It used to be that no child in Metro Manila would pass primary school without a school trip to the Manila Zoo.

That was decades ago. Since then, the zoo has deteriorated until it was finally shut down in 2019, partly because it was found dumping wastewater in Manila Bay.

Fast-forward to 2022, the zoo, now renamed The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, has opened its gates to the public after a major renovation started during the term of former Mayor Isko Moreno.

According to its website, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is now home to around a thousand animals including a Bengal tiger, a Malayan civet, a hippopotamus, and more.

The zoo has new highlights now - there are enclosures for the primates and the bird enclosures feature a winding pathway.

The reptile museum is well-lit, so kids can stand near and enjoy looking at the animals. There is also a butterfly museum as well as a sanctuary where you can observe the butterflies fluttering about in its adjacent garden.

Visitors can get food at several snack booths near the botanical garden where they can take pictures or even stay longer.

The zoo is open Mondays 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and  Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. as well as on holidays.

Visitors must go to the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden Facebook page or website and fill out the online form. Payment for the entrance can be done online or via a QR code on-site, which can be paid at the gate.