There are plenty of activities in Kuala Lumpur for kids. My kids love animals, so more than a few attractions come to mind. Two attractions which sounded very interesting to us were the KL Tower Mini Zoo and the KL Bird Park, so we decided to check them both out to see what they have to offer.
KL Tower Mini Zoo
Not many people are aware that there is a mini zoo situated at the base of the KL tower. It is a great place for kids, as they can get up close and personal with a variety of animals.
Do not be fooled when you arrive at the entrance of the mini zoo as it may look like the place is tiny, but it is actually rather big once you get inside. The place is divided into different sections, each with its own type of animals and themes. The moment you step inside, you are transported into the mini jungle where you are greeted by the friendly parrots, macaws, cockatoos, meerkats and monkeys. There are also chickens, goats and a wallaby roaming free in the area so kids are able to pet them (which most love to do!).
As you walk along to the other sections, you will encounter many other animals (some exotic!) such as snakes, pythons, prairie dogs, crocodiles, racoons and iguanas.
There is a longkang fishing area (drain fishing) where you get to try and fish for the little fishes in the pond using a net. However, this was easier said than done. We had no luck catching any fish as they were all too quick!
Our favourite part of the zoo was hands down the pet village. This is where you get to pet and feed the alpacas, rabbits, guinea pigs and giant tortoises. My kids loved this section (and seems to be a crowd favourite too!) so be prepared to spend a bit of time here! Don’t worry if you get your hands dirty – the rabbits like to lick -, as there are sinks with soap in the enclosure.
There is a small souvenir shop right before the exit, where you can grab some snacks and drinks. If you want to take back a little memento, you can get your photo taken by the professional photographer with any of the animals there and they will print it out for a fee of RM25.
All in all, we spent around 1.5 hours and had a truly enjoyable time. Do take note that strollers are not recommended, as there are stairs to climb and the walking path is uneven at times.
For more information, have a look at their Facebook page here. The zoo is located at the ground floor of Menara KL, Jalan Puncak, Kuala Lumpur. They’re open Monday to Friday from 10am till 7pm. On the weekends and public holidays they’re open till 9pm. Adults pay RM25 and kids below 11 years old pay Rm29. It is free for kids below 90cm and senior citizens pay RM29.
KL Bird Park
Imagine 21 acres of lush leafy terrain, containing more than 3000 local and foreign birds of approximately 200 different species, all situated right in the heart of KL. Sounds lovely doesn’t it? That’s the KL Bird Park. Most of the areas in the aviary are free-flight zones, which means that the birds are able to roam free. This allows visitors to get close to the birds, while having an experience that closely resembles life in a tropical rainforest.
We set out to the bird park first thing on a Saturday morning, as it does get rather busy later in the day. As soon as we entered the aviary, we were greeted by a beautiful peacock walking around freely, proudly displaying its feathers. Definitely a good start as the kids were in awe of the peacock and couldn’t wait to see what else was in store for them.
There were plenty of birds freely milling about. We came across many types of birds, big and small, all in a variety of colours – pelicans, parrots, storks, cranes, ibis, lorikeets, owls, crowned pigeons… you name it, they had it!
We managed to catch the 10.30am bird show at the amphitheatre and we were thoroughly entertained by the colourful macaws doing all sorts of silly tricks and games. The show was very engaging – even my 1.5 year old managed to sit through the whole thing and loved it. Highly recommended!
Another highlight of our morning was feeding the ostriches. The bird keepers leave a box of vegetables out and visitors are encouraged to take some to feed the ostriches. They are a hungry bunch and they will happily chomp away the vegetables you offer!
There are other daily activities too such as feeding sessions with the hornbills and eagles, but do remember to check the schedule behorehand to plan your visit accordingly.
Lastly, don’t forget to capture your memorable family experience at the ‘Feathered friends photo booth’. For RM36 you get the rare opportunity to have your photo taken with parrots, macaws, cockatoos and lorakeets all perched on your arms, shoulders, head and legs!
We spent around two hours at the park, but if you really want to explore every section thoroughly, you could easily spend up to three hours. There are a few food kiosks around the park selling snacks (ice cream was a great way to cool down!), drinks and some savoury food. Alternatively, there is the Hornbill cafe if you want to pop by for a heavier meal or a nice air conditioned coffee break.
Some tips
- do wear comfortable shoes as there is a fair bit to walk.
- You can bring strollers as the path is stroller friendly.
- Get there early as it does get rather busy, and HOT later in the day.
For more information, have a look at their website here. The KL Bird Park is located at 920, Jalan Cenderawasih, Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. They’re open each day from 9am til 6pm. With Mykad, adults pay RM25, senior citizens and kids (3-11 years old) pay RM12. Without Mykad adults pay RM63 and kids pay RM42.
Rebecca wrote this article. She was born in KL, but moved to Melbourne for her studies when she was 19. She continued living there for seven years before moving to London for another five years. Having been away for so long, she and her husband decided to move back to KL three years ago. Now with two young cheeky girls in tow, every weekend is spent exploring KL and discovering new adventures. During her free time, she loves to bake and do girly activities with her girls, like home manicures, dress ups, going for afternoon tea etc!
