Behind the Scenes: Giraffes

Come walk on the wild side at the Birmingham Zoo with our Behind the Scenes Encounters!
On these unique experiences, you’ll get an insider’s look at how the Zoo cares for our animals. Encounters are led by a Zoo educator and include a tour of behind-the-scenes animal areas, time with our expert animal care professionals, and a special opportunity to meet animals up close.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration is per person. Encounters accommodate up to 8 people in each date/time. Encounters are not private experiences. If you would like to book a private encounter, please email Education@birminghamzoo.com for pricing and availability.

Online ticket sales end 48 hours in advance of each tour date. Members purchasing tours will receive 25% discount on tour registrations. Members must select “member rate” and be logged to receive discounted rates. Anyone not covered by a current membership (i.e. tour reservations purchased by non-members or by members as gifts or for additional individuals not on their membership) must purchase registration + general admission options.

Members:

  • BTS Encounter Member Rate - $60
  • BTS Encounter Member Rate + Adult General Admission: $74.96 ($60 + $14.96)
  • BTS Encounter Member Rate + Senior General Admission: $72.71 ($60 + $12.71)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Child General Admission: $71.21 ($60 + $11.21)

Non-members:

  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Adult General Admission: $99.95 ($80 + $19.95)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate Senior General Admission: $96.95 ($80 + $16.95)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Child General Admission: $94.95 ($80 + $14.95)

 

POLICIES & RULES

  • AGE: Guests 5 years old and older are welcome on most Encounters. Additional age restrictions are noted in each experience description, if applicable. Guests 12 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult. 
  • ACCESSIBILITY: All Behind the Scenes Encounters enter working areas of the Zoo that may not be wheelchair accessible. Service animals are not permitted to enter behind the scenes areas or animal habitats. Modifications for accessibility can be accommodated. Please contact us with accommodation requests at least 48 hours prior to your program to help us build the best possible experience.
  • SAFETY: For the safety of our staff and animals, all participants must wear closed-toe shoes in animal areas.
  • CANCELLATION: Behind the Scenes Encounter purchases are non-refundable. Requests to reschedule experiences must be received at least 48 hours in advance and are subject to availability. Encounters missed without prior notification will not be rescheduled. Any program involving animals is subject to change or cancellation by the Zoo based on animal or human safety considerations, including severe weather. Every effort will be made to offer alternate areas or reschedule tours. 
  • WAIVER: All participants must complete a liability waiver prior to the encounter. Parent/guardian signatures will be required for all participants 18 and under.
  • CONDUCT: Participants will enter working areas of the Zoo and be in close proximity to Zoo animals. Participants must follow instructions from Zoo staff at all times. Participants who are disruptive and/or do not follow staff instructions may be removed from the encounter without a refund.  
 
 
 
 

++ VR Experience ++

 

 

VR Member - MPOS

Passionate about Primates Old

Ride Wristband

Enjoy the Protective Life Carousel and Red Diamond Express Train as many times as you like on the day of your visit!

Rides are open and operating Wednesday through Sunday from 10am until 3pm, weather permitting.

  • One wristband per person, ages 2 years and up.
  • Ride wristbands are for daytime operation only and are not valid for special events, such as Hoots and Howls.
  • Children under 2 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult on the train and carousel.
  • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone on the train.
  • Full Moon Wild Slide and Splash Pads are closed
  • Last Ride time is fifteen (15) minutes before the Zoo close

PLEASE NOTE  Ride tickets and wristbands are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after purchase date. Zoo Discounts for rides cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers

 RIDE TICKETS purchase HERE.

 

Homeschool

Private Group Zoo Snooze

REGISTRATION INFORMATION 

Registration is per person. Zoo Snoozes accommodate up to 60 people. Please, email Education@birminghamzoo.com for pricing and availability.

Online registration ends 72 hours in advance of each Zoo Snooze program. Registration includes space outdoors for sleeping,* tour and education activities, breakfast, and admission to the Zoo on the second day of the Snooze. Participants will have access to public restrooms throughout the program.

*Tents, sleeping bags, etc. are not provided.  A limited number of tents are available to rent for a fee and must be booked at the time of registration.

