Daily Zoo News

Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

Today’s Hours — 10am – 5pm

Early entry for members beginning at 9am (Mid-March-October 31st only)

Please note: the Zoo will close at 2 pm on Sept. 24 for Zoofari.

No timed entry! General Admission tickets are date specific. Purchasing online, in advance of your visit is highly recommended. You get the best price and skip the line! All sales final, tickets are non-refundable. Members may visit any day/time.

Animal News

Today’s Updates

The Discovery Forest building is open on Sundays only
- All other buildings are now open.
Sloth may be on view in the AAC building, near the Children’s Zoo. Please note they might not be viewable during all operating hours.
Giraffe Feeding will continue every day 9:30-11:30, 12:30-2:30.
Galapagos Tortoise public interactions have ended for the fall.
Butterfly Aviary will be open daily.
Galapagos Tortoises and Brown Mountain Tortoises will be out late.
Andean Bear will have access to their indoor habitat.
Cheetahs will have access.
Komodo Dragon may not be on habitat.
Tucker will begin introductions next week to Hippo Cove and Bibi and Fiona! There’s a chance Fiona will not be outside at certain times next week.
On 9/29 and 9/30 the Safari Train will not be wheelchair accessible due to maintenance needs.

Animal Encounters and Experiences Schedule

Getting Around the Zoo

Food location hours & animal appearances vary by season. Ask us when you arrive for details on how to make the most of your visit!

Zoo Map

Click here to see PDF of map

Directions

The Cincinnati Zoo is located at 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.

The main Zoo lot is open! Please pay attention to signage in the event this parking lot fills, we will begin directing to the overflow lot on Louis Avenue.

Visitors may enter the Zoo using the Pavilion Entry Building from the Main Parking Lot, equipped with stairs & elevators to get to bridge level.

Summer Experiences

Included with Zoo Admission

Cheetah Encounter

See cheetahs do what they do best – run! September 7 – October 31: Fridays at 12:00pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am & 12:00pm. (weather depending)

cheetah running

Cheetah Encounter Sponsored by:

Barnyard Bonanza

A fast-paced, fun, family-friendly interaction in our Children’s Zoo. September 7 – September 30: Wednesday – Sunday at 11am

barnyard bonanza

Blakely’s Barnyard Bonanza Presented by:

Zoo Rides & Attractions

Train & Carousel

Safari Train: daily 9:30am-5pm*

Conservation Carousel: daily 9:30am-3pm*

*weather permitting

More Info

Rides are an included benefit of Platinum and Gold Members. Standard members and non-members may purchase tickets at each respective attraction.

Train- $4
Carousel- $3
Unlimited Rides Package – $8
Zoo Adventure Upgrade (Unlimited Rides and a Zoo Key)- $10

*Hours may vary due to inclement weather, maintenance, and low attendance.

Kanga’ Klimb

Kanga Klimb: Tickets sold daily starting at 9:30am-4:00pm. Course closes at 5pm.

*weather permitting, Kanga Klimb may close due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, maintenance, and low attendance.

Kanga Klimb will close October 31^st and reopen in April 2022

Elevate your Cincinnati Zoo experience! This elevated course features a series of activities designed to safely test your balance and climbing skills plus increase self-reliance.

Purchase your tickets at the Kanga’ Klimb entrance. Cash, credit, debit and Zoo Bucks accepted.

Pricing:

Members: $16
Non Members: $19

More Info

Official Safari Express Train Sponsor:

Add A Wild Encounter To Your Zoo Visit

Add a wild encounter to your Zoo visit today! Get up close and personal with some of your favorite animals! We’re bringing you close enough to care with these special animal experiences.

Sloth Feeding Experience

Slow down and enjoy a personal 15 minute encounter with ‘Moe’, one of our zoo’s two-toed sloths. You’ll learn all about his natural history while you offer Moe some tasty treats.

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Saturdays & Sundays @ 3:00pm

Capacity – Up to 6 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 5 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $50 per person

Participants will be required to wear masks that completely covers both mouth and nose. At this time we cannot accommodate face shields or any medical exemptions. This experience is ADA accessible.

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.

Elephant Bath

During this private experience, groups will enter our historic elephant house to participate in the largest bath of their life! Learn all about how we care for elephants, while by working side-by-side with care staff to bathe the largest land mammal on earth!

Purchase Experience

(All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience. At this time we cannot accommodate any exemptions.)

