Last Updated on February 22, 2022
Looking for ways to explore the world from home? Get your wildlife fix with a virtual field trip! From around the world and across the web, I’ve compiled the best virtual zoo tours, safari live cams, and animal webcams. These are great activities for wildlife lovers, future trip planning, and home schooling.
Be sure to check out Wild Earth live safaris, my top pick for a wildlife virtual field trip! I’ve also included links to online learning resources with lesson plans and activities for teachers and parents.
These are all free virtual field trips, unless noted. To get started, here are some great resources to go along with virtual zoo field trips:
- Lesson Plan: Animal Webcams Observation in the Classroom
- Activity: Go Wild With Animal Webcams
- National Wildlife Foundation: Lesson Plans and Webinars
- World Wildlife Fund Educational Resources
- Animal facts & information from the San Diego Zoo
In this Virtual Zoo Field Trip Guide:
Best Virtual Field Trips of Zoos | More Zoo Webcams| Safari Virtual Field Trips | Wildlife and Farm Webcams
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Virtual Zoo Webcams
Today, most zoos have education and conservation programs which help visitors learn what they can do to protect animals and their habitats. For this reason, many already had virtual zoo tours and learning resources online. Others have been adding virtual experiences as everyone looks for ways to keep exploring and learning from home. These are some of the best virtual zoo field trips including live animal webcams that let you see wildlife in real-time.
San Diego Zoo California, USA
First on our virtual zoo field trip: the San Diego Zoo. Located in San Diego’s Balboa Park, it’s a wildlife sanctuary consistently rated as one of the best zoos in the world. The San Diego Zoo is the busiest zoo in the U.S. and home to over 3,500 endangered animals and 700,000 exotic plants. They have an amazing San Diego Zoo Kids online portal, packed with fun animal facts, activities, videos and games for one of the best zoo virtual field trips. Don’t miss the live San Diego Zoo webcams including polar bear cam, panda cam, and tiger cam, plus giraffes, elephants and koalas. Check out their Facebook for more virtual events and animal spotlights.
- Bonus resource: online game, lesson plan and worksheets for a San Diego Zoo field trip.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Nebraska, USA
Another top-rated zoo, the Omaha Zoo has launched a free “Zoo From Home” program, with zoo webcams plus activities and animal spotlights. Check out the Omaha Zoo Facebook page for more updates, photos, and live sessions with their keepers and aquarists. They are also offering paid virtual camps and online backstage experiences.
Houston Zoo Texas, USA
The second most-visited zoo in the U.S., the Houston Zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals. The Houston Zoo webcams include a giraffe cam, gorilla cam, chimpanzee cam and flamingos. Check out their Facebook for more news and online events and catch up with their past “Bringing the Zoo to You” events here.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC, USA
No zoo virtual field trip would be complete with a stop at the National Zoo! It’s part of the Smithsonian Institution museums and is free to visit in Washington DC. Founded in 1889, the National Zoo was one of the first to establish a scientific research program. Don’t miss the National Zoo webcams including the famous DC panda cam and cheetah cub cam, as well as elephants, lions, and ferrets. You can download an activities guide on the webcam page, and find their at-home educational activities here. Be sure to follow along on Facebook for updates on panda Mei Xiang’s adorable new cub named Xiao Qi Ji (pronounced Shiau-chi-ji) which means “little miracle” in Mandarin.
Kansas City Zoo Missouri, USA
The Kansas City Zoo is a world-class zoo with live webcams featuring a penguin cam, orangutans, giraffes and otters. See the Kansas City Zoo Facebook page for animal videos and check out virtual chats with their keepers here.
For more penguins and aquarium virtual field trips, don’t miss my ocean virtual field trips feature!
Philadelphia Zoo Pennsylvania, USA
Opened in 1874, the Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the United States. Check out their live Humboldt penguin cam and all of their online learning resources here including past “Philly Zoo at 2” live videos. Get zoo updates and see future live videos on the Philadelphia Zoo Facebook page.
London Zoo England, UK
Next on our virtual field trip, we stop at the London Zoo. The world’s oldest scientific zoo, it was established first for scientific study, then opened to the public in 1847. Check out their virtual zoo resources and videos and their “Zoo School” home school resources by age group.
Cincinnati Zoo Ohio, USA
As a native Cincinnatian, I was lucky to grow up with the Cincinnati Zoo! The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the second-oldest zoo in the United States, and has many conservation and wildlife education programs. You might already know their most famous resident, Fiona the preemie hippo. Follow the Cincinnati Zoo on Facebook for live events and animal spotlights. Also check out their Home Safari Resources including past live events, home projects and activities.
