Behind the Scenes
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, so grab your tickets for an upcoming tour as space is limited!
Click HERE to find a list of upcoming tours on our event page.
Rhino Experience
30-minute experience
Reid Park Zoo is home to two southern white rhinos, Fireball and Yebonga. This experience will allow you to enter a special encounter space not accessible on a normal Zoo visit, and learn about the rhinos’ 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.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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.
Goat Experience
30-minute experience
Learn how Reid Park Zoo cares for its herd of goats, from nutritious foods and tactile enrichment, to climbing structures and training. Get an up-close look at the features that allow wild goats to live among cliffs!
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
This experience includes walking on uneven terrain. Please email [email protected] to discuss accessibility options.
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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 two of the largest species of tortoises.
Learn about how we care for our largest tortoises at the Zoo and how our everyday actions can help protect tortoises in the wild. This experience provides an opportunity to see the tortoises 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.
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)
This experience includes walking on uneven terrain. Please email [email protected] to discuss accessibility options.
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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.
Animal Care and Nutrition Behind the Scenes
30-minute experience
During this 30-minute tour, 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 and Zoo kitchen. During this program, you will discover the importance of animal training for completing daily health checkups, and the high quality care we provide to the animals at the Zoo.
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue at the front of the Zoo.
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. You’ll meet invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals, and possibly see a training session with one of our slightly larger ambassador animals.
Age:
All ages; at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue at the front of the Zoo.
Our ambassador animals participate in a wide variety of programs. Due to our animal care philosophy and the nature of the animals, we cannot guarantee which ambassadors you will meet.
Specialty Behind the Scenes
30-minute Experience
During this 30-minute adventure, see a Keeper training session with either our brown (grizzly) bear or lions.
Your experience will take you behind the scenes to see a training session 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 questions.
Age:
All participants must be 10 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$65 per person (Zoo members: $60)
This experience includes walking on uneven terrain. Please email [email protected] to discuss accessibility options.
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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 training session.
Anteater Experience
30-minute Experience
Venture behind-the-scenes to meet one of the giant anteaters at Reid Park Zoo. Learn about their amazing adaptations, how we care for these unique animals at the Zoo, and how the Zoo supports conservation efforts in Brazil to protect this iconic species.
Note: For animal safety, all participants must wear N-95 or KN-95 masks for the duration of this program. The Zoo will supply masks for any participants who do not have their own. By registering for this program, you acknowledge that you and everyone in your group will properly wear the supplied masks for the duration of the program.
Age:
All participants must be 5 or older and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
This experience includes walking on uneven terrain. Please email [email protected] to discuss accessibility options.
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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.
Giraffe Experience
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.
Age:
All ages and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$35 per person (Zoo members: $30)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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.
Elephant Experience
30-minute Experience
This adventure will take you behind-the-scenes to see members of the Zoo’s elephant herd up close. Learn more about what it takes to care for the world’s largest land animal, and about the conservation work being done to protect this iconic species in their native habitat.
Age:
All participants must be 8 and older and at least one adult must attend.
Price:
$130 per person (Zoo members: $125)
Guests should plan to arrive at the entrance of the Zoo at least 10 minutes early. The educator will meet the group near the peacock statue 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.
To schedule a Behind-the-Scenes Experience for your group of 8 or more, please email [email protected].
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 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 reservation 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 with 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].