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Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Picture yourself face to face with a mandrill, feeding the meerkat mob, or see what it takes in Commissary to feed over 4500 zoo animals. These are just a few of the exciting things that could happen on a Behind the Scenes Tour at the Houston Zoo. Join us as you take an unforgettable look at the Zoo from the inside out!
Where can I visit Behind the Scenes?
The basic tour includes visits to your choice of one of the following areas:
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Animals will vary depending on the tour area you choose.
It is also possible to arrange a personal experience with either the Sea Lions, Tiger Training Window or Lion Training Window. Visit the Cat Training Window and Sea Lion Experience page for more information.
How old do I have to be?
For safety reasons, some areas have age requirements, as well as an adult/child ratio.
Aquarium - 5 years and older
Birds - no age requirements, requires 1 adult per child
Carnivores - 12 years and older
Children’s Zoo - no age requirement
Commissary - no age requirement
Hoof Stock Animals - 8 years and older (except giraffes there is no age restriction)
Natural Encounters - no age requirement (must be 12 yrs and older for otters, primates, and meerkats)
Primates - 12 years and older
Reptiles - no age requirement, requires 1 adult per child / max of 3 children
How many people can take a tour Behind the Scenes with me?
That depends on the area you are visiting, but the maximum we can accommodate behind the scenes is 10 people. Some areas are restricted to fewer guests per tour.
How long does a Behind the Scenes tour last?
Tours typically take 30 minutes per area.
What do these tours cost?
Zoo Members: start at $35/person per area
Non-Members: start at $50/person per area
Non-Members: start at $50/person per area
Some areas may be higher due to increased staffing needs
There is not a discount for children participating in the tour.
Groups larger than six people will be charged based on the price for six people.
Registration and Payment
Use the registration form below to request a tour . We will contact you when your tour is approved and will require payment at this time. Please e-mail tours@houstonzoo.org or call 713-533-6544 or 713-533-6550 if you have additional questions. Various factors affect accessibility to animal areas and dates fill up quickly, so please schedule your tour at least three weeks in advance.
Use the registration form below to request a tour . We will contact you when your tour is approved and will require payment at this time. Please e-mail tours@houstonzoo.org or call 713-533-6544 or 713-533-6550 if you have additional questions. Various factors affect accessibility to animal areas and dates fill up quickly, so please schedule your tour at least three weeks in advance.