  • Zoo Snooze Group Rate – $65 per person*

     

POLICIES & RULES

  • ACCESSIBILITY:Some of our programs enter areas of the Zoo that may not be wheelchair accessible. Modifications for accessibility can be accommodated. Please contact us with accommodation requests at least 48 hours prior to your program to help us build the best possible experience.
  • CANCELLATION:Program registration fees are non-refundable. Requests to reschedule experiences must be received at least two weeks in advance and are subject to availability. Programs missed without prior notification will not be rescheduled. Any program involving animals is subject to change or cancellation by the Zoo based on animal or human safety considerations, including severe weather. Every effort will be made to offer alternate areas or reschedule programs.
  • WAIVER: All participants must complete a liability waiver prior to the encounter. Parent/guardian signatures will be required for all participants 18 and under.
  • CONDUCT: Participants may working areas of the Zoo and be in close proximity to Zoo animals. Participants must follow instructions from Zoo staff at all times. Participants who are disruptive and/or do not follow staff instructions may be removed from the program without a refund.

Questions and Reservations

If you have questions about our Zoo Snooze program, our Education Department is here to help!

Please contact us at 205-909-4558 or by email at education@birminghamzoo.com

Behind the Scenes: Elephants

Come walk on the wild side at the Birmingham Zoo with our Behind the Scenes Encounters!
On these unique experiences, you’ll get an insider’s look at how the Zoo cares for our animals. Encounters are led by a Zoo educator and include a tour of behind-the-scenes animal areas, time with our expert animal care professionals, and a special opportunity to meet animals up close.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration is per person. Encounters accommodate up to 8 people in each date/time. Encounters are not private experiences. If you would like to book a private encounter, please email Education@birminghamzoo.com for pricing and availability.

Online ticket sales end 48 hours in advance of each tour date. Members purchasing tours will receive 25% discount on tour registrations. Members must select “member rate” and be logged to receive discounted rates. Anyone not covered by a current membership (i.e. tour reservations purchased by non-members or by members as gifts or for additional individuals not on their membership) must purchase registration + general admission options.

Members:

  • BTS Encounter Member Rate - $60
  • BTS Encounter Member Rate + Adult General Admission: $74.96 ($60 + $14.96)
  • BTS Encounter Member Rate + Senior General Admission: $72.71 ($60 + $12.71)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Child General Admission: $71.21 ($60 + $11.21)

Non-members:

  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Adult General Admission: $99.95 ($80 + $19.95)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate Senior General Admission: $96.95 ($80 + $16.95)
  • BTS Encounter Non-Member Rate + Child General Admission: $94.95 ($80 + $14.95)

 

POLICIES & RULES

  • AGE: Guests 5 years old and older are welcome on most Encounters. Additional age restrictions are noted in each experience description, if applicable. Guests 12 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult. 
  • ACCESSIBILITY: All Behind the Scenes Encounters enter working areas of the Zoo that may not be wheelchair accessible. Service animals are not permitted to enter behind the scenes areas or animal habitats. Modifications for accessibility can be accommodated. Please contact us with accommodation requests at least 48 hours prior to your program to help us build the best possible experience.
  • SAFETY: For the safety of our staff and animals, all participants must wear closed-toe shoes in animal areas.
  • CANCELLATION: Behind the Scenes Encounter purchases are non-refundable. Requests to reschedule experiences must be received at least 48 hours in advance and are subject to availability. Encounters missed without prior notification will not be rescheduled. Any program involving animals is subject to change or cancellation by the Zoo based on animal or human safety considerations, including severe weather. Every effort will be made to offer alternate areas or reschedule tours. 
  • WAIVER: All participants must complete a liability waiver prior to the encounter. Parent/guardian signatures will be required for all participants 18 and under.
  • CONDUCT: Participants will enter working areas of the Zoo and be in close proximity to Zoo animals. Participants must follow instructions from Zoo staff at all times. Participants who are disruptive and/or do not follow staff instructions may be removed from the encounter without a refund.  

Ride Tickets

 

Enjoy one (1) ride on the Protective Life Carousel or Red Diamond Express Train!

Rides are open and operating Wednesday through Sunday from 10am until 3pm, weather permitting.

