North Carolina Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo is a state-funded zoological park near Asheboro, North Carolina, organized around large, natural-habitat exhibits. It is known for presenting animals in landscape-style enclosures grouped by continental regions.

Key visitor areas are the Africa and North America regions, each designed to display animals in settings that approximate their native habitats and allow extended viewing distances. The zoo emphasizes conservation, education and large-scale habitat design rather than compact cages.

The park was developed by the state to create a major zoological facility and opened to the public during the later 20th century; it continues to expand and refine its habitat-focused exhibits.

Geographically the zoo sits near the town of Asheboro in central North Carolina, roughly an hour’s drive west of Raleigh and surrounded by rural Piedmont landscape.

• Exhibit style: The zoo is organized around large biocontinental habitats rather than small, single-species cages, offering extended walking routes through themed areas.

What to See #

• Africa region: The Africa region, a large natural-habitat area designed to showcase African mammals in spacious enclosures that emphasize landscape and species-specific settings.
• North America region: The North America region, which focuses on species native to North America and uses habitat-style exhibits to illustrate regional ecosystems.