Belfast Zoo, on the slopes of Cave Hill overlooking the city, is a genuinely good family day out - home to over 1,200 animals across a well-laid-out hillside site, with real educational programming alongside the exhibits.
Opening Times
Hours vary seasonally: roughly 10am-6pm, April to September, and 10am-4pm, October to March. Last admission is generally an hour before closing, though the zoo can close its gates earlier during busy periods - worth checking the current day’s specific hours before travelling, especially outside peak season.
History
Belfast Zoological Gardens first opened to the public in 1934, built on the slopes of Cave Hill Country Park, part of the historic Belfast Castle estate.
A Note on the Elephants
If you’re visiting expecting to see Dhunja and Yhetto, the zoo’s long-time Asian elephants - they’re no longer here. Both moved to Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands, in July 2024, joining other elephants there to form a more suitable social group for their later years - a considered, welfare-led decision, not an emergency move. Dhunja has since died, in January 2025, at age 51, following a decline in her health that led to a decision for palliative care. She had been at Belfast Zoo since 2009.
It’s a genuinely sad update for anyone who remembers them fondly, and worth knowing before a visit rather than discovering on arrival. Check the zoo’s current animal list before travelling if seeing specific species is important to your visit.