  • Ride tickets are for daytime operation only and are not valid for special events.
  • One ticket per person per ride, ages 2 years and up.
  • Children under 2 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult on the train and carousel.
  • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone on the train.
  • Full Moon Wild Slide and Splash Pads are CLOSED
  • Last Ride time is fifteen (15) minutes before the Zoo closes

PLEASE NOTE  Ride tickets are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after purchase date. Zoo Discounts for rides cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers.

 

All Adventure

*Can be purchased only on weekends, Saturday & Sunday with special holiday purchase on Labor Day - Monday, September 2.

Enjoy the Protective Life Carousel, Red Diamond Express Train, or Full Moon Bar-B-Que Wild Slide as many times as you like on the day of your visit PLUS one giraffe feeding and one lorikeet feeding!

DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TO THE BIRMINGHAM ZOO One wristband per person, ages 2 years and up. All adventure wristbands are for daytime operation only and are not valid for special events, such as Boo at the Zoo.

*Guests must be 4 years and 40 inches tall to ride the Wild Slide. All slide riders must have a ticket or wristband. Wild Slide is weather dependent.

*Children under 2 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult on the train and carousel.  Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone on the train.  

*All guests age 3 and up must have a ticket to enter the giraffe feeding platform.

*Lorikeet aviary is free to enter, but All Adventure ticket will allow ticket holder to receive one nectar cup for feeding the birds.

General Admission

 

 

Tickets are required for all guests and Zoo Members whether purchased online or at the gate

 

    • Tickets may take up to thirty (30) minutes to be delivered to inbox.
    • Last entry into the Zoo stops one (1) hour before closing.

Member Tickets Zoo Members receive free admission into the Zoo and can reserve their ticket(s) online before visiting.

  • Sign-in at the top-right of the ticketing page to access and reserve ticket(s)
    • Once signed in, add the member-type ticket you need (Member Adult/Member Child).
    • Please Note: Only add the number of member-type tickets to your order based on how many people are on your membership. You may also purchase up to six (6) discounted non-member tickets for guests with your 25% Member discount. 
    • Proceed to checkout, and the sum will discount to zero ($0) at order preview before you confirm and enter your credit card information.
    • Please contact membership@birminghamzoo.com if you do not see your discounts or are prompted to enter credit card information on a members-only order.
  • Purchase or renew a Zoo Membership HERE

 

Rides & Animal Encounter ticket information - click HERE

 

Admission tickets are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after the purchase date. Zoo Discounts cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers. Reciprocal Zoo discounts are available onsite at the ticket booth. With proper ID Military, First Responder, and College Student discounts available with onsite ticket purchase only.

 

Volunteer Extra Uniforms

This is the payment link for our Gildan Softstyle Birmingham Zoo Volunteer Uniform T-Shirt (one is included with onboarding fees). Only active volunteers are eligible to purchase.

Please follow up by emailing volunteers@birminghamzoo.com with your preferred shirt size and quantity of shirts ordered.  

Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration

Click HERE to Purchase ticket to the FINAL WEEKEND (Including Monday Jan. 16th - The Final Night) of Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration

Pick an event date and time to purchase a ticket.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

  • Glow Wild is a weather-dependent event with nights being subject to cancellation.
  • Please be aware that as a night event, our Zoo animals will not be viewable during Glow Wild.
  • Online ticket sales stop at 4:00 pm day of event. Onsite tickets stop at 8:00 pm.
  • Entry into the event stops at 8:00 pm.
  • Glow Wild ends at 9:00 pm.
  • Please allow yourself one hour and a half (90-minutes) to fully experience Glow Wild and more time if riding the train and/or carousel.
  • Glow Wild tickets are timed and issued in 30-minute intervals. 
  • Timed ticketing applies to the date and time you will enter the Zoo - guests can stay inside the Zoo and enjoy Glow Wild for longer than 30-minutes.
  • Tickets purchased onsite at the gate are available as space allows throughout the night.

 

PRICING

  • Purchase event tickets online before your visit to avoid long lines at the ticket booths and to obtain discounted pricing.
  • Ticket prices vary depending on peak and non-peak nights.
  • Admission tickets are non-refundable but are date and time transferable. Email reply to the payment receipt you received after ticket purchase to request date and time transfer.
  • Zoo Discounts cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers.
  • Prices listed do not show taxes included.

