naval Reserve provided assistance for Zoo improvements. The Buffalo Zoo also has partnerships with hotels in the Buffalo Region and partners with CharterUP for group transportation services.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
• Schedule: Open 7 days a week 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, last entry at 4:00 PM.
The Buffalo Zoological Gardens was established in 1875 and is the third oldest institution of its kind in the United States. The Zoo’s mission is to provide the general public with an educationally, culturally and recreationally significant community resource through the advancement and encouragement of the science of zoology, conservation of the world’s wildlife, and innovative exhibition of diverse species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Its philosophy is to exhibit animals and plants in ecological habitats and geographical arrangements that represent the biomes of the world, and its programs focus on giving visitors a better understanding of the natural world, how animals relate to each other, to their environment and to humankind, and increasing awareness for the importance of conservation.
Buffalo Zoo Animal Experiences and Camps take place across multiple areas of the Zoo, including M&T Bank Rainforest Falls, Delta Sonic Heritage Farm, the Children’s Zoo, Gorilla Habitat, Lion and Tiger Habicat, Giraffe House, Animal Hospital, Reptile House, Main Animal Building, Vanishing Animals exhibit, The Bone Zone, Ecostation, Otter Creek, African Watering Hole, South American Rainforest, Arctic Edge, and the Zootique gift shop, which was renovated from a historic children’s barn. Rainforest Falls is a fully enclosed South American exhibit that provides a four-season attraction, and the Wild Explorer VR Experience is open year round in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls.
The Buffalo Zoo and M&T Bank offer free admission to the community on select Third Thursdays. The Buffalo Zoo is a proud partner of KultureCity, and through this partnership sensory bags are available that include noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, fidgets, visual cue cards, and a KultureCity VIP lanyard. Guests can request a sensory bag at admissions during their visit to the Zoo; the bags are free, require a license in exchange, and must be returned to admissions at the end of each visit. The Rotary Club of Buffalo funded the Children’s Zoo, and the Naval Reserve provided assistance for Zoo improvements. The Buffalo Zoo also has partnerships with hotels in the Buffalo Region and partners with CharterUP for group transportation services.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
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