Zoo Tours
There are so many ways to experience the Zoo! Embark on an exclusive Zoo tour, or discover our all new VIP Golf Cart ZUUber Tours.
Insider Tours
Join a zoo professional for this special experience and discover fun insider knowledge that only zoo staff can provide. You will first explore our newest exhibit, The Faces of the Rainforest. Between the playful monkeys and the giant river otters, there is always lots of action! From there, your private safari will continue through World of Adaptations, Marco Polo Trail and North America. After that, pack your trunks and venture to the Textron Elephant & Giraffe Pavilion to catch a glimpse of the world’s largest and tallest land animals! Before departing, visitors will swing by the Alex and Ani Farmyard for an encounter with our beloved goats. All along the way your personal guide will be there to answer your questions and share stories from across our zoo’s rich history and fun animal facts. Like, did you know our oldest resident is 170 years old! Tour groups will be limited to a single booking capped at 10 individuals. Other groups will not be combined with yours.
Insider Tour Options:
Tour a portion of the zoo with your own personal guide at the end of the zoo day.
Date Availability:
- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 4:00 or 4:10. Please call for availability
Cost:
- Members: $120 for the first two people and $30 for every additional person (max of 10)*
- Non-Members: $130 for the first two people and $35 for every additional person (max of 10)*
- *Guests under the age of two are admitted free of charge
Duration: 1.5 hours
Please note: Not all animals will be visible and species availability can change daily depending on their needs and weather forecasts. We cannot guarantee any specific animal will be viewable on the tour. All tours are rain or shine, except for instances of severe weather or lightning.
To book or for more information, contact us at programs@rwpzoo.org or (401)-785-3510 ext. 358
Book our popular RWPZ Insider tour experience for a private after-hours guided tour that includes visits to our state-of-the-art rainforest exhibit our World of Adaptations building a goat encounter and more! After your Insider Tour concludes, say goodbye to your guide and skip the line as you enjoy VIP access to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and the thousands of expertly carved pumpkins, dazzling displays and dramatic storytelling. More information on the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular can be found here: www.rwpzoo.org/jols
Date Availability: Keep a lookout for 2023 dates!
* This package includes the RWPZ Insider Tour AND access to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, guests under the age of one are admitted free of charge.
Duration: 2 hours + Access to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
Please note: Not all animals will be visible and species availability can change daily depending on their needs and weather forecasts. We cannot guarantee any specific animal will be viewable on the tour. All tours are rain or shine, except for instances of severe weather or lightning.
To book or for more information, contact us at programs@rwpzoo.org or (401)-785-3510 ext. 358
Book our popular RWPZ Insider Tour experience for a private after-hours guided tour that includes visits to our state-of-the-art rainforest exhibit our World of Adaptations building a goat encounter and more! After your Insider Tour concludes, say goodbye to your guide and explore our Holiday Lights Spectacular. More information on the Holiday Lights Spectacular can be found here: www.rwpzoo.org/holidaylights
Date Availability: Keep a lookout for 2023 dates!
* This package includes the RWPZ Insider Tour AND admissions to the Holiday Lights Spectacular. Guests under the age of one are admitted free of charge.
Duration: 1.5 hour tour + Access to the Holiday Lights Spectacular
Please note: Not all animals will be visible and species availability can change daily depending on their needs and weather forecasts. We cannot guarantee any specific animal will be viewable on the tour. All tours are rain or shine, except for instances of severe weather or lightning.
To book or for more information, contact us at programs@rwpzoo.org or (401)-785-3510 ext. 358.
NEW! VIP Golf Cart ZUUber Tours
You’ve seen our keepers driving golf carts around the zoo and now its your chance to see the zoo from this rolling perspective! Ride in style with your very own professional guide on this all-new riding tour! Guests will be chauffeured around the zoo stopping at various exhibits along the way. Guests can expect the following during their tour:
- Professional knowledgeable guide throughout your entire visit answering all your questions about the zoo and our resident animals.
- Private access to Faces of the Rainforest, World of Adaptations, The Textron Elephant and Giraffe Pavilion, and many other outdoor exhibits.
- A Behind-The-Scenes Tour of our Animal Ambassadors Facility where you could end up meeting an Armadillo, a tortoise, a snake, a porcupine or even a red-tailed hawk! *
*We cannot guarantee that any specific animal will be present or available during our tour time. Special considerations will be made for participants that are pregnant, immunocompromised or are under the age of 5.
