Behind the Scenes Tours

Our Behind the Scenes Experiences have started up again - call us today!

Reserve your spot in one of the Blank Park Zoo's exclusive Behind the Scenes tours. Each tour interacts with a different group of animals and their habitat. Spend one-on-one time with a zookeeper and have the chance to see some of your favorite animals up close. Choose from six opportunities. Availability varies by experience. Tours must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance to accommodate staff scheduling. Call 515-974-2563 to schedule your private experience today! People age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All participants on the tour must wear closed toed shoes for the entirety of the experience. Please call for more details.

PRICES
Ages 12 and older: $100 non-member / $50 members
Ages 11 and under: $50 non-members / $25 members

BENNETT'S WALLABY EXPERIENCE
Maximum Size of Tour: 6 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 6 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 PM
Take a trip to Australia to learn about the Bennett's Wallaby with a chance to chat with zookeepers and have all your questions answered.

SEA LION & PENGUIN EXPERIENCE
Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 12 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 PM
Join the keepers at Hub Harbor for a training demonstration and experience a feeding session at the Magellan Penguins’ pool.

GIRAFFE BARN EXPERIENCE
Maximum Size of Tour: 8 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Time of Tour:

November-March: 2:30 p.m.
April-October: 8:00 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.

Take a peek into the barn that houses our giraffes, duiker, and okapi! See the animals up close and ask the keepers questions as you feed the giraffes an early morning snack

OKAPI EXPERIENCE ADD-ON

$75 non-member / $35 member

Meet our Okapi, Romakari, who shares the barn with the giraffe. Feed him some lettuce, and he might let you give him neck scratches!

RHINO BARN EXPERIENCE
Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 12 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 p.m. and Memorial Day - Labor Day, 8:15 a.m.
Get an up close look at the zoo’s endangered Eastern Black Rhinos on a visit through their indoor barn. Chat with a zookeeper and observe a training session. 

TORTOISE EXPERIENCE - Offered Memorial Day through Labor Day
Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 6 years or older
Time of Tour: 2:30 PM
Step into our Aldabra Tortoises exhibit and try not to get stepped on yourself as you experience a training session of our tortoises, ask the keepers all of your questions, and give Barnaby head scratches a plenty.

AMBASSADOR ANIMAL EXPERIENCE
Maximum Size of Tour: 4 people
Age Restrictions: Must be 2 years or older
Time of Tour: 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Get an up close visit from one of the zoo's ambassador animals and chat with their keepers to learn all about them. Our ambassador animals spend their time traveling across the state of Iowa educating the public about the importance of zoos and conservation efforts. When booking, guests will have the ability to select a primary and secondary choice from a list of the ambassador animals. Please note that preferences are not guaranteed.