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A Wild Experience
Are you curious about what it’s like to feed a penguin or get eye-to-eye with giraffes? Check out the Santa Barbara Zoo’s wildlife experiences, where you’ll meet and greet the animals for a 20 to 30-minute educational experience and Q&A session.
- Parking and admission to the Zoo are included in encounter prices.
- We don’t skimp on fun, but safety comes first at the Zoo! For some encounters, Zoo staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (face masks, gloves, etc.) and guests may be required to wear face masks.
Wildlife Experiences
African Lion
Learn all about lion training and care from the keeper as you watch a lion training session take place just a short distance from you.
Max Guests: 8
Ages: 6+
Cost: $500 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Sundays at 1:30 PM
Amur Leopard
Experience the thrill of being up close to a big, beautiful cat and learn all about Amur leopards as you watch a training demonstration.
Max Guests: 8
Ages: 6+
Cost: $500 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Monndays at 2 PM
Armadillo
Learn all about the southern three-banded armadillo, a South American native and the only armadillo that can curl up into a ball!
Max Guests: none
Ages: All ages
Cost: $350 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Fridays at 3:30 PM
Capybara
Are you ready to meet the world’s largest rodents? Go behind the scenes and learn all about these fuzzy South American mammals.
Max Guests: 6
Ages: 6+
Cost: $400 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Thursdays at 3:00 PM and Sundays at 10:30 AM
Giraffe
Step onto the giraffe deck and learn all about the care and training the Masai giraffe herd receives.
Max Guests: 6
Ages: All ages
Cost: $350 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Mondays at 12:30 PM
Kangaroo
Hop on over and learn all about Australian animals, and help feed the western gray kangaroos their breakfast.
Max Guests: 8
Ages: All ages
Cost: $350
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
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Penguin
Join a penguin keeper to learn about the active Humboldt penguin colony and toss the penguins a fishy snack.
Max Guests: 10
Ages: All ages
Cost: $400 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 2:00 PM
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Red Panda
Get an up-close experience with the red pandas while you watch a training demonstration.
Ages: 6+
Cost: $400 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Tortoise
Get up close to African spurred tortoises and learn about their care and training: includes feeding opportunity.
Max Guests: 6
Ages: 5+ for feeding, all ages for observing
Cost: $350 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Wednesdays at 2 PM
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Tropical Wonders
Welcome to the tropics! Go behind the scenes at Tropical Wonders, where you will have an opportunity to get up close to some of the animals that live there.
Ages: All ages
Cost: $350 (includes Zoo admission)
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Availability: Fridays at 1:00 PM
Gift Certificates
Give the gift of an in-person wildlife experience to your friends or family! Available in $250, $350, $400, or $500 amounts. Purchase a gift certificate to cover part of an experience or the whole thing!
Virtual Encounters
If you can’t make it to the Zoo in person, we offer virtual animal encounters that can be enjoyed from anywhere with an internet connection! Virtual encounters take place on Zoom. Please fill out the inquiry form for more information.