Upgrade
Your Day

Book a Signature Encounter

Add amazing moments to your day at ZooTampa with our unforgettable signature animal encounters. Reserve your spot today — spaces are limited.

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

Meeting Location:
Meet at the Giant Tortoise habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time

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.

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

Meeting Location:
Meet at the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center in Florida 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.

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.

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

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:

  • Tickets must be purchased in advance.
  • All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.

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

Meeting Location:
Meet at the Indian Rhino habitat in Asia 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.

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.

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

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:

  • Tickets must be purchased in advance.
  • All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.

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

Meeting Location:
Meet at the African Penguin habitat in Africa 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.

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.

Giraffe Encounter

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:

  • All participants require a ticket, and children 5-17 must also be accompanied by a paid, participating adult.

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

Meeting Location:
Meet at the Koala habitat in Wallaroo 10 minutes prior to your encounter time.

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.
Other Animal Experiences

Lorikeet Landing Aviary & Feedings

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.

Age Requirements:
Open to all ages

Visiting for Spring Break?

For select dates in March and April we will have additional spots available for popular encounters.

Dates:

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

African Penguin Encounter

4:30 PM & 4:45 PM

Indian Rhino Feeding

5:30 PM

Secrets of the Zoo Tours

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

You May Be Interested In

Memberships
Explore the Zoo
Plan my Zoo DAy

Book a Signature Encounter

Signature Encounters Requirements & Guidelines

  • 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.

Please review our booking tips before continuing

Outside Food & Drinks Policy

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.

 Acceptable Items
  • Bottled water (max 20oz bottle, sealed) one per guest
  • Small snacks for young children
  • Baby food/baby formula
  • Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep (limit one per child)
  • Pre-purchased empty ZooTampa souvenir cups
  • Any food required for medical purposes and medically-indicated nutritional supplements
 Prohibited Items
  • Prepared or packaged food or meals
  • Alcohol
  • Glass or any open containers or water bottles filled with beverages
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

Prohibited Items

For the safety of our animals, guests and employees, the following items are not permitted to be brought into ZooTampa:

  • Any type of explosive or weapon
  • Knives or other sharp objects
  • Pepper spray
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Marijuana
  • Illegal drugs
  • Straws
  • Clothing likely to create a danger or disturbance
  • Any hazardous items or materials

The following items are also prohibited to avoid blocking of walkways and/or trip hazards:

  • Segways
  • Hover boards
  • Two-wheeled scooters
  • Self-balancing electric vehicles
  • Shoes with wheels
  • Drones
  • Hard-sided coolers of any size
  • Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5” wide x 6” high x 6” deep
  • Suitcases and soft-sided bags with wheels larger than 24” long x 15” wide x 18” high

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.

Pay For A Day Tickets

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:

  1. During blockout periods, Pay For A Day ticket holders have access to significantly discounted single-day tickets.
  2. For a limited time from the date of purchase, Pay For A Day tickets can be upgraded to a Zoo Membership (with no blockout dates).
I purchased a Pay For A Day ticket online. How do I get my actual ticket?

Bring a copy of your confirmation (or show the confirmation email on your mobile device) to expedite entry into the Zoo. At your convenience during your visit you can stop by the Tours & Guest Services kiosk located just inside the Zoo to print your physical pass. No need to stand in line at the ticket windows. Walk right in!
Still have questions? Email us or call (813) 935-8552 ext. 0.