PLEASE NOTE: This seasonal experience is currently only being offered Tuesdays and Wednesdays in March 2023. To guarantee availability, we recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance of your desired tour date. All participants must be at least 2 years old to attend. All children must be accompanied by a paid adult and one adult must be present for every two children under the age of 11. Strollers cannot be accommodated.
5-seater VIP Golf Cart ZUUber Tour
Accommodates tour guide and up to 5 attendees. Tours are priced per cart, not per person.
Member Pricing: $350.00/cart with up to five participants
Non-Member Pricing: $427.00/cart with up to five participants
Time: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
3-seater VIP Golf Cart ZUUber Tour
Accommodates tour guide and up to 3 attendees. Tours are priced per cart, not per person.
Member Pricing: $230.00/cart with up to 3 attendees
Non-Member Pricing: $270.00/ cart with up to 3 attendees
Time: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
FAQ's
No, at this time are Golf Cart tour guests must be able to safely fit on the provided transport. The registering party is responsible for ensuring that they bring no more than the permitted number of guests and that they meet all age and child/adult ratio requirements. Check out our Insider Tours as an option for larger groups.
No. This special private experience is priced per cart not per person. The registering party is responsible for ensuring that they bring no more than the permitted number of guests and that they meet all age and child/adult ratio requirements.
Yes! This experience provides private access to the zoo when it is closed and even includes a behind-the-scenes visit to our Ambassador Animals. You will meet with one of our Animal Ambassador Specialists who will introduce you to some of the animals and how they work with them every day.
Animal Ambassadors are the animals that are frequently seen with our interpretive team and trained docents during a visit to the zoo. These animals have also made appearances on “The Rhode Show” “PBS”, and other television programs. They also travel outside of the zoo to inspire scouts and school children all over New England. Animal Ambassadors include: Armadillo, Duck, Chicken, Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine, Rabbit, Skunk, Hedgehog, Tenrec Macaw, Turtle, Snake, Hornbill, Red-Tailed Hawk, Frog, Salamander, Skink, Tegu and more! Because these animals have already busy schedules including regular visits to their doctor, we cannot guarantee that any specific animal will be available during your tour.
Because the zoo is closed to the public on the day of your visit, the Discover the Wild Gift Shop and our concessions will be closed for the day. We recommend you have lunch prior to arriving for your tour.
Tours are rain or shine; you should dress for the weather as the cart is open-air. Closed toe shoes are required, and comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged.
Maybe! This is your experience, so every effort will be made to prioritize specific exhibits that are of interest to you. We will for sure be visiting Faces of the Rainforest, World of Adaptations, The Textron Elephant and Giraffe Pavilion, and the Alex and Ani Farmyard! The touring carts cannot access the Marco Polo region’s boardwalks, but we can access that area with a short walk. Your guide will prioritize exhibits based on your interests.
Yes! We will see animals on your tour, especially in our Rainforest and Adaptations buildings as well as during your behind-the-scenes Animal Ambassador visit! Each species in an outdoor exhibit has their own restrictions regarding outdoor access that are dependent on temperature, weather, and other wellbeing factors. As always, animals that do have outdoor access have the option to be inside if they choose, so who and what we see will be different every time!
Cancellations made at least 2 weeks in advance of your original tour date are eligible for a full refund.
Cancellation requests made less than 2 weeks in advance of your originally scheduled tour date are not eligible for a refund unless the experience is cancelled by the zoo.
Cancellation and date change requests made at least 2-weeks in advance of your original tour date will be considered with a $100 administrative fee.
Cancellation and date change requests made less than 2-weeks in advance of your originally scheduled tour date cannot be considered and are not eligible for a refund unless the experience is cancelled by the zoo.
Yes, well, probably! Weather permitting, you will have an opportunity to visit with and feed our herd of goats at the Alex and Ani Farmyard. This experience also includes a separate behind-the scenes-tour with our animal ambassadors. Touch opportunities are never guaranteed and are not available for every animal.
There will be some walking as guests will be disembarking from the golf cart to explore each of the indoor exhibits. Other exhibits around the zoo may also require short bits of walking for optimal animal viewing. Please contact us if you have specific accessibility questions or needs, we may be able to address before booking your tour.
We ask that any guests that feel unwell or have any symptoms of COVID-19 (including cough, fever, or shortness of breath), they kindly stay home.