You can enjoy an unforgettable experience right here at your Akron Zoo with one of our special Animal Tours! The zoo is currently offering three different types of animal tours to take your visit to the next level including Behind-the-Scenes, Rise and Shine Safari and Get Closers.
We’re not lion about going behind-the-scenes! In our Behind-the-Scenes Lion Tours, you can get an up-close look at our lions’ night yard and discover the dedicated care and conservation efforts that go into ensuring their well-being! This tour offers both education and excitement, from learning about conservation action happening near you, as well as global conservation in Africa. These tours are offered daily June through August, and on weekends in May and September. 
You can learn more about the details of our Behind-the-Scenes lion tours here: Behind-the-Scenes Tours | Akron Zoo.
Are you a morning person? Then our Rise and Shine Safari Tours are right for you! Come travel the zoo with our knowledgeable staff as we prepare to open the park for the day. In this exclusive before-hours access, you will learn how we care for our animals and participate in unique and interactive experiences!
During a Rise and Shine Safari Tour, you will greet our penguin colony and feed them their “rise and shine” fish breakfast! You will also get to see an exclusive training session with our lemur troop that showcases their agility, as well as visiting the habitat of our Red Panda, Lulu. Additionally, you will get to explore our behind-the-scenes lion night yard, and enjoy a private, up-close experience in the Grizzly Bear building. These tours are offered Friday-Monday only. Don’t miss the opportunity to ask our amazing Animal Interpreter guides all of your burning questions! Maybe you’ll learn a fascinating educational fact, like how our penguins protect themselves in the wild, or something a bit sillier, like how Lulu knows her habitat better than anyone else!
You can learn more about the details of our Rise and Shine Safari Tours here: Rise and Shine Safari Tours | Akron Zoo.
It’s time to get closer to our animals than ever before! Our Get Closer Tours are a unique experience offering up-close-and-personal interactive opportunities and the chance to talk one-on-one with a zookeeper.
Get Closer Tours gives you an unforgettable experience with some of our animals. Step into the world of our majestic Pride of Lions by feeding one of these magnificent creatures their favorite treats! In Lion Get Closer, you will view our state-of-the-art lion facility and witness their awe-inspiring power firsthand. There’s nothing like experiencing that roar up close!
You can also make some memories with our favorite brother and sister duo, our Grizzly Bears Jackson and Cheyenne! During this Get Closer you will feed the bears their favorite treats, tour their Grizzly Ridge home, and experience an amazing behind-the-scenes training session. Discover the sibling’s unique favorite snack, and what Cheyenne does to bees she doesn’t like the look of...
Learn about our gentle giants, Galapagos tortoises Pagos and Boxie! During this Galapagos tortoise Get Closer, you will have special access to their habitat and feed them their favorite food! Plus, the special experience of being able to give our girls a nice tortoise rub down makes this an extra unique tour!
You can also interact and have fun with three of our Education Animal Ambassadors. This special Get Closer experience allows you to interact with animals you may not see on a typical day at the zoo! Make memories with Daisy the armadillo, Forest the porcupine, Chloe the kinkajou or several other animals. The tenrecs and the snakes are favorites among our Animal Interpreters!
Don’t miss the chance to pose for a photo with your favorite goat! Learn from our keepers as you interact with the goats during the Goat Get Closer experience. Discover what they like to eat and do and get to know them personally. They’re the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) for a reason!
In our Red Panda Get Closer, you will meet our Red Panda, Lulu, and enjoy a private training session while feeding her some of her favorite snacks! During this experience, you will learn why red pandas are endangered, tour the behind-the-scenes indoor habitat and hear some fun stories about Lulu’s playful personality!
You can learn more about the details of our Get Closer Tours here: 
Get Closer Tours | Akron Zoo.
Whether you’re going Behind-the-Scenes with Lions, waking up early for a Rise and Shine Safari Tour, or Getting Closer with our animals, these special tours are a fun and unique way to learn more about your favorite animals at the Akron Zoo!
Written by Kate Jeffries. Published July 24, 2024.