About The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

Native species & animals since 1970. Over 1,000 acres of desert ecosystem featuring a bighorn sheep enclosure & small animal exhibits.

💬 What Parents Say

• 💡Plan for significantly more walking than expected and consider the giraffe feeding experience as a must-do highlight. Visitors consistently praise the interactive giraffe feeding as a memorable, lifetime-worthy experience despite the additional fee—arrive early to participate before afternoon crowds.
• 🕐Visit during October 1 - May 31 when the zoo operates full hours (8am-5pm). Summer hours (7am-1:30pm, June-September) are dramatically shortened due to desert heat, limiting your visit window significantly.
• 💡The annual membership pays for itself quickly—it costs only slightly more than a single day visit and includes 2 additional free guest passes plus discounts on food and souvenirs. You can upgrade from a day pass to annual membership on-site.
• 💡Bring a wagon or stroller for young children—the zoo is larger than expected with extensive walking, and reviews highlight it's very family-friendly with plenty of seating areas, a splash pad, and carousel. You're allowed to bring your own snacks and wagons.
• 💡Attend the daily Keeper Connections programming and Wildlife Safari Connection presentations at Safari Stage to deepen your understanding of the animals and their desert habitats—these educational talks are included with admission and enhance the experience beyond casual viewing.

Hours