Plan My Zoo Day

Plan My
Zoo Day

Before Your Trip

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

Buy Your Tickets or Membership

Make Your Reservations

Upgrade Your Day

Plan Your Daily Schedule

Step 1

Buy Your Tickets or Membership

Do I need a reservation to visit?

While reservations are strongly recommended for all guests, they are not required. A limited number of walk-ups will be available each day. Reservations and walk-up availability are on a first come, first served basis.

How do I cancel or change my existing reservations?

No problem. Click the link below to view and manage your recent reservations. If you are not already signed in, you will need to sign in with the email address you used when booking the reservation. Your password was emailed to you at the time of your booking, but you can also reset your password if needed. To book a new reservation simply visit our reservations page and select an available date.

Click here to view and manage your recent reservations

Why are reservations now recommended?

For the safety of our guests, employees, and animals, the Zoo is operating at limited capacity. To keep the number of guests in the park low, we’ve implemented a reservation system.

Tickets vs Reservations: Which do I need?

Your reservation guarantees that we hold a spot for you on your selected date. Your ticket/membership allows you to enter the park on that date.

We recommend that everyone makes a reservation for all guests in their group, even if they already have a membership or ticket.

If you don’t have a ticket already, you can either purchase one online before your visit, or chose to purchase one at the Zoo on the date of your visit.

Are reservations good for the entire day?

Yes, your reservation is good for the entire day you select. You may visit anytime between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm on your reserved date.

Do you still offer Signature Encounters?

Yes, Signature Encounters are still available. Some encounters have been modified and no longer include feeding or touching animals. Check our Encounters page for details.

Admission is required to participate in Signature Encounters. If you have scheduled a Signature Encounter please make a reservation for that date, and purchase your admission ticket if you don’t already have it.

Are face masks required?

ZooTampa is principally an outdoor fresh-air experience; therefore, when outside, guests who maintain proper social distancing are not required to wear face masks. Even so, every guest entering the zoo is strongly encouraged to wear a mask, and ZooTampa will provide disposable masks free of charge for anyone who needs one. Guests will be informed of indoor venues where masks are required which currently include: retail shops, bathrooms, restaurants (except while seated for dining) and Manatee Mangrove. Additionally, masks are required during our Signature Encounters, Giraffe Meet & Greet, Expedition Africa Safari Tram Ride & while in the tram queue line.

Visitor Info & FAQ

Step 2

Make Your Reservations

Step 3

Upgrade Your Day with a Signature Encounter

Elephant A zookeeper reaches up and touches the trunk of an African Elephant African Elephant Backstage What's it like to care for the largest land animal on earth? Find out from our Animal Care Team! Plus, watch a real training session, see our state-of-the-art elephant barn, & talk to the pros who interact with these amazing animals every day. Tortoise A young boy pets the neck of a big wrinkly Aldabra Tortoise during a Signature Encounter at ZooTampa Aldabra Tortoise Encounter Did you know the Aldabra tortoise is second only to the Galapagos as the biggest land tortoise in the world? Get up-close with these fascinating reptiles and spend time with the team that cares for these gentle giants.

 Giraffe A person feeds a leaf of lettuce to a giraffe, who wraps his extra long tongue around it Giraffe Meet & Greet Get eye-to-eye with the world's tallest animal! Get to know our giraffe's quirky personalities, ask questions, and learn about the positive reinforcement techniques we use with all our animals.


 Koala A young girl poses next to a koala as it sits on a tree branch at ZooTampa Koala Photo Encounter On this encounter with an adorable marsupial, you'll go behind-the-scenes with our animal care team to meet Heathcliff, our male Queensland Koala, for a "koala-ty" photo.


 Penguin A young girl pets an African Penguin at ZooTampa African Penguin Backstage Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we care for our endangered African penguins. Meet members of our colony and ask any penguin question you may have from our Animal Care Team.

 Indian Rhino A boy feeding lettuce to an Indian Rhino Indian Rhino Feeding Go behind-the-scenes for an unforgettable experience where you get to feed a greater one-horned rhinoceros, commonly known as an Indian rhino — a rare species vulnerable to extinction.


