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Zoo Tours

Available Tours

Year-round and Current Seasonal Tours

Due to various animal considerations, availability and capacity limitations apply. Duration times are approximate. Tours are released on a quarterly basis approximately 5-7 weeks before the next quarter begins.

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather

$40 per person | Maximum of 10 guests per tour

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.

  • 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. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Chirping Cheetahs

$75 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

Catch a glimpse of the fastest land animal on Earth at our Cheetah Survival Center. These spectacular, spotted cats are one of the most vulnerable species on our planet and the Saint Louis Zoo has been dedicated to their survival for 50 years! Go behind the scenes in this quiet corner of the Zoo to see how keepers care for our cheetahs and meet their unique behavioral needs.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour. Photos and video are not permitted during the behind-the-scenes portions of this tour. Photos and video are permitted in public areas of the tour.

These tours are conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for inclement weather. Note that umbrellas are not allowed in our behind-the-scenes cheetah area.

  • 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 Chirping Cheetahs tour is a fully accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.


BOOK NOW: September

Ears, Paws and Claws

$75 per person | Maximum of eight guests per tour

Explore the lives of the animals in the Zoo’s Carnivore Complex. Meet our African painted dog pack, our charismatic sun bear, Rimba, and Wendy, the Zoo’s elusive anteater. During this tour, guests will learn about the animals’ diets, enrichment activities, and how our zookeepers provide world-class care for these unique species.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour. Photos and video are not permitted in the animal building. Zoo staff will identify tour areas where photos and video are permitted.

This tour is conducted partially outdoors. Please be prepared for inclement weather.

  • 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 areas visited through our tours may not be.
Ears, Paws and Claws is a semi-accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Coordinators at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.


BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Elephant Excursion

$125 per person | Maximum of 10 guests per tour

Get up close and personal with our pachyderms! The Elephant Excursion offers guests an opportunity to meet our Asian elephant herd in their outdoor home. Our shaded deck in Elephant Woods gives an intimate glimpse into the lives and personalities of these magnificent mammals, while a Zoo expert offers insight into how we care for the elephants.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour. We cannot specify in advance which individual elephants will be available for the tour.

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

  • 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 Elephant Excursion tour is a fully accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.


BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Gentle Giants

Gentle Giants

$60 per person | Maximum of 10 guests per 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 conditions. Closed-toed shoes are required.

  • 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 Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.


BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Gorilla Trek

$100 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

You're invited to a bachelor party! Meet the Saint Louis Zoo’s very special troop of western lowland gorillas, living in an all-male group — a unique social dynamic in zoos. Guests on this tour will make like an ape and have the opportunity to climb to the gorilla lookout tower, located behind-the-scenes in our Fragile Forest. A keeper will offer the animals enrichment, while guests enjoy learning about our primate cousins from this exciting vantage point.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour.

These tours are conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for unfavorable weather conditions. Note that umbrellas are not allowed on the gorilla lookout tower. Closed-toe, sensible climbing shoes are required.

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 12 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 Gorilla Trek tour is not an accessible tour, and includes a steep climb up a ladder to reach the tour location. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April
BOOK NOW: July-September

Here, There and Grizzly Bear

$110 per person | Maximum of eight guests per tour

Experience a “bear-y” special adventure on a Behind-the-Scenes Grizzly Tour! Explore our state-of-the-art bear building where you will get an inside look at how zookeepers care for Huckleberry and Finley, our sibling pair of bears. This tour gives you an exclusive glimpse into the life of a grizzly, with the opportunity to meet these majestic animals.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour. Photos and video are not permitted during the behind-the-scenes portions of this tour. Photos and video are permitted in public areas of the tour.

These tours are seasonally conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for inclement conditions.

  • 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 Here, There and Grizzly Bear tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

** NEW TOUR! **

Orangutan Hang

$100 per person | Maximum of eight guests per tour

Come hang with our orangutans! This exclusive experience gives guests an insider’s look at how we work with these primates to participate in their care. During this tour, our orangutan family will be invited to join in a training session at our behind-the-scenes training panel while guests observe. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about these intelligent and elusive apes.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour. We cannot specify in advance which individual orangutans will be available for the tour.

These tours are conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for inclement weather conditions.

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 12 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.
Orangutan Hang is a partially accessible tour. The tour will take place on natural substrate, so the ground may be uneven or muddy in certain conditions. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Coordinator (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: May-June
BOOK NOW: August
Penguin Encounter

Penguin Encounter

$100 per person | Maximum of 10 guests per tour

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.

  • 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 Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Planet Protectors

Planet Protectors

$50 per person | Maximum of six guests per 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!

  • 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. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Primate Perspective

$60 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

Go out on a limb as you explore Primate Canopy Trails from the exclusive, keepers-only boardwalk. This tour allows guests to become immersed in the treetops, surrounded by the monkeys and lemurs that call Primate Canopy Trails home. You will enjoy a chat about these unique animals as you watch them explore morning enrichment in their habitats. Primate Canopy Trails, opened in 2021, is a creative take on modern zoo architecture, offering exciting learning opportunities for both our monkeys and guests.

NOTE: There is no direct interaction between guests and animals on this tour.

