Reviews of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (Zoo)

Ham Johnson

I was surprised how nice it was. The weather was perfect the day we went and choose to walk around and view the animals. There are lots of places to just sit and relax in the shade and watch the animals or to look at the gardens. If you don't want to walk they do have a tram service. A must see if you are in the area.

Karen Huddas

Leov did a great job on the tour. So glad we got to feed the giraffes. Lovely cared for zoo!

Ian MacKinnon

This is truly a gem. Wonderful homes for the animals...note homes not cages! Giraffe, zebra, wolves ..great variety. The gardens represent the different desert area of the world and are very well laid out. The 30 minute lectures given by the staff are fascinating and keep the children enthralled. Can't praise enough. A must see.

heesoo choi

Very fun. Especially my two little monsters love giraffes feeding !! However very hot for summer.

Margaret T

Nice zoo. Go early . Cooler and see more animals out and about

GrandPa G

Amazing ! Beautiful ! Perfect way to spend a day...So much to see and do... Good variety of animals and foliage. Lots of trees for shade...AND you can bring in your own food ! Figure at least 4 hours there...

Isaac B. Tanihaha

I took my kids to wander around this zoo for about 2 hours in the late afternoon. It was fun and informative. The place is tidy and the animals looked healthy and well taken care of. It also has a collection of various desert plants. I like the design dividing African and American desert animals. Kudos!

Steve Ramsey

This is well worth the admission price! Really great exhibits with animals that are well cared for. Great landscaping, natural habitats and interpretive signage.

Stephen Wilson

This place is just wonderful. Don’t think of it as a Zoo rather more as a conservation project. Don’t forget about the mini railway too!

Laurie Ponce

This zoo was amazing. Lots of animals and organized wonderfully. Lots of walking. Had an amazing time.

Harry Criswell

Nice zoo lots to see. Should probably go early in the morning when it's still cool or in the evening so the animals are out. Middle of the day most are resting or hiding to stay cool.

Mr Anarchy

Great fun for the whole family..Very educational

Jesus Cortes

Very nice place to go to and have fun with the kids

Bill Pryne

Such a nice and clean zoo. The animals were in great surroundings and well fed and. My grandson was on high alert with seeing all the animals, couldn't be happier.

Patricia Bracamonte

First time here with our kids and we had a blast super amazing. ♡ we all had a great time and cant wait to come back ♡

Sweety Bear

They have a tram that takes you from area to area so you don't have to hike as far in the hot hot sun. If you ride around on the tram twice you can decide what order you want visit. You get a tram bracelet to get on and off the tram all day. Also you get to feed the giraffes. It costs money but it's well worth it. The employees giving the talks are very informative and patient with excited children. The food is expensive as to be expected but the chicken strips were excellent. We went in May so it was hot. I'm sure we'd enjoy it more during a cooler month and I won't lie, I wouldn't go during the summer months. That said I'm looking forward to going again when it's cooler.

Kathi McDermott

Great place to take kids. Lots of space for the animals. The petting zoo is perfect because you don't feed the animals you only brush them and so they don't jump all over you like other petting zoos. It is also on the list of museums for free from Bank of America on the 1st weekend of the . You can also bring your own lunch as they have picnic areas very affordable, highly recommended

Jeff Watt

You access one of the best hiking trails in the valley from here. Fantastic view from the top. Bet sure to go up the short trail from the picnic table to get the best view. Go counter clockwise because it is easier to go up the boulder field. Wear hiking shoes. Lots of fun big and small spaces to explore in the exhibit area too.

Lisa Morgan

Fantastic zoo and landscape! A favorite stop whenever I'm in area! A gem!

Juan Perez

Great time and the animal enclosures are as close to their natural habitats

Rachel Byer

Love taking my little ones here. Amazing to have such a great zoo in our little valley

Jennifer C-K

I came away from my first visit to the Living Desert impressed. The animals all looked very healthy and well cared for. The grounds were kept up nicely too. We really enjoyed exploring the little model town and trains, and also liked the various gardens. We were given a very informative tour of the animal hospital too. Especially with the ticket cost being reasonable, this is a great little zoo.

