Spread your wings to meet the birds in our diverse collection — and learn how our conservation efforts are helping several critically endangered species. Our staff will share enchanting stories about our Bird House residents as you visit off-display areas like the incubator/propagation room, where keepers collect eggs and incubate them until they hatch.

Number of guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of 10

Duration:
60 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Birds of a Feather tour is not an accessible tour.

Take a stroll to Red Rocks for the exceptional opportunity to feed the Zoo's "gentle giants," our reticulated giraffes. Marvel up close at their long eyelashes and watch the giraffe’s masterful tongue grasp a leafy branch or piece of lettuce right from your hand! You’ll learn about their behavior and diet — and find out why their necks are so amazingly long.

These tours are seasonally conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for weather. Closed-toed shoes are required.

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of 10

Duration:
45 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 5 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Gentle Giants tour is a fully accessible tour.
If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tour Agents at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

Experience Penguin & Puffin Coast from a zookeeper's point of view! During this tour, you’ll have an up-close-and-personal visit with some of our playful penguins while you learn about our conservation center for threatened Humboldt penguins. You'll wrap up your tour with a walk through the exhibit.

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of 10

Duration:
60 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 5 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Penguin Encounter tour is a fully accessible tour.
If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tour Agents at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

This behind-the-scenes tour of the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium offers an up-close look at our vast collections of snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises — as well as amphibians and crocodilians. Learn about safety protocols, snake antivenin and keeper tools. Then, challenge yourself to reach out and touch one of your new amphibian or reptile friends!

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of six

Duration:
45 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Reptile Rendezvous tour is not an accessible tour.

You’ve got a backstage pass to meet a California sea lion superstar! See how the zookeepers train these animals by using positive reinforcement to cultivate remarkable behaviors. You may even have the opportunity for a priceless photo with one of the show's “sea-lebrities."

These tours are partially conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for weather.

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of six

Duration:
45 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Sea Lion Encounter tour is not an accessible tour.

Go behind the scenes and meet the elusive South American creature that sleeps half the day away! You’ll be schooled on all-things-sloth by the keepers who care for them as you take a special peek into their laid-back habitat. Also in store? Sloth snack time!

Closed-toe shoes required.

Number of Guests:
Maximum of two guests

Duration:
30 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 5 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Sloth Slowdown tour is not an accessible tour.

Join us on an adventure that showcases two of our endangered bear species from two separate continents! Take a closer look at Andean bear and Malayan sun bear and learn firsthand from our animal care team about their training, enrichment, husbandry and conservation in the wild.

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of eight

Duration:
45 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Bear Bundle tour is not an accessible tour.

Come join the keepers at Bayer Insectarium for an exclusive opportunity to interact with some of the rarest species in the world! And be prepared: The staff may put you to work by asking you to hold or help feed these incredible creatures.

Home to more individual animals than any other area in the Zoo, you’ll learn what these spineless wonders do for our planet — and what you can do to help save them!

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of six

Duration:
60 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 5 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Planet Protectors tour is not an accessible tour.

Let us introduce you to the third-largest land animal in the world! Learn about the hippo’s unusual ability to adapt to the harshest of environments and hear stories from our zookeepers about the care and feeding of these unique African herbivores. You’ll even get the chance to toss snacks into a hippo’s supercolossal mouth.

Pictures and videos are not permitted during the behind-the-scenes portions of this tour.

Number of Guests:
Minimum of two; maximum of six

Duration:
45 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Hippo Howdy tour is not an accessible tour.

Have you ever wondered how the Zoo maintains such a diverse collection of animals and keeps them so healthy? How do we treat a giraffe vs. a tiny frog? And how do we care for animals threatened with extinction or with other specific needs? Meet with our vet staff to learn some of the innovative and unique ways they treat the Zoo’s animals.

Number of guests:
Minimum of four; maximum of 20

Duration:
45-60 minutes

Age Requirements:
Ages 10 and up

Please note that while all of The Zoo's public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.

The Vet Hospital Tour is a fully accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tour Agents at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.