Breakfast with orangutans is the headline act at Bali Zoo. Children sit down to eat while these red-haired apes share the morning with them. It is the kind of thing a child talks about for weeks afterwards. The zoo also lets kids feed the elephants, so the day is built around contact with the animals, not only looking at them.
Bali Zoo: the basics
| Type | Family |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 09:00-18:00 |
| Official site | https://www.bali-zoo.com/ |
| Map | Open the map |
Bali Zoo is one of the best-known animal stops on the island for families. It sits in the same circle of kid-friendly outings as Bali Bird Park and the Ubud Monkey Forest. Together they make an easy theme for a few days of travel with children: birds one day, monkeys the next, then the zoo for the big animals. The zoo is open from 09:00 to 18:00, which leaves plenty of room to fit it around naps, meals and a late start.
Orangutan breakfasts and elephant feeding
The two experiences that set Bali Zoo apart are both hands-on. Kids can have breakfast with orangutans, and they can feed the elephants. Neither is a quick glance through a fence. Your child is close to the animal, doing something with it, and that is what they will remember.
The orangutan breakfast suits an early start. Orangutans are great apes, and watching one eat is a lesson in how human their hands and faces look. Children tend to copy what they see, so expect questions about why the ape peels fruit the way it does. Elephant feeding is simpler and louder, with plenty of giggling when a trunk comes close.
Planning a day from 09:00 to 18:00
The zoo opens at 09:00 and closes at 18:00, so you can choose how to shape the day. If your child is set on the orangutan breakfast, start at the front of the day and keep the rest of the morning free. Feeding the elephants fits well afterwards, while energy is still high. Then let the pace drop and wander the paths at the speed of the smallest legs.
Do not try to squeeze in every animal. Children usually decide on a favourite and want to go back to it. Build in time for that, and for a long lunch, and you will all enjoy the afternoon more. If you want a full animal-themed trip, give Bali Bird Park a separate day rather than cramming both into one.
If the weather turns: museums and carvings nearby
A zoo is mostly an outdoor day, so it helps to have a backup in the same area. The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma is a natural choice. Masks and puppets are bold, colourful and a little spooky, which many children love. Because it is a museum, you can stay under a roof while the rain passes.
Museum Rudana is another indoor option for the grown-ups in the group, with art to look at while the children burn off energy. Yeh Pulu is different. It is an old site of carvings cut into a rock wall, and it works well on a dry day when you want a short walk and a story about the past. All three sit in the same part of Bali as the zoo, so they slot in without a long drive.
Making it a full animal-themed trip
Bali Zoo is easy to link with other wildlife stops. Bali Bird Park gives children a very different kind of animal, one that flies and sings. The Ubud Monkey Forest adds monkeys that roam in their own wooded home. Put these with the zoo and you have a simple plan for a family that loves animals.
Spread them over separate days so no one gets tired. Let the orangutan breakfast be the big treat, and keep the other stops lighter. A child who has fed an elephant and shared a meal with an orangutan will likely forgive a quiet museum afterwards.
Before you take the kids
What are the opening hours of Bali Zoo?
Bali Zoo is open from 09:00 to 18:00. That gives you a wide window to start with an early breakfast or arrive later in the day.
Can children meet animals at Bali Zoo?
Yes. Kids can have breakfast with orangutans and feed the elephants. These hands-on moments are the main reason families choose the zoo.
What else is near Bali Zoo for a family day?
Nearby you will find Bali Bird Park, The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma, Museum Rudana and Yeh Pulu. The Ubud Monkey Forest is another popular animal stop for children in the same area.
Where does Bali Zoo fit among animal attractions in Bali?
It is one of the main animal attractions for families, alongside Bali Bird Park and the Ubud Monkey Forest. The zoo stands out for its orangutan breakfast and elephant feeding.
Near Bali Zoo
- Bali Bird Park (1.93 km)
- The House of Masks and Puppets Setia Dharma (6.65 km)
- Museum Rudana (6.95 km)
- Yeh Pulu (7.31 km)
Tickets and family tours
More family days out: things to do in Bali.