Christina Johnston

Great place to experience wildlife, they have an animal hospital where you can experience a live view of how they preform operations on the animals. Great for kids of all ages and adults. Just be prepared to do a lot of walking and take a light snack and water.

Las Vegas Prof

A lot of walking. Very few of the paths are paved which made it difficult to access many of the animals with a walker or a stroller. Overall, a very enjoyable day.

Kaitlyn Boothe

So much fun. Great for all ages! If going in the summer, I highly suggest going early because of the heat.

Maya C

Gardens were beautiful (if you're into desert landscapes), and the animals stunning. Some of the exhibits seemed a little small - like the eagles, which was too small for them to actually fully stretch wings and do more than flap once or twice. I am all for the mission of the place, and believe that it deserves support and encouragement.

Alfredo Cea

Great place to visit...very natural

Valerie Peters

We truly enjoyed everything about it. We had Harold as our tour guide and so informative, I learned a lot. Tika the Giraffe touched my heart. Will return again, I would love to see the completion for the

Andrew Baker

Favorite zoo. We go every time we're in Palm Desert. The giraffe enclosure is fabulous.

Raul Anaya

I was to upsep for the trick trick's Stand each stend givens a only one miserable candy wend you can buy 25 of those for a dollar I pay $65 for see a animals that is fine The souvenirs for the hollowing is poor My granddaughter ask the DJ to play one sound he tell (me) No to the nex show

Mendy Kreiman

I love going to the living desert with my family. My kids love the trains. There are so many different lines and the living desert always changes the cars and engines keeping things new and exciting. Some other highlights is the giraffe feedings and enclosure,they have kudos and ostriches. And the indoor Discovery room, it's a great air conditioned space ( we always stop there on the summer) There is so much fun and it just never ends and each visit has a unique experience.

Andrew S.

A beautiful zoo located in the desert makes for a beautiful backdrop to all the wonderful animals that they share with you. We will be coming back soon. I suggest visiting in the cooler months.

Barbara Johnson

Coolest place. Do you wanna walk? Do you want to take the trolley? Have at it. Everyone was so nice. Got to feed the giraffe. So amazing! Big blue tongue. Right out of your hand. Great train area. The set up was beautiful and so detailed. My husband will lose his mind when he sees it next visit.

Donna McCray

The hiking trails were great for walking, they have a nice miniature train town that was pretty interesting and cool to see all the details. The animals were out and active. It was a great time on a beautiful sunny Saturday with family and friends.

Laura Rios

Fantastic place and organization. Love it and love the giraffe feedings

Jake Wiederspan

Awesome experience. We parked far away from the front gate because we could only see the back spots. If you drive in go ahead and look around the lot there is probably some closer spots up front. We fed the birds and giraffe. My family rode the camel. The show was definitely worth seeing. Good prices on food and very clean.

Sandra Addari

Private tour with Bruce, just a great experience. His knowledge of plant and animals was just perfect for the tour. They love the animals. A must see place.

Melodie Scott

This is a nice, clean, small zoo. There aren't many animals but enough to keep small children's interest! My 3 year old granddaughter could go once a week and still be excited. She loves the camels and the train exhibit. The staff is always very friendly and helpful!

Christy Brewer

This place is amazing! My suggestion is to take the tram around the park since there's so much to see

Ken Raees

Cool place but hot in summer. Nice to see zebras and giraffes in the desert. Go there early morning before 9.00 am.

Angela Self

Beautiful zoo. Lots of places to stop and rest along the way. Great variety of animals. I recommend going early or during a cooler day to see more animals.

Tom Stone

Beautiful place! There is definitely a lot to see. We were there for mane hours and certainly did not see it all. There are shuttle rides inside the zoo, the zoo is clean and it does not stink.

