Close Encounters of the Wild Kind

About Close Encounters of the Wild Kind

Take a walk on the wild side and experience our animal friends in a new way! Book these ultra-exclusive experiences for your family, your friends, or as a special gift.

Each encounter is unique, with you and your guests being guided by our dedicated and talented staff into a behind-the-scenes area, where you'll have the chance to interact with your favorite animals in a safe and intimate setting.

All Close Encounters Include

$40 per person. General admission is not included with your tour ticket. Zoo admission tickets are required for each tour attendee and must be purchased separately.
Discounts available for multiple encounters.
Zoo members login to receive your membership discount.
All Close Encounter Tours must be reserved and paid for in advance via the website. Some availability for “day of” tours but they must be reserved and paid for before 11 a.m.
All Close Encounter Tours require guests to wear comfortable closed toe shoes. No sandals, crocs, flip-flops, slip-on shoes, or open-heeled shoes are allowed.
Pictures are encouraged and our staff can help as this may be a once in a lifetime experience.
All encounters are approximately 25 - 30 minutes.
Zoo Tours are non-refundable. If it becomes necessary to cancel your tour, please contact Membership Services at [email protected] or call (915) 212-2834. No refunds or rescheduling opportunities will be given for no-call/no-shows.

All encounters can be weather and somewhat animal dependent. The El Paso Zoo reserves the right to cancel these tours. If the Zoo is forced to cancel your encounter, a refund will be issued.
Last time to book a tour is 2:00 p.m. for next day tours.
To be on time for zoo tours, it's crucial to arrive at the El Paso Zoo at least 10-15 minutes before the tour's scheduled start time.
Food Allergy Warning: For your safety, please be aware that participants may be exposed to animal food that could include nuts or seafood.
We kindly ask that if you are sick or immune deficient, please refrain from approaching and attempting to pet the animals.
All guests (including parents and guardians for their minor children) understand, acknowledge and agree that wild animals can be inherently dangerous. Tame animals can also be unpredictable. Participants assume full responsibility for any risk of injury or property damage, while visiting and participating in activities in the zoo.

Close Encounters

Good Morning - Peninsular Pronghorn Experience

Daily 10:00 AM

Join our Zoo Keepers as they go into the pronghorn exhibit as they put out the morning treats and enrichment for these fun and lively zoo residents. Stay inside the exhibit as the herd of female pronghorn are let out into the exhibit for the first time in the morning. Witness their enthusiastic first run in the exhibit and be careful they do not knock you over with cuteness.

Encounter requirements: maximum of eight (8) guests, 5 years and older or carried by adult.
Peninsula Pronghorn Experience adventurers to meet between the bridge and the Ranch House in the Chihuahuan Desert at 9:55 a.m. One of the talented Pronghorn Keepers will come out and guide you through the experience.

Personal Penguin Encounter

Daily 11:00 AM

Meet a couple of our Magellanic Penguins up close and personal. You will have access to a special Penguin Encounter area on the right side of the exhibit. A few penguins will be brought into this area and then they will be free roaming around you and your guests. The door leading to the encounter area will be left open if other penguins want to join they can. Animal keepers will be on hand to answer questions and if the penguins approach you, you might be able to pet them on their back. Without taking a trip to South America, you will never be able to get closer to these fascinating animals.

Encounter requirements; maximum of six (6) guests (children under 12 must be accompanied by adult)
Animal Discovery Tour adventurers to meet next to the bleacher to the right of the large Penguin viewing window at 10:55 a.m.
One of the talented Penguin Keepers will come out and guide the group through the experience.
In order to participate in the Penguin Close encounter, you will have to be wearing long pants as our young penguins tend to peck at the guests' legs.

Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros

Daily 2:00 PM

Meet one of our newest residents up close and personal. Taj is a 5,000 pound male rhino, the first animal in our long-term rhino breeding program. You can have the opportunity to touch, feed and learn more about this fascinating creature.

Encounter requirements; maximum of eight (8) guests, no age limit, must be able to climb up and down a few steps.
Animal Discovery Tour adventurers to meet on the public side on the main Rhino Yard, just past the Asia bridge at 1:50 p.m. One of the talented Rhino Keepers will come out and guide you through the experience.

Coming Soon - Galapagos Tortoise Encounter

Meet our oldest, slowest and wisest residents at the Zoo! Go inside the Galapagos Tortoise exhibit with an animal keeper and learn how these gentle giants have been around for millions of years. You can pet their shells, get a great selfie and if they are hungry give them a snack.

Encounter requirements; maximum of eight (8) guests (children under 12 must be accompanied by adult)
Animal Discovery Tour adventurers to meet next to the Galapagos exhibit at 12:55 p.m. One of the talented Galapagos Keepers will come out and guide the group through the experience.