Open today from:
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Join us to protect &
preserve wildlife
Add amazing moments to your day at ZooTampa with our unforgettable signature animal encounters. Reserve your spot today — spaces are limited.
Encounter Time:
Daily at 10:30 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to all ages
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Giant Tortoise habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time
Ticket Requirements:
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
Meeting Location:
Meet at the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center in Florida 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Ticket Requirements:
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
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.
Ticket Requirements:
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
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Indian Rhino habitat in Asia 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Ticket Requirements:
Encounter Time:
Daily at 2:30 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
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.
Ticket Requirements:
Encounter Time:
Daily at 12:15 PM and 12:30 PM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
Meeting Location:
Meet at the African Penguin habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Ticket Requirements:
Get eye-to-eye with the world’s tallest animal as you participate in an interactive session with our giraffe family!
Encounter Time:
Wednesdays-Sundays at 1:00 PM and 1:15 PM
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to ages 5 and up
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.
Ticket Requirements:
Encounter Time:
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 AM
Age Requirements:
Open to all ages
Meeting Location:
Meet at the Koala habitat in Wallaroo 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.
Ticket Requirements:
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.
Age Requirements:
Open to all ages
For select dates in March and April we will have additional spots available for popular encounters.
March 11-19
March 25 & 26
March 18 & 19
March 25 & 26
April 1 & 2
April 8 & 9
April 15 & 16
April 22 & 23
April 29 & 30
4:30 PM & 4:45 PM
5:30 PM
You’ve seen the stories on TV, now experience them in real life on a Secrets of the Zoo Tour! Go behind-the-scenes and explore the amazing species, animal care team, and locations featured on the show. Meet the animal and human stars from your favorite episodes, get an in-depth look at how we care for our animals, hear the inside scoop of the stories featured, and what it takes to film the show. Each tour focuses on a different realm and offers an up-close, hands-on experience you can’t get anywhere else!
TIME
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
COSTS
Members: $100
Non-Members: $125
DATES
April 8 – Florida
April 15 – Africa
April 22 – Aviary
April 29 – Ambassadors
May 6 – Asia
May 13 – Reptiles & Amphibians
May 20 – Primates
Open today from:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
1. Please make one field trip per reservation order. Complete one and start a new one if you have multiple days you are booking.
2. Headcount can be approximate. Please include children and adults in your headcount. Please do not include pass holders in your headcount for a ticket.
3. On the ticket page, choose the correct grade level (to the left of your screen) to receive the correct chaperone ratio.
4. On the ticket page, when on the calendar section, the number of tickets available will appear in the top right corner for each particular day. Tickets available include children and adults. If you have more people than tickets available, please choose another day.
5. Anyone that is ordering lunch, even pass holders and adults that receive free chaperone tickets, do need to pay for a lunch IF they are ordering one. Free chaperone tickets and pass holders are for admission only.
6. Payment does not need to be paid at the time of registration. Choose the pay upon arrival option if you would like one person to pay for your entire trip on the day of your visit.
7. The prices of adult and children’s tickets are different.
8. You will receive a confirmation number and confirmation letter via email when your trip is confirmed. If you do not, please contact Jamie.Elkington@Zootampa.org right away.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers a variety of delicious food for guests at several restaurants and concession stands throughout, but we understand that guests may need to bring outside food for special dietary needs. Acceptable and prohibited food items are listed below. For the convenience of our guests, there is a picnic area located outside the park near the main parking lot.
For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:
The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:
Please leave any unnecessary articles secured within your vehicle to expedite your entry into the park.
We reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not observing Zoo Rules.
With a new Pay For A Day, Rest of Year Free ticket – for a limited time – you get unlimited admission through December 31, 2023 including access to our seasonal event series. Some blockout dates apply — see below for details. Not valid with any other discounts.
When does my Pay For A Day ticket expire?
For a limited time, new Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets are valid from the day of purchase until 12/31/2023 Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free tickets which were purchased prior to October 1st, 2022 are valid until 12/31/2022.
What are the blockout dates?
3/11/23 – 3/19/23
11/24/23 – 11/26/23
12/26/23 – 12/31/23
Can I purchase a Pay For A Day ticket on a blockout date?
Yes! You can purchase a Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket for first-time use on a listed blockout date and have full access to the park on that day. Blockout dates apply to repeat visitation.
Can I use my Pay For A Day ticket on blockout dates?
If you already have your Pay for a Day, Rest of Year Free ticket and wish to visit during a listed blockout date, please stop by the Zoo’s ticketing windows for alternate options:
