Private and Public Tours are essentially the same except that buyers choose the date for their program and control its guest list.
Please be sure to confirm details about your private tour—what time the tour begins, where to meet before the tour, minimum ages for children, and so on—before you purchase. To do so, simply check the public tour information for the species you wish to see, or review the information below.
Private Tour Details
Tour Dates
These tours are available throughout the week, on a date selected by the buyer. Finalized dates require approval from the Animal Section.
Tour Prices
North Carolina Zoo Society members pay $535 for a private tour. The fee admits up to six guests to the tour. (Bison tours accept only four people.) Non-members pay $595 and receive an annual Family or Grandparent Membership to the Society.
Zoo Society memberships provide free Zoo admission for a year and other benefits. Individuals not covered by the membership must buy a Zoo admission ticket to enter the Zoo.
Tour Times and Meeting Places
- 9:15 a.m. – Aviary (meet at Stedman Education Center)
- 9:30 a.m. – Bird Training & Encounter (meet at Stedman Education Center)
- 10:30 a.m. – Rhino (meet at Stedman Education Center)
- 1:15 p.m. – Elephant (meet at Stedman Education Center); Gorilla (meet at big rock near Gorilla Exhibit)
- 1:30 p.m. – Black Bear (meet at Black Bear Exhibit); Desert (meet at Desert Exhibit entrance); Polar Bear (meet at Rocky Coast Exhibit); Bison & Elk Safari (meet at Grizzly Bear Exhibit)
- 3:00 p.m. – Chimpanzee (meet at Chimpanzee Exhibit)
- 5:30 p.m. – Giraffe (meet at lower Giraffe viewing area)
Maximum Group Sizes
- 4 – Bison & Elk Safari
- 6 – all other private tours
Minimum Ages
- Five years old – Desert; Polar Bear (Family)
- Six years old – Giraffe
- Eight years old – Bison & Elk Safari; Gorilla; Rhino
- Ten years old – Aviary; Bird Training & Encounter
- 11 years old – Black Bear
- 12 years old – Chimpanzee; Elephant; Polar Bear (Adult)
ADA Status
Not all tours are ADA Accessible. Tours that are not are clearly marked under each of the tour pictures. Some ADA Accessible tours may offer some challenges to people with limited mobility. Please let us know of any mobility concerns you have so that we can talk to you about making adjustments to meet the needs of your party.
Safety Note
Guests may not approach or try to touch any of the Zoo’s animals unless invited to do so by an animal keeper. Guests are required to remain at a safe distance from the animals. When animals are fed or touched as part of a tour, guides and keepers will explain how this can be done safely and will monitor guests as they interact with the animals. We work diligently to keep everyone safe and our animals comfortable and stress-free.
Join us for an in-depth Aviary tour before it opens to the public.• Children must be at least 10 years old to attend.ADA accessible
New in 2022! A behind-the- scenes look at Black Bear care at the Zoo.• Children must be at least 11 years old to attend.ADA accessible
Engaging Chimps with training and enrichment.• Children must be at least 12 years old to attend.ADA restrictions apply to some mobility issues
This tour is currently unavailable.• Children must be at least 5 years old to attend.ADA accessible
See how the keepers care for the elephants.• Children must be at least 12 years old to attend.ADA restrictions apply to some mobility issues
Join a keeper to feed the giraffes and meet the Red River Hogs.• Children must be at least 6 years old to attend.ADA accessible
Watch how gorillas learn to help take care of their health.• Children must be at least 8 years old.ADA restrictions apply to some mobility issues
Details and close-up views of what it takes to care for a Polar Bear.• Children must be at least 12 years old to attend.ADA restrictions apply to some mobility issues
A made-for-youngsters program about caring for puffins and bears.• Children must be at least 5 years old to attend.ADA restrictions apply to some mobility issues
Reach out and touch a rhino behind the scenes.• Children must be at least 8 years old to attend.ADA accessible
Visit the bird training and propagation area (offered as a private tour only*).• Children must be at least 10 years old to attend.ADA accessible
See the animals from the back of a truck (offered as a private tour only*).• Children must be at least 12 years old to attend.ADA accessible