Caren Oldfield

Great family outing for four generations on Mother's Day weekend. Not necessarily an inexpensive place to visit and dine but a nice selection of desert/arid animals from America and Africa. Beautiful grounds. Keeper talks are nice, especially with the giraffes.

Mary Biancalana

A wonderful and family-friendly place to learn about the world's desert ecosystems. The Living Desert or they are absolutely fantastic way to spend a day in Palm Desert California. Volunteers and working staff at this high-quality Nature Preserve we're all friendly, welcoming, and did their best to answer all of our questions. The many sections they had set up to highlight the desert plants that would be found all over the world were outstanding and really showed an attention to detail. The animal exhibits were fantastic because the animals got to live in a large area similar to where they would be living in the wild. I give the Living Desert five stars and highly recommend a visit to this attraction in the Coachella Valley.

donovan bartlett

Visited this zoo 5 years ago and it was just a spectacular this time. I highly suggest getting the adventure pass. Well worth it for my 12 yo and 7yo; did not get it for the 1 yo. Just bought a ticket to the carousel and the aviary. Having the pass is the only way to get you the nectar for the bird... a must! The older kids must have gotten 20 cups for the birds; the baby and I just stayed in while they got the cups. So much fun. And the giraffes. You get to feed them with the pass! They even let the one yo feed them. Very easy to get around with a day stroller. Super clean and the cafe actually had great sandwiches. You are able to bring food and drinks in... wish I had know that. Beautiful zoo!

John Peacock

It is an excellent zoo with exhibits of desert plants and animals. Great experience. You can even feed a giraffe!

Margaret Arkley

Always the best place to take the children. The animals are all displayed so well, in their perfect surroundings.

Mark Exall

Evening tour was great with the sound of the animals, staff was very informative really enjoyed the visit.

Dan Gentilucci

Wonderful place to spend a day with your family. Plenty to see and do for everyone

Forrest List

I did the Brew at the Zoo event last year and had a great time. I suggest VIP tickets for the "Brew", you will thank yourself. All the animals were in good shape and being looked after. The exhibits allowed me to get up close while remaining safe. The grounds and gardens provided shade and plenty of places to get out of the sun. This is a smaller zoo and it is done well.

Denise Sprague

Very nice zoo. Well maintained with lovely gardens. More animals and my rating would have been 5 stars. Note: You will want to wear shoes that enclose your feet or you will be shaking pebbles and sand out of your sandals all day!

Ernie Lopez

The Living Desert Is a great place to get a good time in family or friends, great activities, plus alot beautiful animals to see, great food and the volunteers are wonderful people.

Ellis Hart

Great visit. $25 admission, $5-8 for tram tour; we walked it in about 2 hrs.

Stephany Cobar

Wonderful private tour guide. Quiet and relaxing. Lots of room to walk and get lost (lol). You can bring a backpack with snacks or lunch and bring your hydroflask for water.

Hector Rios

One of the most wonderful zoos I've ever visited. The animals have some of the most spacious areas I've ever seen. There are schedules animal chats throughout the day, where you can learn more about certain animals from the staff. The zoo is fully aware it is in the desert and has plenty of water stations throughout. Enjoyed it so much we bought annual passes despite our 2 hour distance from the zoo. We plan on visiting again for when it's new Australian section is open, as well as trips here and there throughout the year.

Miyah Lynn

I had such an amazing time here. Rode a camel with my five year old and wow! Very cool! He loved it. I am glad we have this memory for when he is older. A day full of smiles from him. However, Was pretty pricey for food and beverages though. A single drink doesn't need to be $4, this isn't the dodger Stadium. It is obviously a much better and cheaper trip comparing to Lego land or Disneyland, however, not everything needs to be money oriented and some things should just be offered. A lot of people, like myself, spent a good two hours driving to the location and thought we would be getting more bang for our buck. Half of the animals weren't even out so that was another huge bummer. Overall great experience - minus overpricing

John Gothro

A beautiful, informative, and educational experience. I was very glad to book tickets for this gem; it was well worth the cost. The staff was very courteous and helpful, the exhibits quite well done. Put this spot high on your To-Do list.

