Upgrade Your Day
Up-Close Animal Encounters & Feeding Experiences
Add amazing moments to your day at ZooTampa with our unforgettable signature animal encounters.
Reserve your spot today — spaces are limited.
KBUG
Know Before You Go
- ZooTampa admission is required to participate in Signature Encounters. Purchase admission tickets here.
- ALL guests on Signature Encounters, including children (except those 2 and under where permitted), parents, guardians, care givers, etc. MUST have an Encounter Ticket.
- AGE REQUIREMENTS VARY BY ENCOUNTER. Please see encounter details to ensure that all members of your party meet the requirements.
- White Rhino and Elephant encounters utilize a vehicle for guest transportation. Please contact Guest Services if you need accommodations for vehicle loading.
- Service animals are restricted from entering the Koala, Giant Tortoise, and African Penguin encounter areas. For accessibility resources go here.
- Tour components are subject to change without notice due to animal, weather, or staff needs.
- Encounters are only refundable 48 hours prior to your scheduled encounter. For refund inquiries, please contact Guest Services via email or call us at (813) 935-8552 ext 0.
View the Map
Each Signature Encounter meets at a different location. Please review the map to see where your encounter's meet-up location is.
View the Map
Each Signature Encounter meets at a different location. Please review the map to see where your encounter's meet-up location is.
Download the App
Get real-time walking directions to your encounter meeting location and so much more by downloading our mobile app! Just search "ZooTampa at Lowry Park" in your app store.
Giant Tortoise Encounter
Go on habitat and enjoy an up-close interaction with one of our Giant Tortoises!
Encounter Time:
Daily at 10:30 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to all ages
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- Participants 2 and under are free and do not require a ticket.
- Participants 3 and up require a ticket, and children 17 and under must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Giant Tortoise habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Manatee Critical Care Center Behind-the-scenes Tour
Be a part of ZooTampa’s manatee rescue team! Go behind-the-scenes at our David A Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center to witness the lifesaving work that takes place every day to save sick, injured, and orphaned manatees. Follow the journey of one of our critical patients and learn from our expert animal care team what it takes to rescue, rehabilitate, and eventually release these majestic animals back to Florida waters. From the moment they arrive at ZooTampa through the months, and sometimes years, of treatment and rehabilitation, each manatee has a unique and amazing story of survival.
Encounter Time:
Daily at 1:15 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up, but recommended for ages 12 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants require a ticket, and children ages 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center in Florida 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Southern White Rhino Encounter
Have you ever wanted to stare into the eye of a southern white rhino? Now you can on this amazing encounter! Travel into Africa during this one-of-a-kind experience and go behind-the-scenes to meet the dedicated team who care for our “crash” every day while getting nose-to-horn with these critically endangered animals. Afterwards, guests will continue their adventure on a private safari tour and learn more about the animals who call Africa home.
Encounter Time:
Daily at 11:00 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Signature Encounter Meeting Area at the front of the Zoo, near Guest Services, 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Indian Rhino Feeding
Enjoy an unforgettable experience offering a tasty treat to one of our Indian Rhinos!
Encounter Time:
Daily at 1:45 PM
Saturdays and Sundays at 1:15 PM and 1:45 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Indian Rhino habitat in Asia 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
African Elephant Behind-the-scenes Tour
Travel behind-the-scenes to watch an elephant training session and find out how we care for the largest land animal on earth!
Encounter Time:
Daily at 2:30 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Signature Encounter Meeting Area at the front of the Zoo, near Guest Services, 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
African Penguin Encounter
Meet a member of our penguin colony and smile for a special photo op!
Encounter Time:
Daily at 12:15 PM and 12:30 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the African Penguin habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Giraffe Encounter
Get eye-to-eye with the world’s tallest animal as you participate in an interactive experience with our giraffe family!
Encounter Time:
Thursdays-Sundays at 10:00 PM and 1:15 PM
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Ticket Requirements:
- All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Giraffe Habitat in Africa, by the gate to the overlook, 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.*
*Please note the meet-up location for this encounter has recently been updated.
Koala Behind the Scenes Tour
presented by the Yob Family Foundation
Enjoy a special meet-and-greet with an adorable marsupial and behind-the-scenes look at the cozy habitat these animals call home.
Encounter Time:
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to all ages
Ticket Requirements:
- Tickets must be purchased in advance.
- All participants 2 and under are free and do not require a ticket.
- All participants 3 and up require a ticket, and all children 17 and under must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Koala habitat in Wallaroo 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Other Animal Experiences
Lorikeet Landing Aviary
Go inside this free-flight aviary with some of the world's most colorful birds. Experience is FREE with your admission, but only available at set times during the day. Check the Lorikeet Aviary for a schedule. Feedings may be available for a nominal fee at the time of your experience. See a team member at the Lorikeet Landing Aviary for more information.
Signature Encounter
Sloth Photo Encounter
Did you know that sloths can spend 90% of their lives upside down? Get up-close to one of our incredible sloths, meet a team member that cares for them every day, and then strike a pose for a photo by a professional photographer!
Book a Signature Encounter
ZooTampa Animal Encounter Tips & Guidelines
- Admission is required to participate in Signature Encounters. If you have scheduled a Signature Encounter please purchase your admission ticket if you don’t already have it.
- Masks are required to be worn by all guests participating in Signature Encounters. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.
- To ensure safety, participants agree to abide by Zoo safety protocols.
- Guests may bring a camera; however, there are areas behind-the-scenes which you may be asked not to photograph. Video recording is not permitted behind-the-scenes.
- Tour components are subject to change without notice due to animal, weather, or staff needs.
- Service animals are restricted from entering the Koala Photo Encounter area.
- Encounters are only refundable up to 48 hours in advance of your scheduled Encounter. For refund inquiries please contact our Guest Services team via email or call us at (813) 935-8552 ext 0.
IMPORTANT: Age requirements vary by encounter. See specific encounter for details.
Walk-Up Feeding Experiences
These feeding experiences can be paid for when you arrive at the habitat. No pre-purchase required.
Stingray Bay Touch Experience
Temporarily Unavailable
Get hand-to-fin with a slippery stingray at this FREE up-close animal experience. Feedings may be available for a fee. See a Team Member at the Stingray Bay gift shop for more information.
NEW! Signature Encounter
Manatee Critical Care Center Backstage Encounter
Temporarily Unavailable
Did you know that ZooTampa is home to the first non-profit manatee critical care facility in the US? At our state-of-the-art David A. Straz, Jr. Critical Care Center, we take in sick, injured, and orphaned manatees and provide them with the specialized care they need so they can be re-introduced back to their native waters. On this backstage tour, you'll go behind the scenes to learn more about what it takes to care for and rehabilitate this treasured Florida species. Plus, meet a member of the dedicated team who cares for them each and every day.
*This tour is recommended for ages 12 & up
NEW! Backstage Encounter
Secrets of the Zoo Backstage Encounter
Back by popular demand! Are you a fan of the NatGeo WILD television series, Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa? Season 3 is still under production, but you can get your fix now of the wild behind-the-scenes adventures of the amazing animals that live at ZooTampa and the dedicated team entrusted with their care. Go on an unprecedented tour with one of our “stars” and get exclusive updates on the animals you love. From rhinos to manatees, find out ALL the secrets and spend your morning on an adventure you will not forget.
*Accompanied by paying adult
