The Philadelphia Zoo is Now Offering “Key to Zoo Tours” With Private Access to the Entire Zoo Including Behind -The-Scenes
For the first time in its 150-year history, Philadelphia Zoo is offering guests a chance to visit and have all 42 acres to themselves during an exclusive “Key to the Zoo” Premium Insider Tour. These tours will be happening during the Zoo’s January hibernation while its closed to the public. Zoo experts will guide guests to different animal exhibits and take them behind-the-scenes to learn about the Zoo’s animals, conservation work, and how the Zoo has evolved into the premier Zoo it is today. One tour even includes the chance to take home a custom work of art painted by an animal.
“As a long-time member of the Zoo team, I can promise that these tours are like nothing we’ve been able to offer in the past,” says Director of Mission Integration Dani Hogan. “Each tour is built around what is happening at the Zoo on that particular day to create a unique, one-of-a-kind experience for each person there. If you’ve ever been curious about the history of the Zoo, how we care for our animals or the conservation work we do around the world, this is a can’t-miss opportunity to learn directly from our experts in a semi-private setting.”
Guests can choose from two tour options:
Conservation in Action: Spend the morning with a member of the Conservation Education team visiting several of the Zoo’s most critically endangered animals and learning about the crucial conservation work that the Zoo supports. Each tour will be unique, but will include at least one behind-the-scenes experience where guests will get up close and personal with the animals and learn about their individual personalities from the keepers who care for them. The experience ends with lunch in the historic Solitude, where guests will be joined by a member of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team to talk about their experiences saving wildlife around the world. All tours will include at least one behind-the-scenes experience, a one-of-a-kind gift created by one of our animals, and a catered lunch with non-alcoholic beverages.
History at America’s First Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo is home to an impressive past and an even brighter future! On this afternoon tour, you’ll learn about some of the important ways we are using innovative strategies and techniques to help save wildlife, all while being immersed in the historic grounds and structures of America’s First Zoo. All tours will include a one-hour animal tour, an Animal Ambassador meet-and-greet, and a tour inside the Solitude.
Tours will be held Saturday, January 11; Sunday, January 12; Saturday January 18; Sunday January 26 with the Conservation in Action tours held from 9:00am-1:30pm and the History at America’s First Zoo tours from 1:00-3:00pm. Conservation in Action tickets are $500 (ticket includes: parking, entry, private tour guide, a behind-the-scenes experience, tour of the Solitude, catered lunch, and take-home animal art), History at America’s First Zoo are $150 (ticket includes: parking, entry, private tour guide, ambassador animal meet & greet, tour of the Solitude). Guests MUST book the Conservation in Action tour 4 days in advance and the History at America’s First Zoo tour 24 hours before. A limited number of tickets are available at philadelphiazoo.org.