Shari Pulaski

Wonderful wonderful! Nice for just strolling and looking at the animals and surroundings. Loved every minute . Also fed the giraffe! Very friendly staff and had a great day! Would recommend to anyone of any age!

Teri McKown

Saw some long horn sheep today! This is a fabulous place to visit.

Rosemary Payne

We visited during a field trip. I had so much fun with the kids, wish we had longer to explore but it was interesting to see how animals live and learn about there habitats. I also love how much the kids were so curious and wanting to learn.

Hutton Carruthers

Plan to come here in the morning to see the animals alert and alive. they like to hide by 3pm. Its a good 7 hour walk around. I suggest bringing in your own food.

J d

Great place to visit, bring your kid loved one, Great just to get out for the day. Have fun and enjoy the day. Make sure to save time to feed the giraffes my kids loved the experience. We all had a good time and my kids cant wait to go back.

Joshua Guilford

This place was surprising a overall great experience. It seems small for a zoo but after walking the whole place in 3 hours I was astonished at how many pictures we got and all the wildlife and plants that are living here. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a something fun for the family or yourself.

Buena Jill Galleposo

Offers a shuttle, have great environmental initiatives that make it well-deserved to garner support from locals as well as tourists. Offers plenty of activities, unfortunately though, I was not able to come during their summer time where they offer most of their special activities such as camel riding. My favourite activity and a definitely a must is the giraffe feeding.

Diana T

This is the cleanest zoo I've ever gone to, I was just shocked at how clean it was. Had a great experience definitely recommend a visit to this zoo. It is pretty big with beautiful sceneries.

Linda Morlet

Great place to take kids. You can feed the giraffes purchased carrots. Camel rides for purchase. It gets hot fast, need to go as early as possible. Recommend the tram ride. The zoo is bigger than it seems.

Kevin A

I really enjoyed my visit here. It's a beautiful facility focused on desert plants and animals from around the world, which of course is appropriate to the climate here. Everything is generally very accessible. The $20 general admission fee - plus additional amounts for certain attractions - for adults (less for family groups) is not cheap, but I felt like it was a good value for several very enjoyable hours.

Marisah Baca

Its a great photo op! We arrived a bit earlier for museum part of it, but its clean and whacky. Cute place to stop

Darryl Smith

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. I fed a giraffe. Lots to see.

Denise Cruz

The zoo was fun but was way too hot outside even in the early morning. I bought the adult tix from Costco at 22.99 includes 2 admissions(virtually 1/2 price) and kids tix at the gate only $10. I recommend paying for the shuttle to get around. There are many pick up areas throughout the zoo and 3 air conditioned buildings to cool off in. My kids fed the giraffes, $7 gets you 3 carrots. The food prices are reasonable, we ate by the goat petting zoo. Parking is free and they do allow drinks and snacks inside.

Curb-N -Sign

Great place for kids. Plenty of room for kids to run and play. Get out your phone's and snap pictures away. A lot of walking so wear tennis shoes. Bring back packs with food and water. Wear sunscreen and hats and don't forget your sunglasses. Remember you are in the desert.

Walter Barrera

I can honestly add this place to my favorite places. Unique animals with acres of land for themselves. Animals seem to be in great condition and Every staff member we interacted with was very knowledgeable. We asked so many questions and you could see their passion and care for this animals. Highly recommend this place!!!

Janine J

Fantastic zoo/conservation centre, great family day out. So much to see and do. Highly recommend and great price for a family day out. If you have young children I would recommend taking a stroller (our three year old struggled with the walking by the end of the day). They do have strollers available (not sure whether there is a cost to use as we didn't use this time). Also there is a shuttle train/bus that goes around the park for an extra charge.

