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Location
Parking
Free parking
Visitor tip
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.
Best time
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.
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.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Location
- Palm Desert, California
- Highlights
- Giraffe feeding, African Safari, Australian Adventures, botanical gardens, hiking trails
- Admission
- $44.95 adults, $34.95 kids (3-17)
What visitors say
Top tier Zoo, 100% recommend! Very well thought out, well funded and well cared for zoo. I couldn't have been more impressed. All the animals suited the climate of the desert which allows you to see them flourish more naturally. Lots…
first time coming here. what a beautiful zoo! it was bigger than i expected so lots of walking. super autism friendly. wasn't crowded at all. lots of places to sit. all the workers we encountered were really nice, friendly, helpful and…
Th living desert zoo & gardens is yet another hidden gem of Southern California. We heard about it for years before finally deciding to check it out for ourselves and I have to say we absolutely loved our visit. We really wish we had…
From 11,294 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens spans over 1,000 acres of native desert ecosystem and has been operating since 1970, making it a 54-year-old regional institution dedicated to desert conservation and education.
- The zoo features an interactive giraffe feeding experience that is consistently mentioned in reviews as a signature attraction, with 525 mentions of 'giraffe feeding' across visitor reviews.
- The facility maintains a diverse collection across multiple geographic regions including African Safari (giraffes, black rhinos, cheetahs, zebras), Australian Adventures (wallabies, budgies, kookaburras), and Wild Americas ecosystems with native desert species.
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