Toronto Zoo Canada
The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s largest zoo, with more than 5,000 animals from around the globe. While they don’t have live animal webcams, they do have a wealth of online resources for parents and educators and host a live session daily on the Toronto Zoo Facebook page at 1PM (Eastern time).
Virginia Zoological Society Virginia, USA
The Virginia Zoo has a cool interactive virtual field trip, but you’ll need a phone or tablet to run the app plus another device that can display the checkpoint photos to scan. They also have many other “Virtual Voyage” resources, including downloadable activities, links to their social media, and YouTube channel.
Denver Zoo Colorado, USA
The Denver Zoo was founded in 1896 and is the most popular attraction in the Denver area. It was also the first zoo to use naturalistic enclosures rather than cages with metal bars, when its mountain bear exhibit opened in 1918. They don’t have live animal webcams, but do have a wealth of educational resources online in their virtual classroom. Take a virtual field trip, meet animals virtually, and solve a zoo challenge. Check out the Denver Zoo Facebook page for more animal videos.
Los Angeles Zoo California, USA
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden has many online resources called “Zoo to You” including virtual field trips of the zoo, animal chats, activity packets and crafts. Follow the LA Zoo Facebook page for more animal videos and news.
Zoo Atlanta Georgia, USA
Zoo Atlanta is a zoological park in Georgia. It’s also one of the four places in the U.S. that is home to giant pandas. Check out the Zoo Atlanta panda cam and all of their zoo “at home” resources including virtual zoo tours, mobile games, activities, and crafts.
Wild Life Sydney Zoo Australia
The Wild Life Sydney Zoo is a wildlife park in Australia. Check out their coloring sheets, activities and other online resources including past live stream videos. Don’t miss videos including Davey, their adorable resident quokka!
Taronga Zoo Sydney Australia
The Taronga Zoo Sydney is Australia’s largest zoo, opened in 1916. Check out all of their online resources here, including tiger cams, keeper chats, and other videos. They also have teacher resources and virtual tours.
Zoos Victoria Australia
Zoos Victoria is a conservation organization made up of three world-class zoos: Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo, and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Check out all of their “Animals at Home” resources, with virtual tours, keeper talks, and virtual animal encounters. Their live animal cameras include penguins, giraffes, koalas, zebras, snow leopards, and lions.
More Live Zoo Webcams by Animal:
- Chattanooga Zoo (Tennessee, USA): Meerkat cam, snow leopards, tamarins, spotted genet
- Bronx Zoo (New York, USA): Sea lions, Madagascar wildlife, aquatic birds
- Memphis Zoo (Tennessee, USA): Pandas, hippos, flamingos, elephants, grizzly bears, snake hatching cam
- Hattiesburg Zoo (Mississippi, USA): Sloth cam
- Milwaukee County Zoo (Minnesota, USA): Polar bear, jaguar, lions, tigers, hyenas, penguins
- Maryland Zoo (USA): Penguins, swan nest, lions, giraffes, flamingos
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Australia): Koala cams (live and highlights)
- Edinburgh Zoo (Scotland, UK): Pandas, penguins, tigers, koalas, lions
- Reid Park Zoo (Arizona, USA): Elephant cam, giraffe cam, grizzly bears, lemurs and lions
- Animal Adventure Park (New York, USA): April the Giraffe cam
- Detroit Zoo (Michigan, USA): Penguin cam, otter cam, giraffe cam, snow monkeys and prairie dogs
More Education Resources & Zoo Virtual Field Trips
- Paignton Zoo (England, UK): Downloadable science, math, art and writing resources
- PBS Learning Media: Butterfly World Field Trip
- PBS Learning Media: Zoo Field Trip
- PBS Learning Media: Flamingo Field Trip
African Safari Wildlife Live Webcams
If you’re like me, you dream of going on safari to see animals roaming free in their natural habitats. Live safari webcams let you experience a virtual safari from home, spotting elephants, gorillas, zebras, cheetahs, lions and more in the forests and plains of Africa. These are the best live safaris, animal webcams, and learning resources for exploring African wildlife.
WildEarth
This is my top pick for a wildlife virtual field trip! WildEarth hosts live guided safari sessions twice daily, and currently no booking is required – just watch on their website or YouTube channel. Learn more about their content for kids called WildEarth Kids including a timetable and preparation tips. You can even email questions to be answered live by their guides and naturalists. Check out the WildEarth YouTube channel to see past live safaris also, or view their 24-hour live cam at the Djuma Game Reserve.