Jim Fleenor

Pretty great zoo!! The gardens are spread throughout the zoo. The giraffe exhibit is amazing. The up close and personal type experience with each animal and exhibit was my favorite part. Because the zoo is technically in the desert, most of the animals are up and about doing their thing which was also a nice surprise! Which there were more sugauro cacti but be sure to check out the baby crowned cacti near the rest rooms at the entrance!

Vincent Russo

Tons of fun. If it's hot, pay the extra $8 for the ride around the park

Kurt Lundell

Another awesome trip in the books for The Living Desert. Get there early and enjoy the cacti, flowers and wild life. Wandering this place is so relaxing. Good stuff! I promise!

Lisa F

This place was absolutely amazing. I didn't know what to expect since the name makes sounds more landscape specific but my 2.5 year old had the time of his life. There was no line to get in but waiting for family to arrive and they brought a snake to the entrance so that we could interact with it before even going into the park! The staff is friendly and patient and walked us through how to pet the snake appropriately. Once inside it was birds and camels and a giraffe and my son got to pet goats which he had to pet every single one of course... Twice for good measure. The merry go round, the gecko park, and the discovery center seemed to be his favorite but I will definitely be going back! Lots of food options, good bathroom placement, easy to navigate, enough activities you might not hit everything in one day. My main tip is to make sure it's not going to be hot because it's mostly outdoors.

Deniz Turkmen

It was very hot on that day but luckily this place has many shaded seating and water fountains. Otherwise there is no way I can survive in this jungle

Panos Andreou

Amazing! You get to feed the giraffes! How cool is that. Great miniature trains! Wide selection of animals. Good energy. Happy place. Great outing. You will not be disappointed.

Anthony Krut

Amazing place. Great hike into the mountains. Lots of animals to see

Kevin ONeill

Very fun and well done desert zoo in Palm Springs area. It can get hot so take a hat and sunscreen.

Amanda Benavidez

It was fun. Hot. Wear comfortable clothing! Bring a backpack with snack/waters. I would say if you're limited on time check out the Africa side first it seems to have more things to do.

Brooke Stephens

Such beautiful grounds with well maintained landscape. The animals and hosts all seem so happy. Everyone is very polite. They have many shows to watch while you sit and relax. Bring water bottles, hats and sunblock. They have cold, filtered water refill stations throughout the park with clean bathrooms.

Elizabeth Diaz

Great place for friends & family. Make sure to feed the giraffe. She's adorable

George A Gomez

Nice place to be with the family great service nice friendly people great price

Regina Anders

Hands down the best zoo and outdoor experience that I have ever encountered. The private two hour tour led by John was engaging, thought-provoking, and educational. The gardens and animals were stunning and thriving! I had no idea I’d be so close to the animals in such beautiful habitats. We will definitely be coming back to Palm Desert, just to visit the Living Desert. Thank you for an incredible time that my family and me will remember always!

Alexandria Dunnewold

Could spend all day here, between the exhibits and the paths you will not run out of places to see. Wear good walking shoes, bring sunscreen, food and water as it’s hot and when you go out on the paths you will need it.

Craig Dunham

Always a great day - whether for a special event or a day with the animals. Close to town yet seemingly way out there, The Living Desert is a phenomenal place.

Neal Fischer

If you are in town for a visit this is a great place to add to your itinerary.

Greg Hatch

Fantastic experience. Trip Advisor really sells this one short! This is a mid-sized zoo with fantastic exhibits and tons of interactive features. We didnt even get through the full thing before needing to go (hot/tired kids). Loved the full experience!

Lynn R

My wife and I had a great fun visit the other day. We took the VIP tour with John. He is very knowledgeable about everything we stopped to see which was a lot. I recommend the tour as you have your guide to answer your questions about the animals, and plants. Always fun feeding the giraffes as you never know what they will do to surprise you.

