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Location
Parking
Parking available; free for members
Best time
Plan your Big Cat Falls visit for early morning or cooler weather days. Reviews note that cats become sluggish in warm temperatures, making them less active and harder to spot. Visit when it's cooler to see more dynamic behavior and better photo opportunities.
Visitor tip
Book a guided 'Amazing Animals' or 'Explore the Gardens' tour with a Zoo docent. These one-hour experiences provide insider knowledge about animal behavior, including why lions, tigers, and leopards rotate through shared enclosures throughout the day—helping you understand what you're seeing.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Historic Significance
- America's First Zoo
- Location
- West Philadelphia urban oasis
- Collection Size
- 1,900+ rare and endangered species
- Membership Available
- Yes, includes free admission and parking
What visitors say
Very fun place. Probably one of the best spots in the zoo. One or two of the enclosures didn't have critters in them when I went. meaning the only guys present were the cougars and the tiger. It is my understanding that the lions,…
An awesome addition to the zoo. They have numerous big cats in very large enclosures with a "cat walk" up above that let's the animals roam the zoo from a enclosed walkway. The set up they have seems keep the animals active moving…
Its a awesome place to visit for all age group people.. So many animals are there in well maintained condition. . really love it. Worth of every penny..
From 235 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Big Cat Falls houses more than 1,900 rare and endangered species from around the world
- The zoo features a unique 'cat walk' enclosed elevated walkway that allows big cats to roam between different areas of the zoo while remaining safely enclosed
- Lions, tigers, and leopards share rotating enclosures and cycle in and out throughout the day, allowing them access to large, enriching spaces
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