Visitor Experiences

Backstage Experiences

Now is your chance to join us backstage and see what it takes to run one of the best zoos in the world! All participants must sign a waiver prior to program. Guests 17 years and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult. Please wear non-slip shoes. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. All Backstage Experience fees include Zoo admission. Contact the Education Department at (402) 738-2092 for more information.

Want to purchase a Backstage Experience for a loved one?

Purchase a Gift Experience

Animal Artists

$180 per group of four, $140 per member group of four (Includes admission)
Pre-registration required

NEW! Animal Art Experience (tickets available 3/15/19)

A painting session with our animal artists is sure to be the most colorful part of your day. Our unlikely artists will paint four 8" x 10 " or one 16" x 20" one-of-a-kind masterpieces just for you. You choose the colors and the size of the canvas; our artist will take care of the rest!

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Friday
- Each Friday has a pre-assigned artists
  - 1st Friday of the month - Snake Artist
  - 2nd Friday of the month - Turtle Artist
  - 3rd Friday of the month - Small Mammal Artist
  - 4th Friday of the month - Lizard Artist

Backstage Passes

$60 per person, $45 per member (Includes admission)
Ages 8 and up, pre-registration required

NEW! Giraffe Backstage Pass - Ages 8 and up

Our tallest residents are ready for you to join them behind-the-scenes! Visit our herd of reticulated giraffes as we take you on this tall tour.

1– 2 p.m.; 2nd and 4th Tuesday April - September

NEW! Center for Conservation and Research Backstage Pass - Ages 8 and up

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium helps animals and plants all over the world. Join us on a private tour to where conservation and research take center stage.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Thursday April - December

Octopus Backstage Pass (Limit 4 guests - Ages 8 and up)

Experience what it takes to care for our giant pacific octopus. Chat with our keepers while they put together a meal for one of the most intelligent animals as we go behind the scenes in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium.

9:15 - 10:00 a.m., Tuesday

Aquarium Backstage Pass - Ages 8 and up

Come see and smell our aquarium from the other side of the glass. Witness what it takes to feed the sharks in Shark Reef.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Wednesday and Saturday

Kingdoms of the Night Backstage Pass - Ages 8 and up

Ever wonder what the swamp exhibit looks like with the lights on? Here’s your chance to face the night with the lights on.

8 – 9 a.m., Thursday

Lied Jungle Backstage Pass - Ages 8 and up

Discover what it takes to care for America's largest indoor rainforest. We will explore behind the scenes and have front row seats to feeding time for more than 300 free-flying bats during this amazing experience.

3 - 4 p.m., Thursday and Saturday

Golf Cart Tour

If you can’t make it around the entire zoo in one day, you’re not alone! Let us take you to some of our most popular exhibits on the far side of the zoo in the comforts of a golf cart. (This tour will include some walking.)

Offered daily May - October.

8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.
$60 per person, $45 per member (limit five guests, includes Zoo admission) pre-registration required

Keeper Experiences

Cost: $135 per person, $120 members (Limit 2 guests, includes admission)
For ages 8 and up, pre-registration required

Animal Programs Keeper

Experience what it takes to care for the animals who are ambassadors for their species while working side-by-side with the Wild Kingdom Pavilion's keepers.

1 – 4 p.m., 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month

Wildlife Safari Park

Join us as we visit exclusive behind-the-scenes areas at the Wildlife Safari Park where you'll meet some of the animals we're caring for there! A visit to our Cheetah Breeding Center is a once in a lifetime opportunity you won't want to miss among others.

Learn More

Animal Encounters

All animal encounters are weather and staff-dependent and their hours change seasonally.

Animal Discoveries, Training, Enrichment and Feedings

*Schedule is weather and staff-dependent.

Bay Family’s Children’s Adventure Trails

10:30 a.m. Animal Discovery

11:30 a.m. Goat Training

1:30 p.m. Animal Discovery

3:30 p.m. Prairie Dog Feeding

Wild Kingdom Pavilion

(year-round)

10:30 a.m. Animal Discovery

11:30 a.m. Animal Discovery

1:30 p.m. Animal Discovery

2:30 p.m. Animal Discovery

Scott African Grasslands

(May 24 - Sept. 2)

10 a.m. Animal Discovery at Kopje Outcropping

10:30 a.m. Animal Discovery at Kopje Outcropping

10:30 a.m. Elephant Enrichment/Training at Elephant Amphitheater

2 p.m. Elephant Enrichment/Training at Elephant Amphitheater

3 p.m. Lion Enrichment/Training

Scott Aquarium

10:30 a.m. Penguin Feeding

11 a.m. Shark Feeding (Wednesday/Saturday)

3 p.m. Penguin Feeding

Asian Highlands

10 a.m. Snow Leopard Enrichment/Training

11:30 a.m. Amur Tiger Enrichment/Training

1:30 p.m. Sloth Bear Enrichment/Training

Hubbard Orangutan Forest

(May 24 - Sept. 2)

1:30 p.m. Orangutan Enrichment

Owen Sea Lion Pavilion

11 a.m. Sea Lion Training (except Wednesday)

2:30 a.m. Sea lion Training (except Wednesday)

Stingray Beach

Come hand to fin with cownose, Southern and Atlantic stingrays at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium's interactive exhibit Stingray Beach, located up the hill from the Omaha Zoo Railroad's Omaha Depot. Touch, feed and interact with these aquatic creatures as they glide through an 80-foot-long pool. Interpreters will be nearby to answer all of your questions and more.

Hours

April and October: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
May through September: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Open April 19 - 21 then daily April 27 - September 30.

Hours are weather-permitting.

All rides will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 50 degrees by 1 p.m.

Pricing

$4 for non-members
$3 for Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium members (must have membership card and valid photo I.D. present)
$2 for school groups
Feeding cups are available for $1.50 (limited quantities daily)

Giraffe Encounter

The Giraffe Encounter is a dedicated area that provides visitors with eye-to-eye viewing and an opportunity to feed the giraffes.

Hours

Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily May 11 - September 30; October 1 - November 3 (weekends only). Hours are weather-permitting.

Pricing

$3 to feed

Birds in Flight Program

The Dick and Mary Holland Meadowlark Theater features a Birds in Flight Program highlighting 15 of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium’s bird species, including Harris hawks, Guinea fowl, red front macaws and blue and gold macaws. All 35 birds participating in the program are fully flighted birds that fly specific paths or demonstrate specific behaviors for the audience.

Hours

Open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily May 24 - September. Programs are held weather permitting.

Pricing

Free with an Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium membership or general Zoo admission

Budgie Encounter

Experience small birds flying overhead or from the palm of your hand at the Budgie Encounter, located inside of Children's Adventure Trails near the North Entrance of the Zoo.

Hours

Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily starting May 11 - September. Open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in October.

Pricing

$1 per feeding stick

Lemur Walkway

Cross the boardwalk to walk among red ruffed lemurs on Lemur Island, located in front of Expedition Madagascar.

Hours

Open for the season.

Pricing

Free with an Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium membership or general Zoo admission