Animal Encounters
Creating Connections Between People and Amazing Animals
Ever dreamed of lounging with a lemur or cuddling with a coatimundi? You don’t have to go far to interact with exotic animals around Missouri! From the scaly and slithery to furry friends, Wild Animal Safari animal encounters educate, engage and create memorable moments between people and animals.
Our up close encounters inspire participants to take a lifelong interest in conservation and the natural world. But they’re also just plain fun! A perfect opportunity for animal lovers, nature enthusiasts and adventurers.
Choose an Animal Encouter
Ages 10+
Coatimundi Encounter
$20 per person
Get up close with a coatimundi! Relatives of raccoons, Coatimundis, or coatis for short, are unique mammals native to Central and South America. They are known to be quite curious and mischievous. With this experience you'll get to interact with our coati while learning about her behavior, natural habitat, conservation efforts, and how we care for her at the zoo!
Animal Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours in advance
Encounter Size Limit: 4 people per time slot.
BOOK NOW or Call 417-859-5300
Ages 10+
Lemur Encounter
$20 per person
Get up close with a ring-tailed lemur! Living naturally only on the island of Madagascar, lemurs are among some of the world's most endangered species. With this encounter, you will meet and feed one of our lemurs while one of our experienced animal keepers teaches you about their behavior, habitat, conservation efforts and what you can do to help save this species from extinction in the wild.
Animal Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Encounter Size Limit: 4 people per time slot.
BOOK NOW or Call 417-859-5300
Ages 5+
Giraffe Encounter
$20 per person
Get up close to the world's tallest land mammal! With this encounter, you will meet and feed one of our giraffes while one of our experienced animal keepers teaches you about their behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts.
Animal Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Encounter Size Limit: 4 people per time slot.
BOOK NOW or Call 417-859-5300
Ages 5+
Sloth Encounter
$20 per person
Get up close with a Sloth while one of our zookeepers teaches you about sloth behavior, habitat, and how we care for them at the zoo!
Animal Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Encounter Size Limit: 4 people per time slot.
BOOK NOW or Call 417-859-5300
Ages 5+
Reptile Encounter
$20 per person
What makes a reptile a reptile? Check out our reptile encounter to find out! With this unique experience, you'll meet three of our favorite reptile species and learn about each one. Our up close wildlife experiences create lasting memories and inspire students to take an interest in the natural world.
Animal Encounters must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Encounter Size Limit: 4 people per time slot.
BOOK NOW or Call 417-859-5300
You’ll get to…
Interact with an Animal
Get closer to wild animals than you ever dreamed!
Learn with an Expert
Hear from zookeepers on habitats, feeding, conservation and more.
Take a picture
Bring home a long-lasting memory and a picture to share the moment.