Manatee Zookeepers tend to a rehabbing manatee at ZooTampa's manatee critical care center Manatee Backstage Encounter
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.
Step 4

Plan Your Daily Schedule

UPGRADE YOUR DAY WITH UP-CLOSE SIGNATURE ENCOUNTERS

A young boy pets the neck of a big wrinkly Aldabra Tortoise during a Signature Encounter at ZooTampa
  • Manatee Critical Care Center Backstage Encounter: 10:45 am
  • Giraffe Meet-&-Greet: 11:00 am and 11:30 am
  • Aldabra Tortoise Encounter: 11:30 am
  • African Penguin Backstage: 12:15 pm and 12:30 pm
  • Indian Rhino Feeding: 1:15 pm
  • African Elephant Backstage: 2:30 pm

ANIMAL MINGLES & SHOWS

INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION
  • Wild School of Training @ ZooVentures Theater, Florida: 11:30 am
  • Animal Mingle @ ZooVentures Theater, Florida: 1:30 pm
  • Conservation Tails Walkabout @ Manatee Hospital Overlook, Florida: 2:30 pm
  • Animal Mingle @ ZooVentures Theater, Florida: 3:00 pm

TRAM SCHEDULE

INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION
  • Expedition Africa Safari Tram: Every 10 minutes from 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

Where to Eat

Macaws Landing Cafe Burgers, BLTs, fries and onion rings served at Macaws Landing Cafe Macaws Landing Café Good for: Burgers, sandwiches, salads & fries. Kids meals. Beer, wine, fountain drinks, kids drinks, and soft serve ice cream. Indoor dining.

Location: Front of park Boomers Café Boomers Cafe at ZooTampa Boomers Café Good for: Grab & go personal pizzas, chicken fingers, and sandwiches. Beer, wine, fountain drinks, kids drinks.

Location: Wallaroo Beer & Wine Garden Many varieties of beer and wine served at our outdoor beer and wine garden Beer & Wine Garden Good for: Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and shaded lounge seating. Happy Hour every weekend from 1-4pm with food & drink specials and music.

Location: Africa Circle Safari Pizza Co. A supreme pizza made fresh at Safari Pizza Company at ZooTampa Safari Pizza Co. Good for: Pies or pizza by the slice, wings, salads, and deserts. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, fountain sodas, kids drinks, and ices. Indoor dining.

Location: Africa, inside Savanna Oasis Starbucks The Starbucks cafe at ZooTampa is a great place to grab a quick drink, coffee, or Krispy Kreme donuts Starbucks Good for: Quick drinks.

Location: Primates, along main path Carousel Dogs Hot dog and fries Carousel Dogs Good for: Hot dogs.

Location: Carousel Circle Sweet Shoppe Sweet Shoppe at ZooTampa Sweet Shoppe Good for: Hand dipped ice cream & drinks.

Location: Carousel Circle Tamanis A chef checks the meat on a barbecue smoker Tamanis Good for: Smoked chicken, ribs, sides, and popcorn. Beer & wine.

Location: Africa Circle
Burgers, BLTs, fries and onion rings served at Macaws Landing Cafe

Macaws Landing Café

Good for: Burgers, sandwiches, salads & fries. Kids meals. Beer, wine, fountain drinks, kids drinks, and soft serve ice cream. Indoor dining.

Location: Front of park

Boomers Cafe at ZooTampa

Boomers Café

Good for: Grab & go personal pizzas, chicken fingers, and sandwiches. Beer, wine, fountain drinks, kids drinks.

Location: Wallaroo

Many varieties of beer and wine served at our outdoor beer and wine garden

Beer & Wine Garden

Good for: Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and shaded lounge seating.

Location: Africa Circle

Plus: Check out the new Happy Hour – weekends from 1 pm to 4 pm. Drink & food specials & music.

A supreme pizza made fresh at Safari Pizza Company at ZooTampa

Safari Pizza Co.

Good for: Pies or pizza by the slice, wings, salads, and deserts. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, fountain sodas, kids drinks, and ices. Indoor dining.

Location: Africa, inside Savanna Oasis

The Starbucks cafe at ZooTampa is a great place to grab a quick drink, coffee, or Krispy Kreme donuts

Starbucks

Good for: Quick drinks.

Location: Primates, along main path

Hot dog and fries

Carousel Dogs

Good for: Hot dogs.

Location: Carousel Circle

Sweet Shoppe at ZooTampa

Sweet Shoppe

Good for: Hand dipped ice cream & drinks.

Location: Carousel Circle

A chef checks the meat on a barbecue smoker

Tamanis

Good for: Smoked chicken, ribs, sides, and popcorn. Beer & wine.

Location: Africa Circle

Other Important Info

Our goal is to provide our community a safe and fun environment where you can come connect with each other and experience amazing wildlife. While many of your favorite rides and animal interactions are open, for the safety of our team, guests and animals some attractions may be closed or have capacity limits during our modified operations. Those attractions include:

  • Tasmanian Tiger Coaster
  • Koala Clubhouse playground
  • Wallaroo Petting Zoo & Pony Barn
  • Bat Habitat at Wallaroo

To read more about our modified operations, click here to download the full plan.

A pair of colorful macaw flying through the sky

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Have Questions?

Visit our FAQ page