- Wild Earth is part of National Geographic Safari Live. Find the Educator Guide and classroom resources here.
- The WildEarth Safaris are usually two segments: the first 45 minutes airs live on television in Africa and is more kid-oriented. Stay tuned through this initial session, since it continues after the first segment credits.
African Animals Watering Hole Mpala Research Centre, Kenya
Check out the watering hole at Mpala Research Centre in the highlands of central Kenya! Watch elephants, hippos, giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, gazelles, crocodiles, leopards and many other species take a drink or go for a quick swim. Mpala also has a field guide to animals of the region as well as classroom resources and lesson plans.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
Tembe Elephant Park Emangusi, South Africa
Tembe Elephant Park is known for having the largest elephants in Africa and the planet! The park’s location is very remote, deep in sand forests and wetlands. Here you can see all of the “Big Five” animals of Africa (as they’re called on safari): elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo. If going on safari is on your bucket list, learn more about visiting Tembe Park here.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
Gorilla Forest Corridor GRACE Center, Kasugho, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
The Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (or GRACE) is located near the Tayna Nature Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. GRACE cares for orphaned Grauer’s gorillas with the goal of reintroducing them back into the wild. The organization also works with local communities to promote the conservation of forests & sustainable livelihoods. Find out more about GRACE and their programs here and follow them on Facebook for more videos.
Best viewing hours: 2AM-3:30AM PDT, 5:30AM -7AM PDT (8:30AM EST – 10AM EST)
Rosie’s Pan Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa
This virtual safari camera is hidden at a remote watering hole and is completely solar powered. Here you can see the “Big Five” animals of Africa (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo) as well as giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, genets and giant kingfishers.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
Nkorho Bush Lodge Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Located in South Africa in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Nkorho Bush Lodge is home to a variety of wildlife including the “Big Five” animals, birds, and endangered species. The park shares 50 kilometers of its unfenced boundary with neighboring Kruger National Park, allowing animals to move freely between the two parks.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
The Naledi Cat-EYE Olifants West Game Reserve, South Africa
This camera has been set up at the eye level of a leopard to give a unique view of the animals that visit this waterhole. Look for cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes, impalas, baboons, warthogs, owls, Egyptian geese, genets, meerkats, waterbuck and porcupines.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
Tau Waterhole Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
On the border of South Africa and Botswana lies an area known as the Groot Marico, named after the Marico River. The Tau Waterhole here is an oasis for wildlife including elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, and cheetahs. Keep an eye out for crocodiles that prey on birds and other animals.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
Olifants River Emangusi, South Africa
This camera is set on the banks of the Olifants River near the Naledi Game Lodge. This river passes through the Kruger National Park and Mozambique. See crocodiles and hippos in the river and elephants and giraffes grazing on the banks. Also look for baboons, waterbuck, bushbuck, impalas, storks, herons and owls.
Live viewing hours: Day and night
More Safari Webcams and Virtual Field Trips
- Africam: Live Wildlife Webcams
- PBS Learning Media: Virtual Field Trip to Africa
- National Geographic Kids: Facts, Games and Photos of African Animals
- National Geographic Safari Live: Educator Resources
Farm & Wildlife Webcams and Virtual Field Trip Resources
For more farm virtual field trips, check out these resources:
- Goat Milk Stuff: Baby Goat Live Cams Learn about Goat Milk Stuff’s herd of goats and see their live feeds
- Beekman 1802: Goat Cam Get a peek at the goats that create the Beekman farm products
- Virtual Egg Fam Field Trips: The American Egg Board and Discovery Education bring farms into classrooms with egg farm virtual field trips.
- Folly Farm: Barn Webcam See what the Folly Farm goats and sheep are up to today!
- Virtual Farm Trips Upcoming live virtual farm field trips
- Farm Food 360 Immersive Canadian food and virtual farm tours
- Honey Bee Hive, Germany See inside a beehive as bees build combs, make honey and protect their queen.
- Bella Hummingbird Nest See inside a hummingbird nest!
- Underwater Salmon Cam Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA See salmon migrating and swimming bears looking for a meal
- Brooks Falls Brown Bears Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA See bears hunting and even feeding their cubs!
- Discovery Education: Experience Polar Bears Virtual Field Trip
- All About Birds: Live bird cams including hummingbirds
More Virtual Field Trips for Kids & Travel Lovers
Have you gotten your wildlife fix with these virtual field trips of zoos and safaris? Don’t miss all of my virtual travel guides including a virtual Day of the Dead field trip!
For more fun adventures from home, be sure to check out my virtual aquarium field trip, virtual travel for kids, and Washington DC virtual tour!