 

Non-Member/General

Online Tickets/Pre-purchased

  • Wednesday & Thursday 
    • Adult  $18.95
    • Child (ages 2-12)  $11.95
    • Non-Peak Nights
  • Friday - Sunday
    • Adult  $21.95
    • Child (ages 2-12)  $13.95
    • Peak Nights
    •  
  • Monday, January 16
    • Adult  $18.95
    • Child (ages 2-12) $11.95
    • Last Night and Non-Peak Night

Onsite Tickets/Purchased at the Gate

    • Tickets purchased onsite at the gate are higher in price than online tickets.
    • Wednesday - Sunday (and Jan. 16)
      • Adult  $23.95
      • Child (ages 2-12)  $14.95

 

Member

  • Member Discounted Timed Ticket
  • Members receive a discount on Glow Wild admission tickets
    • Sign-in at the top-right of the ticketing page to access discounted pricing.
    • Once signed in, pick an event date and time to purchase discounted timed ticket.
    • Add the Member type ticket you need (Member Adult/Member Child).
    • Please Note: Only add the number of tickets to your order based on how many people are on your membership. For example, if you have four people (adult/child) on your membership but add six tickets to your order, only four tickets will be discounted and the other two will be regular price.
    • You must proceed to checkout, and the sum will show a discount at order preview before you confirm payment.
  • Family Plus wristbands may be picked up upon entry.
  •  

Online Tickets/Pre-purchased

  • Wednesday & Thursday 
    • Member Adult  $13.95
    • Member Child (ages 2-12) $8.95
    • Non-Peak Nights
  • Friday - Sunday
    • Member Adult  $16.95
    • Child (ages 2-12) $10.95
    • Peak Nights
    •  
  • Monday, January 16
    • Member Adult  $13.95
    • Member Child (ages 2-12) $8.95
    • Last Night and Non-Peak Night

Onsite Tickets/Purchased at the Gate

  • Tickets purchased onsite at the gate are higher in price than online tickets.
    • Wednesday - Sunday (and Jan. 16)
    • Adult  $18.95
    • Child (ages 2-12) $11.95

 

 

TRAIN or CAROUSEL single tickets are $3.95 plus tax for ONE (1) RIDE and are sold onsite at each ride location.

  • Guests cannot purchase ride tickets at the front gate or online. 
  • One (1) ticket per person, per ride, for ages 2 years and up.
  • Purchase Train tickets onsite at the token machine (credit card only) or the Train Depot and Carousel tickets onsite at the Nourish205 restaurant walk-up window.

 

 

 

VIP Elephant BTS

POLICIES & RULES

  • AGE: Guests 5 years old and older are welcome on most Encounters. Additional age restrictions are noted in each experience description, if applicable. Guests 12 years of age and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
  • ACCESSIBILITY: All Behind the Scenes Encounters enter working areas of the Zoo that may not be wheelchair accessible. Service animals are not permitted to enter behind the scenes areas or animal habitats. Modifications for accessibility can be accommodated. Please contact us with accommodation requests at least 48 hours prior to your program to help us build the best possible experience.
  • SAFETY: For the safety of our staff and animals, all participants must wear closed-toe shoes in animal areas. Some animal areas may require a surgical mask before entrance. Masks will be provided if needed
  • CANCELLATION: Behind the Scenes Encounter purchases are non-refundable. Requests to reschedule experiences must be received at least 48 hours in advance and are subject to availability. Encounters missed without prior notification will not be rescheduled. Any program involving animals is subject to change or cancellation by the Zoo based on animal or human safety considerations, including severe weather. Every effort will be made to offer alternate areas or reschedule tours.
  • WAIVER: All participants must complete a liability waiver prior to the encounter. Parent/guardian signatures will be required for all participants 18 and under.
  • CONDUCT: Participants will enter working areas of the Zoo and be in close proximity to Zoo animals. Participants must follow instructions from Zoo staff at all times. Participants who are disruptive and/or do not follow staff instructions may be removed from the encounter without a refund.

If you have any questions, please contact our Education department at education@birminghamzoo.com or by calling 205.397.3877