Tucked beneath a canopy of oak and pine trees in Kamper Park, the Hattiesburg Zoo has been a fixture of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, since it opened in 1950 on a donated 40-acre tract originally given to the city back in 1908. Despite its modest 12-acre footprint, the zoo packs in more than 55 species, from African icons like Grant’s zebras and bongos to giant anteaters and spider monkeys, and it has earned accreditation from both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Zoological Association of America.
What sets Hattiesburg Zoo apart from larger regional zoos is its emphasis on close, interactive encounters within a compact, walkable layout. The Wallaby Walkabout lets guests stroll among Bennett’s wallabies, emus, and kunekune pigs, while the Asbury Discovery Center houses reptiles, sloths, and a Galapagos tortoise in a 2,200-square-foot indoor space. Newer additions like the giraffe and spotted hyena habitats, opened in 2021, show a zoo still growing well into its eighth decade.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Kamper Park)
- Opened: 1950
- Size: About 12 acres
- Species: 55+ species
- Annual Visitors: Over 125,000 (recent reports suggest growth beyond that)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-4pm (Fri-Sun only in Jan-Feb), closed Mondays
- Famous for: Walk-through Wallaby Walkabout and giraffe exhibit
What to See at the Zoo
The Hattiesburg Zoo’s exhibits are organized so visitors move easily between continents in a single afternoon. The Africa section anchors the experience with Grant’s zebras, ostriches, and bongos, while the 2021-opened giraffe and spotted hyena habitats added two of the zoo’s biggest crowd-draws. The Wallaby Walkabout, opened in 2018, is one of the park’s signature spaces, letting guests walk directly among free-roaming Bennett’s wallabies, emus, and kunekune pigs rather than viewing them from behind glass or fencing.
Indoors, the Asbury Discovery Center, a 2,200-square-foot education facility that opened in 2014, shelters reptiles, sloths, and a Galapagos tortoise, giving the zoo a reliable rainy-day or hot-afternoon option. Giant anteaters, spider monkeys, and Chilean flamingos round out a collection that punches above its weight for a 12-acre site.
Hours and Planning a Visit
Most of the year, from March through December, the Hattiesburg Zoo is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Mondays. During the slower months of January and February, the schedule narrows to Friday through Sunday, still 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it’s worth checking the calendar before a winter trip. Tickets are typically a few dollars cheaper when bought online in advance than at the gate.
Because the whole zoo sits on a shaded 12-acre footprint inside Kamper Park, most visits run two to three hours, making it an easy half-day stop alongside the park’s other attractions. The zoo is operated by the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, which has steadily added habitats and seasonal events, including evening programs during the summer, without expanding far beyond its original compact layout.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Hattiesburg Zoo FAQs
Where is the Hattiesburg Zoo located?
It’s located within Kamper Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
What are the Hattiesburg Zoo’s hours?
From March through December it’s open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Mondays. In January and February it’s open Friday-Sunday during the same hours.
When did the Hattiesburg Zoo open?
It opened in 1950 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025.
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Photo: Woodlot / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.