Why Taipei Zoo Became One of My Favorite Stops in Taiwan

One of the most memorable experiences during my Taiwan trip was spending an afternoon at Taipei Zoo. We originally planned to visit it after exploring Maokong, and looking back, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

After enjoying the scenic views from the Maokong Gondola, we headed down to Taipei Zoo South Station and entered the zoo around 11:30 AM. Instead of walking immediately, we hopped on the cute shuttle train that brought us closer to Bird World. It was a fun and convenient way to start our adventure.

Our first stop was the Amphibian and Reptile House. It was both fascinating and slightly terrifying at the same time. We saw different species of snakes and frogs, some colorful and beautiful, while others made my skin crawl. It was definitely an interesting way to begin our visit.

From there, we made our way to the African Animal Area. This section quickly became one of my favorites because it was filled with animals I’ve only seen in documentaries and books. 

The African elephant was absolutely massive. We also spotted hyenas, baboons, western gorillas, and one of the biggest highlights for me—a white rhinoceros. Seeing a white rhino in person was something else. Photos simply don’t do justice to how enormous these creatures are. 

I was equally excited when I saw the giraffes. Watching them move gracefully despite their towering height was amazing. There is something about seeing these animals in real life that makes you appreciate just how incredible nature is.

After plenty of walking, we eventually reached Hippopotamus Square. The hippos looked like giant living tanks. Nearby were zebras that looked like they had walked straight out of a children’s storybook. 

We also checked out the tiger and lion enclosures, but unfortunately, both seemed to be enjoying a lazy afternoon hidden among the trees. We only managed to catch brief glimpses of them. 

One animal that was high on our must-see list was the capybara. We spent quite some time roaming around the Tropical Rainforest Area hoping to find one. Just before reaching the exit of the Pangolin Dome, we finally spotted two capybaras relaxing peacefully. Mission accomplished! 

While exploring the area, I was also surprised to see a Malayan tapir. The moment I saw it, I immediately thought of Drowzee from Pokémon. Maybe it was the shape, the colors, or simply my childhood memories kicking in, but that was honestly my first thought. 

Another major attraction was the Xinguang Special Exhibit House, more popularly known as the Giant Panda House. The queue looked intimidating at first, but it moved surprisingly fast. Before long, we found ourselves face-to-face with two giant pandas. 

Technically, it wasn’t my first time seeing pandas since I had seen them before at Ocean Park Hong Kong. However, this experience felt completely different. The pandas were active, moving around, and seemed almost like they were greeting visitors. Seeing them up close was definitely worth the wait. 

Before ending our visit, we stopped by the Children’s Zoo, and this turned out to be one of the most entertaining parts of the day. 

The alpacas immediately stole the show. One was standing so close to the fence that I managed to take a selfie with it. It stood there confidently like it owned the place, almost as if it knew it was the star attraction. There were brown alpacas nearby too, but this one clearly enjoyed all the attention. 

Then came a moment that brought out my inner child.

I’ve always loved The Lion King, so seeing a group of meerkats running around, standing on rocks, and watching everything around them instantly reminded me of Timon. It was funny, adorable, and slightly creepy all at the same time because I had never seen meerkats in real life before. 

Just a few steps away was the Lanyu pig, and naturally, my mind went straight to Pumbaa. 

At that point, my Lion King fantasy was complete.

By around 2:00 PM, we decided to wrap up our visit. We made our way back to the Taipei Zoo South Entrance, rode the Maokong Gondola back to the main station, and continued our journey to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. 

Looking back, Taipei Zoo became one of the highlights of my entire Taiwan trip. 

Maybe it was because we don’t get to see many of these animals in Davao. Maybe it was because I grew up watching wildlife documentaries, cartoons, and movies featuring these creatures. Or maybe it was simply the joy of experiencing something new. 

For a few hours, I genuinely felt like a 10-year-old kid again—running around excitedly, searching for animals, and being amazed every time I saw something I had only previously seen on television. 

More than anything, the experience reminded me of how incredible God’s creations are. From the towering giraffes and giant rhinos to the playful meerkats and gentle capybaras, every animal left me with a deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of nature. 

Would I visit Taipei Zoo again? 

Absolutely. 

We didn’t even get to see the penguins and several other animals because we were running out of time and our feet were already exhausted from all the walking. That’s just another reason to return someday. 

And honestly, I wouldn’t mind feeling like a kid again.