Metro Richmond Zoo is a privately owned zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The zoo encompasses about 150 acres (60 ha) and houses over 2,000 animals representing 190 species, including reticulated giraffe, white rhinoceros, snow leopard, cheetah, and Pygmy Hippos. Animal experiences range from hand-feeding giraffes to watching pygmy hippos swim underwater.
The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) and has one of the largest primate collections in the United States. Visitors praise the zoo as a small but marvelous place, where the animals are happy and well-cared for, and the staff is professional, helpful, and friendly. Guests can get much closer to the animals than in many larger zoos and enjoy interactive experiences like feeding the giraffes and letting the budgies swarm over them.
Visitors have had great experiences at the zoo, including the Pygmy hippo experience and feeding the friendly giraffes. The zoo is described as clean, well-staffed, and offering a nice variety of healthy, happy animals. Reviewers have loved every minute of their visit, even the "stinky part," and appreciate the keepers' mindfulness of the animals' needs.
This was a first time for me and it was such an enjoyable experience! I loved it. (: I can’t wait to go again! The pricing wasn’t bad.. from tickets, to food, even the gift shop was reasonable. I can’t say enough good things! If you have the opportunity I’d say go!
October 2026
Might be my new favorite zoo! Excellent variety of animals, big, but not too big- can easily walk around and see everything twice without being exhausted- even on a 95* day like today!
October 2026
Did the Orangutan behind the scene experience. It was great to get closer and learn about these amazing apes and see their night time enclosures. Truly a special, fun and informative experience.
