Future of the Zoo

Dallas is a World-class city, and it deserves the greatest zoo we can create together.

We invite you to be a part of creating these Wild Horizons,
for your Dallas Zoo.

The largest project in the Zoo’s history

Nothing we’ve built before compares to what is coming. Safari Trail is the largest capital project in Dallas Zoo’s history. This will be a multi-year transformation that will change how our guests interact with wildlife, from the water’s edge to the forest canopy. This expansion is made possible by Dallas voters’ support of the 2024 Bond Program, with the backing of our City and Park and Recreation Department officials, and because of the donors, foundations, and companies investing in this iconic Dallas institution. That is the heart of our capital campaign, and we are excited to share what’s on the wild horizon.

Safari Trail

The half-mile trail built along the path of our former monorail experience will reactivate a portion of land that has not been accessible to guests since 2020. The walking path carries visitors through three new experiences:

African Shorelines | Opening 2028. Bringing new immersive experiences to Wilds of Africa with expanded habitats for lesser flamingos and critically endangered African penguins.
Okapi Forest | Coming by 2030. A trail through the hills and trees with small primates above and endangered okapi roaming below.
Wild Grasslands | Coming by 2030. Filled with new mixed-species habitats including rhino with cheetah and a towering walk-through aviary with large African birds soaring all around.

UP FIRST

African Shorelines

Breaking ground in late 2026 | Slated to open in 2028

Every Journey Starts Somewhere, and Ours Starts at the Water’s Edge.

Guests will be introduced to one of the largest African penguin colonies in the country and will be closer to the action than they’ve ever been. Step inside a fully-netted walk-through habitat for critically endangered African penguins, featuring rocky landscapes, beaches, and expansive underwater views. Nearby, lesser flamingos will fly freely overhead in their own fully netted walk-through habitat situated in an estuary-like setting.

A new full-service café and event space situated between the penguin and flamingo habitats will create a place to gather, dine, and experience the habitats from sweeping, temperature-controlled views. The existing Wilds of Africa Plaza will be reimagined with an outdoor education and ambassador animal area, creating space for chats and encounters.

Coming by 2030

Okapi Forest and Wild Grasslands

Future phases of Safari Trail include Okapi Forest, which puts adventurers in the forest canopy with small primate species overhead and the elusive and endangered okapi — a distant relative of giraffes — below. Plans include a treehouse classroom embedded in this area, with space for programs and classes inside and an outside deck that allows guests to come eye-to-eye with some of the arboreal species in the connected habitat.

Guests can also look forward to venturing into Wild Grasslands, which is anchored by what will be the first combined cheetah and rhino habitat in the United States. This brings white rhinos to the Dallas Zoo for the first time and incorporates an encounter area to give guests an up-close experience with them. A large, multi-species aviary is the other anchor in this new phase, with the aviary built to allow large African birds to fly within a breathtaking walk-through setting.

Discovering Wildlife

Inspiring Generations

Connecting Communities

Your Dallas Zoo

Transformed

Imagine a place where engaging animal habitats blend seamlessly into the landscape, where every step ignites curiosity and wonder. Envision a hub of education and conservation, inspiring future generations to become stewards of our planet. This is the future we see for the Dallas Zoo – a place where the natural world is not just observed, but truly experienced.

Join us on this extraordinary journey and be a part of shaping the future of Dallas Zoo. Together we can create a legacy of conservation, education, and community engagement that will leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who pass through our gates.

For more details and to explore how you can play a role in creating the future of the Dallas Zoo, contact us at Development@DallasZoo.com.