Bali Zoo is the smaller, more intimate of the island's two big animal parks, set in tropical gardens in the village of Singapadu in Gianyar, about thirty minutes south of Ubud and around an hour from the southern resorts. Where the Safari Park is built around a bus ride, Bali Zoo is a walking zoo: shaded paths lead through landscaped enclosures, past streams and bamboo, so you can set your own pace and stop wherever the children want. The collection focuses heavily on Indonesian and Southeast Asian wildlife, with species such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, sun bears, binturongs, crocodiles, Komodo dragons and colourful tropical birds, alongside African animals including lions and meerkats. Daily feeding sessions and keeper talks give children a reason to move from one area to the next, and a petting zone with gentler animals suits the very young. The zoo is best known for its encounter packages. Breakfast-with-animals sessions, evening events and, most popular of all, elephant experiences: the Elephant Mud Fun programme, sold alongside the standard entry ticket, lets visitors join keepers as the elephants bathe in a mud pool. Whether you choose these is a personal decision, and attitudes to close contact with captive elephants are changing; the standard ticket gives a full and enjoyable visit without them. The zoo is open daily from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. It is a strong pick for families with toddlers and primary-age children, for half days when a full Safari Park outing would be too much, and for anyone staying in Ubud, who can combine it with the Batuan and Celuk craft villages or the Tegenungan area on the same morning.
Planning a visit: go in the morning, when the animals are more active and the gardens are cooler, and check the feeding and presentation times at the entrance so you can build a loose route around them. Most families spend two to three hours here, more with a meal or an encounter package. The paths are mostly flat and shaded, making it manageable with a buggy, and there are cafes and rest areas along the way. The Tiqets venue page lists the standard entry ticket and the newer Elephant Mud Fun experience, so you can see both options and book the one that suits you.
How it compares: Bali Safari and Marine Park is larger, with more animals, a safari bus and a night safari, and suits a full day with older children. Bali Zoo is smaller and easier to fit around other plans, closer to Ubud, and better for little legs. Neither is a substitute for seeing wildlife in the wild, so consider adding snorkelling at Blue Lagoon or Tulamben for older children who want to see reef life.
Getting there and around: Singapadu is in the craft-village belt between Denpasar and Ubud, so the drive passes stone carvers, silversmiths and painters' workshops. From Ubud it is around thirty minutes; from Seminyak, Sanur or Nusa Dua, about forty-five minutes to an hour or more in traffic. Many visitors book a driver for the morning and continue to Ubud or Goa Gajah in the afternoon.
What to expect
The experience
A walking zoo through tropical gardens with Indonesian and international species, feeding sessions, a petting area and optional animal encounter packages.
Best time
Morning, when animals are active and the gardens are cool.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with an encounter or meal.
Tips
Check feeding times at the gate and plan a route around them. Bring insect repellent and sun protection, and decide in advance whether encounter packages fit your values.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families with young children, especially those based in Ubud.
- Families
- Very good for toddlers and primary-age children: flat, shaded paths and short distances.
- Couples
- Not a natural couples outing; consider ARMA or the Campuhan ridge instead.
- Pair with
- Goa Gajah, the Ubud art scene or a Balinese cooking class in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
Where is Bali Zoo?+
In Singapadu, Gianyar, on Jalan Raya Singapadu, about thirty minutes from Ubud and around an hour from the southern resorts.
What are the opening hours?+
Daily from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon.
Is Bali Zoo good for toddlers?+
Yes. It is compact and shaded, with mostly flat paths, a petting area and plenty of places to stop, so it is easier with small children than the larger Safari Park.
What is Elephant Mud Fun?+
An add-on experience in which visitors join keepers while the elephants bathe in a mud pool. It is sold separately from the standard entry ticket.
Bali Zoo or Bali Safari Park?+
Choose Bali Zoo for a half day with young children or a base in Ubud; choose the Safari Park for a full day with a safari bus ride and night safari.