Jen Bos

Went in October. Sooo hot. Must plunk down an extra 8 bucks for the shuttle. Cute zoo but $26.

Oswald Cobar

It was very interesting, its a great hideaway place away from it all. Its a definite must see.

Melinda R

We went for the train display, which was wonderful! So many settings and fun little details. We did not see as much of the zoo as we would have liked, since we could not pull the little one away from the trains, but what we did see was great! We were visiting and would recommend to anyone in the area.

franb2001

Fantastic gardens and zoo in Palm Desert, California. Make sure you go early because the animals are more active and it gets pretty darn hot by 11am. Don't miss the Christmas Lights during December. It's spectacular. Consider purchasing a membership. Check the website before going and download their interactive app.

Janet MacDonald-Blanchard

Loved it. Clean facility and well tended animals. Great viewing and beautiful signage and information.

Thrive At Home Mom

Absolutely love this zoo! We got the pass and go every week! The sweetest staff work here and we always have a fantastic time!

Kelly Colwell

This is an amazing park. The birds were super active while we were there and the chance to watch the giraffes eating? Incredible. Don't miss all the gardens, too!

Michelle Frederiks

Nice zoo. Very spread out with nice trails. You can feed the giraffes, give birds nectar, and pet goats! I do wish when you checked in to buy your admission they tell you certain things cost additional money like visiting the birds. Overall we had a blast.

Melinda Muyargas

I've been here twice - both times on the 1st Saturday of the month when Bank of America customers are free. We love our visits here. The gardens part isn't much to look at, unless you're into cactus, but the animals are great. It's usually pretty easy to see most of the animals in their exhibits. They have different animal talks that go on throughout the day so you can learn more about them - just check the schedule. All the animals are from the desert, either in North America or Africa, and there's an Australian section coming soon. There's a little petting zoo area with goats. The food places are good, as well. Typical theme parks foods - burgers, fries, churros, etc - but all good. They offer extra experiences for about $6 each - things like giraffe feeding, the butterfly pavilion, camel riding... They all look very worth it!

Kevin Smith

This place was fun. Where else can you feed a girrafe? Be prepared for the heat though. They dont lie when they call it the living desert.

Laura Baker

It has been awhile since we have been here. They have done great upgrades. We saw more animals up close on this trip.

Marie Withrow

The Living Desert has undergone major renovations and looks absolutely amazing... Great for families for walking around, seeing the animals and learning about the many programs to save species. They have camel rides, bird feedings, giraffe feedings and a carousels and play areas.. They are expecting two new exhibits soon with the addition of lions and rhinoceros... Well worth the entrance fee of $20 or the family membership (2 adults and four kids) of $130...

Bella Gold

This is a small desert zoo there are a variety of animals/mammals. Excellent staff, now this is the desert so bring water, sunscreen and snacks maybe even an umbrella. Weather ranges from 87-115 degrees Fahrenheit. Theres also a really cool butterfly cage. Now if your with a child or elder please bring a mobile chair or comfortable seating. This zoo is excellent for their holiday events. There are extremely helpful to the community and children.

Matt Wils

Very reasonable admission and consession. Nice design and layout. I great way to spend 4hrs of your day. Never too over populated. Excellent additional activities, and events.

Alfred Lee

Excellent facility, clean and beautifully landscaped. Nice assortment of animals but definitely not great in that respect. Unbelievable miniature railroad display! Most people and children would enjoy the visit as did I.

Mark Germann

Great place to get flora and fauna close up from desert ecodystem

Jaime Hernandez

Fantastic zoo! Not to big but the zoo and quality of the enclosures and how comfortable the animals look makes this a great visit. Lots of animals from Africa and North America, at a reasonable price. They offer giraffe feedings for an extra price unfortunately when we where there the giraffes weren't hungry. During Nov to May they offer camel rides as well. It gets very hot in July so bring a hat and lots of water!

