2026 – VIP Tour with Rhinos Close Enough to Touch
Tour Details. – All 2026 Public Rhino Tours are Sold Out
Tour Dates: March 14 (Sold Out), April 18 (Sold Out), June 6 (Sold Out), July 11 (Sold Out), September 26 (Sold Out), October 17 (Sold Out).
Tour Time and Meeting Place: 10:45 a.m. Guests gather at the Stedman Education Center to board a bus that will transport them to the Rhino barn. The Stedman Education Building is the two-story, glass and concrete building facing Lot D in the North American parking area.
Minimum Age: 8 years old – Children younger than 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Guests may not take photographs while touring inside the barn.
Tour Overview: This tour usually ends around noon. A private bus transports guests from the Stedman Education Center to the off-habitat rhino paddocks and barn to meet with zookeepers to see how they train and manage these animals. Guests have the opportunity to pet the rhinos while visiting the paddocks.
ADA Status: ADA Accessible, but this tour involves walking short distances over uneven terrain. Please note mobility issues on the tour order form so that we can be prepared to assist guests if necessary.
Important Health and Safety Restrictions
Safety Notes: To accommodate the needs of our staff and guests, we limit the size of the group attending this tour to 12 people.
Guests will be invited to pet a rhino during this tour experience but must follow the keepers’ and guides’ instructions on how to touch the rhinos safely. Guests must always remain outside the rhino paddock and may not approach a rhino until instructed to do so by a keeper. We want to do all we can to keep everyone safe and our animals comfortable and stress-free.
Current Health Requirements:
Tour Specifics: This tour is available from March – October. The temperature must be 45 degrees or warmer for this tour to take place.
