The giant pandas
An air-conditioned house for pandas on loan from China.
Frostpolar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Frostpolar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Frostpolar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Frostpolar — CC BY-SA 4.0
Malaysia's national zoo, opened in 1963 across a wide spread of green hills north-east of the city, with thousands of animals from hundreds of species. Its best-known residents are the giant pandas on loan from China, in their own air-conditioned house, alongside the endangered Malayan tiger, elephants, giraffes and orangutans. The zoo is big and walking its hills in the heat and humidity is tiring, so a small tram circles the main sections on a separate ticket, a good investment with children. There are daily animal shows and some animal-feeding sessions. Be realistic: some enclosures are dated and do not match the modern zoos of the Gulf or Singapore, and the zoo suits animal-loving families more than anyone else. Arrive at the nine o'clock opening, when the animals are most active and the air coolest, and allow at least half a day. Non-Malaysian adults pay RM 88, and the zoo is open daily from nine to five with last entry at four. It is about half an hour from the centre by car or taxi.
An air-conditioned house for pandas on loan from China.
One of the world's rarest, critically endangered tigers.
Circles the sections and saves walking in the heat.
Hulu Kelang, Ampang, about 13 km north-east of central Kuala Lumpur
The Bird Park is closer to the centre, smaller and easier with young children. Zoo Negara is bigger, with pandas and tigers, but needs half a day and more walking. With limited time, choose the Bird Park.