Take advantage of these tips whether you visit CMZoo weekly or are preparing to visit for the first time.
Most Likely Animal SightingsOmo, our one-year-old Nile hippo, Zambezi, has dinner around 4 p.m. with his mother. Omo is most likely to be seen on land in the afternoon.
Did you know that you can almost always see our African penguins at the beach as soon as the Zoo opens? Every day around 9:30 a.m., they have their fish breakfast on the beach.
Our African elephants enjoy a nice afternoon swim. In the summertime and early autumn, elephants will often head to their pool when it rains. Usually, you will also hear them play the trumpet!
The Mexican wolf pack is elusive and can be hard to find in its vast habitat. It usually eats a midday meal at 11 a.m., which its keepers set up in front of the yard. This gives guests a chance to get a close look at these critically endangered animals.
Atka, the Alaska moose that we have, can often be found relaxing by his pond early in the afternoon. He appears to be enjoying a midday snack, as the vegetation is abundant around his pond at this time of year.
Guaranteed Animal Sightings
Did you know that there is a daily schedule for keeper talks, feeding opportunities and animal demonstrations? The daily schedule of presentations can range from grizzly to great apes. You can check the schedule by clicking on “Plan Your Visit For Another Day”.
Pro Tips
Admission prices are reduced for entry between noon and 1:30 pm, with even greater reductions for entry after 2 pm. Did you know that our ticket prices can vary depending on what time of day you visit, the day of the week you choose and the season you choose? Visit our pricing schedule at. You can purchase advance tickets at
We sometimes have to close the Sky Ride earlier than usual due to afternoon showers. To get the best views of the city, you can ride the Mountaineer Sky Ride as early as possible in the morning.
Do not waste your snow day. We recommend that you spend your snow day in an enchanting winter wonderland as long as it is safe to travel there. We get more snow up on Cheyenne Mountain than anywhere else in the city. It makes the setting more magical. Get bundled up, grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea at The Cozy Goat espresso bar, then head to Rocky Mountain Wild or Asian Highlands. See how the animals from colder climates react to the snow. Then, you can warm up at The Loft or Scutes Gallery before visiting the elephants and Giraffes in their barn. Remember that guests can feed the world-famous Giraffe Herd any day of the week, inside or outside, for just $3 per bundle or $5 for 2.
Are you familiar with our “Frequent Feeder” cards, which are good for 10 bundles of lettuce? You can buy a punch card for $20 that will allow you to purchase 10 bundles of lettuce. These cards can be bought at Admissions during check-in or at the lettuce stand in African Rift Valley. After you’ve redeemed your feeding punches, the card will be valid for a 20 per cent discount at Thundergod Gift Shop or Grizzly Grill.
Our guests who can’t get over our carousel will also receive a ‘Frequent Rider Card’! This country fair carousel, one of only a few structures left from the “original” Zoo in Chicago, features 20 horses jumping in two rows with two stationary chariots. It has been spinning Zoo guests since 1937. Ten rides are available for $15. Here, you can find out more about the seasonal operating hours and learn more about our carousel. Buy punch cards for the carousel and admissions.
