New Zoo Animal Experiences

Make your Montgomery Zoo experience a great adventure. 

Discover the wonders of wildlife through behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive access, where you'll have the opportunity to feed, interact, learn, and observe our resident animals in ways not possible during a regular zoo visit.

Dive deep into a greater animal experience and knowledge by enjoying an up-close, personal encounter with some of our signature animal species and the people that care for them on a daily basis. Receive backstage privileges and insights while learning more about that species and creating personal relationships and connection with our animal friends. These unique experiences are designed to foster lasting memories, deepen your understanding of animal behavior, and highlight conservation efforts that make a difference locally and globally.

Experience species offerings include:
     -- Capybara
     -- Pygmy hippo
     -- Anteater
     -- Reticulated giraffe 
     -- African Bush elephant  

See the experience availabilities below, and book today!

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Reticulated Giraffe Experience

Experience entails
     -- Private, guided access onto the giraffe observation deck 
     -- Feeding experience with one or more of our giraffe herd 
     -- Insightful, informative keeper chat and Q&A session
     -- Opportunity to snap keepsake images capturing this experience 
        to share with family and friends
     -- Session time: 20 minutes  

Experience availability 
     -- Tuesdays @ 11:30am
     -- Saturdays @ 11:30am

Experience fees 
     -- Discounted guest pack, for 4 people $125
     -- Individuals: $35 per person
     -- Maximum of 4 guests per experience

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Important experience notes, vital details
     -- All reservations require a 48 hour advanced booking.
     -- Age restrictions: All participants must be at least 5 years old to participate.
        Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult/guardian at all times.
     -- Experience fees DO NOT INCLUDE zoo admission.
     -- Montgomery Zoo members DO NOT receive a discount on experience fees.

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Anteater Experience

Experience entails
     -- Private, guided access to the anteater side yard and observation area 
     -- Feeding experience with one or more of our anteaters 
     -- Provide an enrichment item to the anteater(s) 
     -- Insightful, informative keeper chat and Q&A session
     -- Opportunity to snap keepsake images capturing this experience 
        to share with family and friends
     -- Session time: 30 minutes  

Experience availability 
     -- Tuesdays @ 2pm
     -- Thursdays @ 2pm
     -- Maximum of 4 guests per experience

Experience fees 
     -- Discounted guest pack, for 4 people: $275
     -- Individuals: $75 per person

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Important experience notes, vital details
     -- All reservations require a 48 hour advanced booking.
     -- Age restrictions: All participants must be at least 5 years old to participate.
        Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult/guardian at all times.
     -- Experience fees DO NOT INCLUDE zoo admission.
     -- Montgomery Zoo members DO NOT receive a discount on experience fees.

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African Bush Elephant Experience

Experience entails
     -- Private, behind the scenes guided access to the elephant barn and/or side yard  
     -- Exclusive interaction with one or more of our elephants 
     -- Witness and participate in elephant training exercises
     -- Insightful, informative keeper chat and Q&A session
     -- Opportunity to snap keepsake images capturing this experience 
        to share with family and friends
     -- Session time: 45 minutes  

Experience availability 
     -- Thursdays @ 1pm
     -- Saturdays @ 1pm
     -- Maximum of 8 guests per experience

Experience fees 
     -- Discounted guest pack, for 4 people: $350
     -- Individuals: $100 per person

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Important experience notes, vital details
     -- All reservations require a 48 hour advanced booking.
     -- Age restrictions: All participants must be at least 5 years old to participate.
        Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult/guardian at all times.
     -- Experience fees DO NOT INCLUDE zoo admission.
     -- Montgomery Zoo members DO NOT receive a discount on experience fees.

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Capybara Experience

Experience entails
     -- Private, guided access, joining our herd of Capybara on exhibit  
     -- Exclusive interaction with our herd of capybara 
     -- Feeding experience, providing a variety of fruits and veggies
     -- Insightful, informative keeper chat and Q&A session
     -- Opportunity to snap keepsake images capturing this experience 
        to share with family and friends
     -- Session time: 20 minutes  

Experience availability 
     -- Fridays @ 10:30am
     -- Saturdays @ 10:30am
     -- Saturdays @ 2:30pm
     -- Maximum of 6 guests per experience

Experience fees 
     -- Discounted guest pack, for 4 people: $125
     -- Individuals: $35 per person

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Important experience notes, vital details
     -- All reservations require a 48 hour advanced booking.
     -- Age restrictions: All participants must be at least 5 years old to participate.
        Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult/guardian at all times.
     -- Experience fees DO NOT INCLUDE zoo admission.
     -- Montgomery Zoo members DO NOT receive a discount on experience fees.