These tours are conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for unfavorable weather. Note that umbrellas are not allowed on the Primate Canopy Trails boardwalk. Closed-toe, sensible climbing shoes are required.

  • 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 Primate Perspective tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: May-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Reptile Rendezvous

Reptile Rendezvous

$65 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

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!

NOTE: Photos and video are not permitted during the behind-the-scenes portions of this tour. Photos and video are permitted in public areas of the tour.

  • 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. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Rhino Ramble

Rhino Ramble

$80 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

This tour takes you behind River's Edge to the hidden rhino barn to be properly introduced to one of our imposing black rhinos. You'll get the chance to feed this weighty vegetarian and may even get to touch their armor-like skin!

  • 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 Rhino Ramble tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Sea Lion Encounter

Sea Lion Encounter

$90 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

Put your flippers together for a California sea lion superstar! Enjoy the Sea Lion Show and then stay after for an exclusive look at how the trainers work with 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." Your tour will conclude with a guided exploration of our innovative Sea Lion Sound habitat and aqua tunnel.

These tours are conducted outdoors. Please be prepared for unfavorable weather conditions. Sea Lion Tours have a temperature minimum of 45 degrees. If temperatures are below this threshold, the tour may be canceled and rescheduled.

  • Duration: 90 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 a fully accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at 314-646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Sloth Slowdown

Sloth Slowdown

$110 per person | Maximum of four guests per 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.

NOTE: Tour does NOT include touching/holding the animals.

  • 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 Sloth Slowdown tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September
Tour de Tortoise

Tour de Tortoise

$75 per person | Maximum of four guests per tour

This visit to the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium takes you into the heart of tortoise territory. Some of these slow-moving reptiles weigh up to 600 pounds, so bring your camera for substantial photo opportunities!

Guests must be able to walk downhill on uneven terrain in the tortoise habitat. These tours are conducted seasonally, outdoors. Please be prepared for weather. Closed-toe shoes are required.

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of our public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.
The Tour de Tortoise tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: May-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Train-rific Tour

$40 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

All aboard for a Train-rific Tour! Learn about the history of the Zooline Railroad as you ride the express route right into the Zoo's train shed. An Engineer lets you look up close at an engine and reveals what it takes to keep the Zoo's train program on track. You'll finish your journey by riding around the Zoo on one of our famous trains, and will take home an authentic souvenir railroad spike.

These tours are conducted outdoors from May through October. Please be prepared for unfavorable weather conditions.

  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 2 and up. One adult per two children required.

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


BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Vet Hospital Tour

$40 per person | Maximum of 15 guests per 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.

NOTE: Photos and video are not permitted during the behind-the-scenes portions of this tour.

  • Duration: 45-60 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 14 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 Tours Department at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: June
BOOK NOW: July-August

Wade with the Rays

$175 per person | Maximum of two guests per tour

Join us for an "a-RAY-zing" dip in the stingray habitat at Stingrays at Caribbean Cove! Interact with our aquatic friends and learn ways we can help them in the wild. You will gently walk to the middle of the pool, sit on a stool, and let our rays come to you! The rays will find this experience as enriching as you do – in fact, you’ll be a part of their daily enrichment session.

Water shoes will be provided. Please wear (and plan on getting wet) a T-shirt, khaki or jean shorts, and closed-toe shoes. Swimsuits are fine but we require shorts and shirts over them. We will provide a shirt. There is a changing room on-site for you to change into dry clothes after your experience. Bring a bottle of water, a camera, and get ready to Wade with the Rays!*

*Pool experience is at keeper’s discretion.

  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 14 and up
  • (Guests who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paid adult.)

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 Wade with the Rays tour is not an accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please contact our Education Department so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations: (314) 646-4533 or dultz@stlzoo.org.

BOOK NOW: April-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Winged Wonders and the World’s Fair

$35 per person | Maximum of 10 guests per tour

Take a walk through history as you tour the Cypress Swamp in the Zoo's 1904 Flight Cage. A diverse flock of waterfowl will enchant you as this tour explores a wetland ecosystem, reflective of the landscapes found in southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois. You'll learn about how the Zoo cares for these beautiful animals and their unique homes. Guests will also have the opportunity to feed a few fowl!

Please be prepared for unfavorable weather conditions.

  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Age Requirements: Ages 8 and up

Please note that while all of our public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be.
The Winged Wonders tour is a fully accessible tour. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Department at 314-646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.

BOOK NOW: May-June
BOOK NOW: July-September

Upcoming Seasonal Tours

Hippo Howdy

Hippo Howdy

$90 per person | Maximum of six guests per 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.

NOTE: Photos and video 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. If there are any physical, cognitive or behavioral considerations within your group, please call the Tours Coordinator at (314) 646-4840 so our staff can be prepared to make appropriate accommodations.


Pollinator Pals

Pollinator Pals

$40 per person | Maximum of six guests per tour

Enjoy a tour of our Butterfly Dome, where you will get up close and personal with our fluttering friends. Enjoy exclusive access to the Dome, as you and your group explore and warm up in this micro-tropic world. You’ll learn all about how we care for our collection of beautiful butterflies, with the opportunity to hold and touch a few cute and crawling “guest stars” from the Insectarium next door.

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!

  • 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.

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