Days/Times Available: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays at 9:15am
Age Restrictions: 10 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)
Cost: $200 for 2 guests (This experience package is a base of $200, and includes two tickets. Three additional tickets can be added for your party after purchasing your experience. Call 513-487-3359 to add more guests.)
Capacity: up to 5 guests

More Info

Elephant Bath for 2 Attendees

This is a private experience for 2 people. You will have the option to add participants after purchasing by contacting our experience team. Ages 10+ only (Ages 15+ to experience without an adult)
This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo. (We are currently requiring reservations with our general admission tickets. If you cannot book a 9am reservation, you will still be allowed to enter the zoo at 9am as long as you have both your general admission ticket and elephant bath ticket. After the bath, you are welcome to stay for the remainder of the day even if your admission ticket had a later entry time.)
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.

Penguin Point Feeding Experience

Put your fish tossing abilities to the test as you help feed breakfast to the birds at penguin point. African Penguins and Cormorants will dive in to see what you’ve brought to the daily menu.

Days/Times Available: Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday @ 10:30am
Age Restrictions: 5 & up (Must be at least 10 years of age to attend experience alone)
Cost: $15
Capacity: up to 5 guests

• This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo. Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
• We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.
• This experience is non-refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.

Purchase Experience

Little Blue Penguin Experience

Waddle on over to meet the world’s smallest penguin! Standing about a foot tall, our Little Blue Penguins are ready to make a big splash with this encounter.

Purchase Experience

During this semi-private experience, groups will go behind-the-scenes to meet a Little Blue Penguin from our colony. A member from their care team will help guide this experience as you learn all about these pint-sized penguins

(All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience. At this time we cannot accommodate any exemptions or face shields.)

Days/Times Available: Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 2:20pm
Age Restrictions: 10 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)
Cost: $50
Capacity: up to 6 guests

Expand for More Infoe

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience. At this time we cannot accommodate any exemptions or face shields
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.

“Van Goat” Painting Experience

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

Come on down to Blakely’s Barnyard and meet our some of our friends on the farm. During this experience, you’ll hold the canvas as our goats paint you your very own masterpiece. This new and exciting experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the animal-loving child – or adult!

Purchase Experience

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
For this experience, please plan to meet the attendant 10 minutes prior to your event time, in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
This experience is ADA accessible.

The Tremendous Tour-toise

During this experience, one of our animal care staff members will introduce you to our resident Galapagos tortoises, and fill you in on everything that goes into taking care of the largest species of tortoise in the world! Guests will get a hands-on experience while they learn all about the history of these amazing animals, as well as the conservation efforts that the Zoo supports to help preserve their precious native islands.

Purchase Experience

Days/Times Available – Everyday 1:00pm

Capacity – Up to 5 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 8 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $50 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.
Tortoise FAQ
Tortoise Waiver

Upgrade your day with more Behind the Scenes and Virtual Experiences!

Gift Shops & Food Locations Open Today

Gift Shop Locations

Historic Vine Village Main Gift Shop*: Closed

Mai Tai’s Marketplace Gift Shop: 9am-5pm

*For a wider variety of retail items, please shop our online store.

Face Painting Locations

Location	Open	Closed
Vine Street Village	Closed	Closed
Safari	Closed	Closed

Food Locations

New mobile food ordering allows touchless transactions with food pickup at Base Camp Cafe & Outpost Cafe at Mai Thai’s Market. From Food Trucks featuring chicken strips, tacos and burgers to snack stations and Hops, overlooking Roo Valley, the Zoo has something for everyone!

See what is open today!

Location	Open	Closed
Historic Vine Street Village
Hops:	9am	5pm
Vine Street Dippin Dots	Closed	Closed
Africa & Train Station
Base Camp Cafe:	9am	5pm
Savannah Soft Serve:	Closed	Closed
Tuskers:	Closed	Closed
Skyline:	Closed	Closed
Train Dots:	10am	5pm
Jungle Trails & African Veldt
LaRosa’s:	Closed	Closed
LaRosa’s Dots:	Closed	Closed
Canopy Canteen:	Closed	Closed
The Grove
Cup & Cone @ Mai Thai’s Market:	9am	5pm
Outpost Cafe @ Mai Thai’s Market:	10am	4pm
The Coop:	Closed	Closed
Wild Burger:	Closed	Closed
Taco Caja:	Closed	Closed
Sweet Retreat:	Closed	Closed