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Pygmy Hippo Experience

Experience entails
     -- Private, guided access to the pygmy hippo exhibit side yard and observation area* 
     -- Feeding experience, providing a variety of fruits and veggies
     -- Provide an enrichment item to the hippo(s)
     -- Insightful, informative keeper chat and Q&A session
     -- Opportunity to snap keepsake images capturing this experience 
        to share with family and friends
     -- Session time: 20 minutes  
* Experience location can change based on animal husbandry and exhibit updates

Experience availability 
     -- Sundays @ 2pm
     -- Maximum of 4 guests per experience

Experience fees 
     -- Discounted guest pack, for 4 people: $125
     -- Individuals: $35 per person

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE NOW!

Important experience notes, vital details
     -- All reservations require a 48 hour advanced booking.
     -- Age restrictions: All participants must be at least 5 years old to participate.
        Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult/guardian at all times.
     -- Experience fees DO NOT INCLUDE zoo admission.
     -- Montgomery Zoo members DO NOT receive a discount on experience fees.

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Daily Animal Encounters at the Zoo

     -- Waters of the World Aquatic Learning Center
     -- Giraffe Encounter
     -- Tortoise Trek (coming soon)
     -- Daily keeper talks at 11:30am and 1:30pm (see daily schedule below)

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Make your next visit to the Montgomery Zoo a grand wildlife adventure. Make a true connection with some of the animals here at the Montgomery Zoo by enjoying a true encounter with our four-legged and feathered friends.

Waters of the World: Enjoy an animal encounter of the wet kind. As part of guests' Zoo admission, you have the opportunity to tour through Waters of the World enjoying an assortment of freshwater fish, turtles, stingray, and water plant life. Waters of the World exhibit is located by the Mann Museum.  

Giraffe Encounter:  Have you ever stood nose-to-nose with an 18 foot giraffe? Well, here is your chance. Visit the Zoo’s Giraffe Encounter Post located at the Giraffe exhibit in the African realm. For an entry fee, guests can venture over a wooden deck and actually walk over the moat onto the Giraffe exhibit. With feed in hand, these gentle giants will venture over to greet you and your friends. There is no experience to match seeing these giant creatures literally only inches away.

Tortoise Trek:  Encounter coming soon, located near the Sky Lift Adventure Ride entry. Enter inside the exhibit enjoying and interacting with a group (or creep) of tortoises.  Have the opportunity to engage, provide food, and hear insightful keeper information about the species and the individuals residing at the Montgomery Zoo.  


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Daily zookeeper talks

The Montgomery Zoo offers a variety of insightful, educational, and entertaining keeper talks. Learn about various animals that live here at the Zoo as well as those that live in their native homes. See schedule below for days and times, schedule varies from day to day. 

Sunday:
     -- 11:30am: Bald Eagle chat – at viewing station
     -- 1:30p: Pygmy Hippo (nursery) chat – at viewing station, next to capybara exhibit

Monday:
     -- 11:30am: Waters of the World chat – inside exhibit building
     -- 1:30pm: Binturong chat – at viewing station boardwalk

Tuesday:
     -- 11:30am: Bengal Tiger chat – at viewing station next to Africa Hoofstock exhibit
     -- 1:30pm: Maned Wolves/Giant Anteater chat – by fence line across from Reptile Facility

Wednesday:
     -- 11:30am: African Elephant chat — at bottom of double-decker viewing station 
     -- 1:30pm: Cheetah chat — at exhibit viewing station

Thursday:
     -- 11:30am: Africa Savanna Hoofstock chat — at viewing deck next to Cheetah exhibit
     -- 1:30pm: Jaguar chat — at viewing station across from Kori Bustard  exhibit

Friday:
     --11:30am: Snow Leopard chat – at bottom viewing station across from aviary
     --1:30pm: Indian Rhino chat – at viewing station, next to Elephant statue

Saturday:
     -- 11:30am: Chimpanzee chat– at the larger viewing station
     -- 1:30pm: Cougar chat – at exhibit viewing station

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Zoo/Museum daytime admission: Pricing and hours of operation.