The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
Seasonal Hours
October 1 – May 31, Open Daily from 8:00am – 5:00pm
Last admission at 4:00pm, Closed December 25th
Summer hours
June 1 – September 30, Open Daily from 7:00am – 1:30pm
Last admission at 12:30pm
What started 50 years ago as an idea to preserve some raw desert land as the surrounding area developed into a resort has become a world-class zoo. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in nearby Palm Desert offers a chance to see the flora and fauna of the desert and gain some insight into ecosystems from deserts around the globe.
The compact zoo also features a variety of animals from North America and Africa, including camels, coyotes, wolves, foxes, badgers, mountain lions, raptors, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, leopards, gazelle, and many other species.
The morning is generally the best time to visit, when the animals are still active before the heat sets in. Check the zoo's daily schedule to find out about guided nature walks, wildlife shows, and animal feeding times.
A highlight is to participate in the daily giraffe feeding. Guests can feed their herd of giraffes from a tower. It's done in the mornings during the summer and all day during the other months. You can also interact with the zoo's camels, working with keepers on feeding, grooming, or training them.