2026 – VIP Public – Gorillas and Baboons

Tour Details

Tour Dates: March 7, April 11, September 12 (Sold Out), October 10 (Sold Out), November 7 (Sold Out)

Tour Time and Meeting Place: 1:15 p.m.; Guests meet at the Gorilla viewing area near the pathway leading to the lemur habitat.

Minimum Age: 8 years old – A paying adult must accompany children younger than 16.

Tour Overview: Guests walk to a non-public viewing area behind the Gorilla habitat to meet with zookeepers and learn how they care for these animals. Photos are not permitted in this non-public work area. During the tour, keepers discuss some of the important health challenges gorillas face and demonstrate how the Zoo involves its gorillas in monitoring their own health. Next, the keepers treat guests to a discussion about Hamadryas Baboons and how the Zoo manages the large, stratified social group of baboons living under our care.

This tour usually ends between 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. 

ADA Status: This public tour is not ADA-accessible, but some ADA accommodations can be made for guests who purchase a private tour. Visit the 2025 Private Tour page to learn more.

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 6 people.

Guests may not approach or try to touch the Zoo’s gorillas. Guests must remain in designated areas during this program and not attempt to cross the barrier separating them from the keepers. We must conduct these extraordinary experiences in ways that avoid stressing the Gorillas.

Current Health Requirements:  Guests are not currently required to wear masks or gloves to participate in this tour. However, the Zoo may need to implement some health measures (e.g., requiring guests to wear gloves) if new or more serious medical hazards emerge to threaten the well-being of our animals, guests, or staff. 

If we change the medical restrictions noted on the tour after selling tickets to the program, we will email ticketholders about these changes and will also report them in the following paragraph. Ticketholders who cannot accommodate these introduced changes can receive a full refund for their tour purchase or, if they prefer, may sign up for an alternate tour with acceptable health restrictions.

Original Health Requirements Are Unchanged: The Zoo Society has not adjusted any health requirements since first posting information on this tour.