Tours
Book a Tour
Looking for a way to make your trip to Duluth even more memorable? No matter which behind-the-scenes experience you choose, it will make your day at the Zoo truly unforgettable!
Many of these experiences require advanced reservations (minimum of 7 days) and are based on availability. Please note: The fee for these special experiences is in addition to our admission fees. Zoo members do not pay admission fees.
Enrichment Excitement!
- Cost: $10/person
- Times: Sat/Sun | 11:00am-12:00pm or 2:00-3:00 pm
- Ages: 6 and up
- Group Size: 1-4 people
During this program, you’ll get to help the zookeepers choose which toys the animals in the Primate/Nocturnal building get to play with. You’ll even get to help make a toy or two for the zoo’s animals, and then see their response to your choice.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 212
Primate/Nocturnal Animal Feeding
- Cost: $25/person
- Times: Daily between 11:00am-3:00pm
Choose your favorite animal in the Primate or Nocturnal building for this behind-the-scenes experience! You will spend about 30 minutes learning about the animal you choose animal from the zookeeper. You will be able to select an enrichment item for it, and watch it get fed.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 212
Tiger or Lion Feeding
- Cost: $25/person
- Times: 4:30 p.m. in summer | 3:30 p.m. in winter
- Group Size: 1-5 people
Come behind-the-scenes with zookeepers and help feed the big cats! You will spend about 30 minutes learning about the cats and feeding them with food you’ve helped prepare.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 104
Primate Painting Tour
- Cost: $25/person
- Times: Daily 1:00-1:30pm
Watch our cotton-top tamarins or callimico monkeys create a unique piece of iPad art, then take their masterpiece home with you! You will receive an 8″ x 10″ computer-generated painting in your choice of color and brushstroke, created by a monkey of your choice!
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 212
Lion Painting
- Cost: $25/person
- Times: 4:00 p.m. in summer | 3:30 p.m. in winter
- Group Size: 1-5 people
Experience the unique opportunity to participate in a lion painting tour! Choose from a variety of colors and take in the amazing sight of our African Lions painting a special canvas just for you. This tour includes a behind-the-scenes view of our lion holding area and a freshly painted piece of artwork for you to take home.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 104
Family Animal Encounter
Want to make your trip to the zoo something extra special for your loved ones? Small groups and families are invited to book a 30-minute private animal encounter—a close-up, hands-on experience with a few of our friendly program animals! Let us know which animals interest you most!
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 205
Veterinary Tour
- Cost: $25/person
- Times: Mon-Fri 10:00-11:00am | Weekends by request
Join our veterinary staff for a special, in-depth tour of the zoo’s Willard Munger Animal Care Center, a facility normally closed to the public. Explore the veterinary hospital, including the medical treatment room, operating room, laboratory, radiology room, and quarantine areas!
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 101
Carnivore Closing Tour
- Cost: $50/person
- Times: 3:30-5:00pm in summer | 3:00-4:30pm in winter
- Group Size: 1-5 people
Join our carnivore keepers behind-the-scenes and get up close with our lion pride and Amur tiger as they are given access to their holding areas. You’ll also visit the zoo’s Willard Munger Animal Care Center, a facility that is normally closed to the public, to see our animal hospital and commissary area, where the diets for our large carnivores are prepared.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 104
Primate Keeper Experience
- Summer Times: Sat/Sun 9:30-11:30am or 2:30-4:30pm
- Winter Times: Sat/Sun 9:30-11:30am or 1:30-3:30pm
- Ages: 5 and up
- Group Size: 1-4 people
Wondering what it’s like to be a primate keeper? Here’s your chance! Participants will get a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a zookeeper in the Primate/Nocturnal building. This includes diet preparation, live animal observation, and providing enrichment for the collection.
Call for booking: 218-730-4500 ext. 212