Six months ago, the Philadelphia Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary. This weekend, the Zoo will offer guests something unheard of in its 150 years: an opportunity to participate like never before, granting visitors the chance to have all 42 acres to themselves.
These exclusive new tours, known as their “Key to the Zoo” Premium Insider Tours, will be held during the Zoo’s January hibernation when it is closed to the public. Zoo experts will guide guests through the different animal exhibits, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the animals, conservation work, and how the Philadelphia 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.
Guests can pick from two special new tour options.
The first tour is ‘Conservation in Action,’ where guests will spend the morning with a member of the Conservation Education team, visiting several of the Zoo’s most critically endangered animals. There, they will learn about the crucial conservation work that the Zoo supports. Each tour will have distinctive traits, but all will include at least one behind-the-scenes experience where guests will get up close and personal with the animals and learn about their personalities from the keepers who care for them.
The tour ends with lunch in the historic Solitude, where guests will be joined by a member of the Zoo’s Animal Care Team to hear 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 the animals, and a catered lunch with non-alcoholic beverages.
The second tour is ‘History at America’s First Zoo.’ On this afternoon tour, visitors will learn about some of the important ways the Philadelphia Zoo is using innovative strategies and techniques to help save wildlife. Throughout the tour, visitors will take in the sites of 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.
“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.”
All tours will be held on Jan. 11, 12, 18, and 26. The Conservation in Action tours will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the History at America’s First Zoo tours will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.
This exclusive opportunity will be offered on an extremely limited basis in January 2025. For more information, or to schedule your one-of-a-kind experience, visit philadelphiazoo.org.