Spencer Goldade

This is one of the nicest zoos I have ever been to, in any country I have been to. Everything is so nicely designed and manicured. Every direction feels like it was thought of with beautiful motifs and photo ops in mind. One thing that we especially appreciated was that the enclosures were all quite large and mostly natural landscaping as opposed to the depressing, fake rocks and other things you see making up 90% of other zoo habitats. All of the attendants are super friendly, and of course, last but certainly not least, all of the animals seemed happy, healthy, out and about and visible, and living a good life.

Maria Hardy

Wonderful family time . good food only negative was the wait on the food waited almost 35-40 min for my order while me children we're already eating when we order everything together. I had to inquirer several times before it came out. Other then that amazing.

Trina Le

I had a fun experience with this because it was my first time in a zoo, and I came here because it was a field trip! But I didn’t forgot about that day, so I decided to go on my birthday! (I didn’t purposely made that rhyme)

George Paloczi

We visited the Living Desert Zoo during spring break with our kids. Both the exhibits and the live shows are well done - educational with a real focus on conservation. The gardens are also beautiful with many interesting examples. Highly recommended for families.

Bubbles 1618

It was super hot which was expected. We still saw many animals though. Lots of cool hands on experiences for us and our toddler. Their animal hospital was amazing!

Faye Sortor

Desert animals in natural style enclosures. Also desert plants, so many different cacti! Camel rides, griaffe feeding. There's a Shuttle between sections. Fun for all ages. Food available. Adequate Restrooms & water fountains.

Megan Van Haaren

I have been top many zoo's around the country and I was pleasantly surprised about how simple yet beautifully laid out. I appreciated the many plants having labels to identify them. Plenty of places for little ones to play & adults to rest.

Mike Mackintosh

Highly recommend! This was a great stop on our trip. The kids loved the animals and felt like they got a (small) taste of the desert. So many nice exhibits and paths to turn down almost every step of the way. Beautifully done and so many amazing pictures to take as well. It was not difficult to walk the whole park but there is a shuttle for those that might struggle a little. Water fountains everywhere which was wonderful as well. The model train exhibit was wonderfully currated and worked well! If you're in the area, young or old, you need to stop by. Costco has a 2 for $23 deal and kids tickets are $10 at the time of purchase visit. PS this place gets HOT in the summer.

Elizabeth Goddard

Went here for a day to celebrate my birthday. It is really beautiful. It is separated into 2 countries, North America and Africa. I think we enjoyed Africa more as it had more exotic animals but North America was interesting as well. It is hard to make it thought everything in one day. We will definitely be back. Recommend checking out the shows at the amphitheaters. Those were fun. Food was good but you can also pack your own if you want to save some money.

raj jay

Great visit. Exciting too! A must for a family day out.

Candelario Sahagun

Great alternative to over crowded other zoos/parks. Lots to see and do here. Lots of different animals, plants, exhibits, etc. They have camel rides, you can feed the giraffes, kid's playground area, carousel, hiking, petting zoo, and much more. The food here was also very good. Prices were also reasonable compared to other zoos/parks.

Ashley Wrightnour

It's a great place and all the people are friendly and the animosity happy and healthy

Babak Eliyahou

So much fun! Even as an adult I loved it! We fed the giraffe, played with the goats and sheep. We watched an awesome reptile show as well. Will be back!

Nela O

This place never disappoint, they continue amazing job making sure that animals are healthy and have specious surroundings to roam. Not cages. Very clean, very nice.

Serena Giordano

This is a large zoo with trails, the trails are closed during the summer though. It was well worth it we stayed from open to close (summer hours) and took the shuttle which was so worth the $8 pr whatever. We saw demos and visited each animal feeding/encounter. Great fun enjoyed by all. We packed in our food and glad we did and ice cream cone kid size was priced as expected, $8!

