Behind the Scenes Experiences
Get up close with some of your favorite Reid Park Zoo residents by booking one of these exclusive, semi-private experiences. Tours are now pre-scheduled, grab your tickets for an upcoming tour as space is limited!
Rhino Experience
30 minute experience
Reid Park Zoo is home to two southern white rhinos, Fireball and Yebonga. This experience will allow you the possibility to provide some tactile enrichment to one of them and to learn about their unique personalities and how we take extra care of each of their needs.
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Time: Tours in August begin promptly at 10 a.m. All tours in September begin promptly at 11 a.m.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up at the front of the Zoo.
Please keep in mind that all of our animals have the ability to express choice and control and may decide not to participate in the experience.
Giant Tortoise Experience
30 minute experience
Education staff invite you on this special behind the scenes tour to learn about the unique adaptations of one of the largest types of tortoise.
Learn about how we care for this animal at the Zoo and how our everyday actions can help protect tortoises in the wild. This experience provides an opportunity to see the tortoise closer than during a regular visit, and may even allow the chance to watch a feeding or help with training.
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Time: Tours in August begin at 10:00. All other tours begin at 11:00 am
Please note – Due to animal health protocols, if temperatures are under 50 degrees, the tortoises will be inside and not available. Another animal experience will be substituted as needed.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
This experience includes walking on uneven terrain. Please email education@reidparkzoo.org to discuss accessibility options.
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up at the front of the Zoo.
Please keep in mind that all of our animals have the ability to express choice and control and may decide not to participate in tortoise experience.
Animal Care and Nutrition Behind the Scenes
60 minute tour
During this 60-minute adventure, you will learn how Reid Park Zoo uses proper nutrition and health care to provide quality, whole-life care to its animal residents.
Your experience includes visits to the Animal Health Center, Zoo kitchen, and rhino habitat. During a special close encounter with the rhino, you will discover the importance of animal training for completing daily health checkups.
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Time: All tours begin at 11 a.m.
Price:
$35 per person. (Zoo members: $30, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up at 10:50 a.m.
Please keep in mind that all of our animals have the ability to express choice and control and may decide not to participate in rhino experience.
Animal Ambassadors Experience
30 minute experience
Meet several of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors during this semi-private encounter. During this experience, you will have the opportunity to get closer than you imagined with some awesome species ambassadors. Invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and the chance to see a training session with one of our slightly larger ambassador animals.
Age:
All ages; at least one adult must attend.
Time: All tours begin promptly at 11:00 a.m.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up at 10:50 a.m.
Due to the nature of our animals, we cannot guarantee which animals you will meet.
Specialty Behind the Scenes
30 minute tour
During this 30-minute adventure, see a keeper training session with either our brown bear or lions.
Your experience will take you behind the scenes to see an operant training with one of our larger animals here at Reid Park Zoo. Educators will provide information while keepers work with the animals, showing you how our animals participate in their own health checks. At the end, you will have a couple of minutes to ask keepers any burning questions.
Age:
All participants must be 10 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Availability: All tours begin at 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 21 – Brown Bear Training
Price:
$65 per person, (Zoo members: $60, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up at 10:50 a.m.
Please keep in mind that all of our animals have the ability to express choice and control and may decide not to participate in the training session.
Giraffe Experience-Currently on Hold
30 minute experience
Learn what it takes to care for the Zoo’s (and the world’s!) tallest animals. A semi-private giraffe encounter will get you eye to eye with the giraffe while you have the opportunity to provide them with some tasty treats. You will also tour the giraffe barn and learn how we modify everything for these giants!
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Time: Tours in August begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30, discount will be applied AFTER you click “add to cart”)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 20 minutes early. The educator will pick the group up by 9:50 a.m.
Please keep in mind that all of our animals have the ability to express choice and control and may decide not to participate in giraffe feeding.
Have a larger group?
We have a variety of programs available for groups of all sizes and ages!
Can’t make it to the Zoo?
Learn about our VIRTUAL animal experiences.
FAQs
Behind the Scenes FAQs, please read before registering.
When should I arrive and where should I go?
Please plan on arriving at the Zoo at least 20 minutes prior to the tour start time. This will give you time to park and check in for your tour. Check in will occur at the peacock statue outside of the zoo entrance.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Behind-the-Scenes experiences, latecomers will not be able to join a tour that has already started. If you arrive after the group has checked in and left the peacock statue, you will not be able to catch up with the group or reschedule your tour, nor will you receive a refund. It is imperative you arrive early for your tour so you do not miss it.
What are the age or group size limitations?
Behind-the-Scenes purchases include admission to the Zoo.
Most Behind-the-Scenes tours are designed for guests ages 5+ unless a higher age restriction is noted. Guests under 5 years old of age are only permitted on limited experiences. Please carefully check age restrictions BEFORE registering. If a guest under the age requirement is registered for or attempts to attend a tour, Reid Park Zoo has the right to cancel the refund without a refund. There are no exceptions to the age restrictions.
The maximum group size per tour varies depending on the experience. Behind-the-Scenes tours are a semi-private experience. Guests from other parties may be attending your group if your group size is less than the maximum.
How do weather conditions impact behind-the-scenes experiences?
Behind-the-Scenes tours are held rain or shine unless trips are cancelled by the Zoo due to guest or animal safety concerns. If a tour is cancelled by Reid Park Zoo, we can refund your tour or move your tickets to another upcoming tour at no additional fee. In these instances, Reid Park Zoo will contact you.
What is the policy for rescheduling?
Behind-the-Scenes tours can be rescheduled up to 3 days in advance of the scheduled tour date by emailing education@reidparkzoo.org or by calling 520-837-8200. We do not accommodate reschedules less than 3 days prior to the date of the tour.
What is the cancellation policy?
Behind-the-Scenes tours can be cancelled up to 3 days in advance of the scheduled tour date by emailing education@reidparkzoo.org or by calling 520-837-8200. Cancellations made at least 3 days in advance will receive a full refund. We do not offer refunds for tours cancelled less than 3 days prior to the scheduled date.
Are the behind-the-scenes experiences accessible?
Certain encounters are able to accommodate visitors who need assistance with mobility, but we encourage you to contact the Zoo to confirm that we are able to provide the best possible experience to everyone in your group. Motorized transportation is not available, and not all experiences are ADA accessible. Service animals are prohibited from all behind-the-scenes experiences.
What if I have more questions?
Please refer to reidparkzoo.org and our frequently asked questions to prepare for your visit. If you need additional assistance, please contact education@reidparkzoo.org.