We have been waiting for this news for awhile! Bramsen Tropical Forests, the massive Brookfield Zoo Chicago primate habitat is officially opening on July 11, 2025. We have been eagerly watching the progress on this new home for gorillas, orangutans and monkeys, and we intend to be there on its opening day. We are so excited about it, that we want to share how you can visit as well.
UPDATE: This great new habitat is now open. See our review here and then read on for information about reserving your visit.
What is Bramsen Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo Chicago?
Bramsen Tropical Forests is the indoor and outdoor primate habitat opening to Brookfield Zoo Chicago guests on July 11, 2025. If you have previously visited Brookfield Zoo Chicago, you almost certainly remember the Tropic World habitat there. Tropic World has long been one of the headliner (if not the headliner) spots at Brookfield Zoo Chicago with winding pathways and bridges through forest habitats modeled on the natural homes of the resident gorillas, monkeys and orangutans. You could find it in the building located on the west side of the central pathway just south of the large Roosevelt Fountain.
The primate habitat was entirely indoors until now. Tropic World is transforming into Tropical Forests with the addition of a brand new outdoor area plus additional education spaces.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago reports that Bramsen Tropical Forests is three acres in size and one of the largest habitats for primates among all accredited zoos in the United States. It builds on the already massively impressive Tropic World habitat as a home to gorillas, orangutans and monkeys. It has four “microclimates” based on natural habitats in Africa, Asia and South America. This new outdoor habitat looks like it will offer some truly impressive views and tactile experiences meant to engage kids and adults. It also incorporates opportunities to learn and contribute to conservation efforts related to the primates’ natural homes.
We have really missed the gorillas, monkeys and orangutans of Tropic World during its closure for the last stage of this building project. However, just looking at the still incomplete new habitat from the outside (and the top of the ferris wheel) has us convinced the wait will be worth it. Now here is how to get in to see it as soon as possible.
Get a Free Reservation for Bramsen Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
As we mentioned, Bramsen Tropical Forests is first opening to Brookfield Zoo Chicago guests on July 11, 2025. You do not need to pay anything beyond general admission to see this huge new habitat, but you do need a reservation. The reservations are for free timed-entry tickets, and will allow you to enter Tropical Forests during its initial opening period.
Visit BrookfieldZoo.org
To get your timed-entry ticket, just visit the Brookfield Zoo Chicago website: www.brookfieldzoo.org/BramsenTropicalForests. Then, follow the prompts to have a PDF of your reservation emailed to you.
The process might be familiar if you have visited the zoo during Holiday Magic. (We were pleased to see that this time there are no service charges for our free Brookfield Zoo Chicago reservations. ) The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry regularly uses timed entry for some of its popular exhibits and the Shedd Aquarium also employs timed entries for general admission, so hopefully this procedure is quick and easy for you. On the morning the reservations opened, we initially encountered a virtual queue of about forty minutes. In checking again today, we were able to enter the reservation process immediately.
During the process, you will be asked to indicate whether you are a member or ticketed general admission guest. This question is there because the zoo has designated certain time periods as “members only.” Currently, these periods are from 9:30am to 11:30am on the mornings between July 11 and July 20. Members will still need to reserve their timed-entry tickets for these periods, but it is still a nice perk.
Again, the timed-entry reservations themselves are free for members or other guests, but you will need a ticket or membership to enter the zoo. For general tips on visiting the zoo (including advice on saving money), see our: Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
When to Visit the New Primate Habitat at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
We think any time you can get a timed entry ticket is a good time to visit Bramsen Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. As we visit ourselves, we will gather more experience and advice about making the best of your visit.
For now, we can share that the zoo has promised some extra festivities for the opening weekend (July 11-13) including live music and family-friendly activities. If that is interesting to you, grab a reservation sooner rather than later!
For our general advice on when to go to the zoo, what to visit and how to save money, be sure to check-out that Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. (We even highlight some of our favorite bathrooms.) If you are bringing kids to the zoo, we also recommend reading Wildly Fun Tips for the Play Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
Thanks for reading this post on visiting the new Bramsen Tropical Forests primate habitat at Brookfield Zoo Chicago.
We hope you have found this information useful. For another great new animal habitat in the Chicago area, see New Shedd Aquarium Exhibit Dazzles: Wonder of Water, and for more attractions in Chicago, check-out this section of MouseBrief.com. Finally, please consider subscribing to our free newsletter below. Thanks again for reading!