Paul B

Awesome to get the day by! Lots of squirls and giraffes. It also features a few cheetahs and birds. They have an incredible model train village. Facilities are in top shape. Staff is very helpful.

Alvaro Jimenez

I went with my daughter's school field trip I love that they are always updating the park

Jaymes Parker

Feeding the giraffe was awesome! Great experience and loved that I was able to be close to the birds.

Ted Crippen

Bought seasonal passes, over 9.5K steps through amazing exhibits. Looking forward to returning throughout the year. Have to plan a day trip for the trails.

Rony Wall

A very nice exhibition of animals. It doesn't get the 5th star because it is extremely warm here in July when I came here and the water dispensers don't offer really cool water.

Rob McV

The living desert was worth every penny I suggest you see this attraction.. Bring water and sunscreen.. Get there when it opens at 8am. Got to feed the giraffes and that was nice.... We had a lot of fun I hope you will too.....

Yelena Yermilova

Such a fun place for kids. The open until 1pm-1:30 during summer and regular hours thereafter. They have petting zoo, you can feed giraffes for extra money, there are other fun activities. Kids under age of 3yo are FREE!

Nancy Anaya - Martinez

It's a beautiful place not as many animals but still beautiful place to visit.

Zoya Avramov

The zoo was great. I love that I got to see so many animals!!! The only complaint I have is the noise. There are a lot of insects on trees and they make an awful buzzing noise. Also, it was really hot, so we only got to se the Africa part. ( there is an Africa part and South America part of the zoo.)

Harshil Patel

This was surprisingly fun! $25 an adult to get in, kids under 3 free. This place was very well kept and very cool! Our little one had a blast seeing animals so up close and active. Money well spent. There was no line to get in but waiting for family to arrive and they brought a snake to the entrance so that we could interact with it before even going into the park! The staff was friendly and patient and walked us through how to pet the snake appropriately. The park was divided into two sections. If you take a right when entering, you'll encounter the Africa section. Here you'll see some well-known favorites! Feed giraffes for $7 a person. The feed is a must do. It's reasonably priced to boot so don't skip out on that. In addition to the giraffes, they house hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, zebras, meerkats, African wild dogs, and so much more. The petting kraal can be found here too. The kiddos and adults alike will love showing the goats. The next division of the park is the North America section. My absolute favorite part of NA was the longhorn sheep and Jaguar. The rocky cliff side that is their natural habitat is the actual layout of the land here in the desert! The zoo is totally built upon the natural landscape without any disruption. I highly recommend visiting this park. It's a beautiful not for profit organization that provides expansive habitats for the animal residents. Parking was ample and free. Lots of food options, good bathroom placement, easy to navigate, enough activities you might not hit everything in one day. My main tip is to make sure it's not going to be hot because it's mostly outdoors.

Pain Dudester

Cute, but they will rip you off if you buy season passes. Problems with the passes go unanswered once they have your money. You'll be screwed. Buy them only as needed if you enjoy going there. Do NOT buy memberships.

Sarah Quintero

There is a reason why this was voted The Best Zoo in America! It is so much fun! It is the perfect sized zoo, and the little tram is right on time. My favorite exhibit is the giraffe. We feed them every time we go!

Cassandra Tomas

Worth checking out if you're in the area! I liked how they included gardens of different types of desert plants too, it's not just animals! The plants of Madagascar were particularly interesting. There's also an HUGE mini train display! I'm not usually into miniature train sets, but this one was spectacular!

Sandee Smith

One of the best places to visit often while in the Palm Desert area. For adults and children! So much more than a zoo...lots to do and see. Lots of walking so bring a stroller for little ones. Adults can enjoy the hiking areas.

guillermo PT

Wonderful experience for the whole family! You can feed the giraffes too! Bring some snacks and walking shoes and also your nice camera because there are a lot of nice places ready to make some new memories! The kids loved it... Awesome staff and people around to help out, thank you so much and keep up the great work guys, we are definitely coming back!!!