Guided Tours

Payment of tour fees must be received at least 14-days prior to the reservation date. We can accept check or credit card payment. Zoo admission and parking must be purchased through the website at https://www.oaklandzoo.org/tickets, once the date of the tour has been confirmed.

No, docent-led tours are not available on weekends, holidays, or during special events.

At this time, the tour covers only the lower part of the Zoo. California Trail is not included; however, you may explore it on your own, when the tour concludes.

When you arrive at the Zoo, please proceed towards the Lower Entrance where your docent will greet you, check you in, provide an overview of the adventure ahead, and begin your tour. DO NOT drive up the hill to the Main Entrance.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for Docent Tours less than 2 weeks ahead.

On the day of your tour, you may pay for any additional students or adults (to the tour maximums) at the Lower Entrance ticket booth. We can only accept credit card payments.

Zoo Membership does not include the Docent Tour fee, as this program is separate from regular Zoo admission. However, Zoo Members do not have to pay for admission into the zoo if they are part of the paid tour. They may enter the Zoo through the Lower Entrance and check-in with the group.

Docent tours will take place rain or shine. Please make sure everyone is dressed appropriately. Tours will be rescheduled when the zoo is closed during inclement weather conditions for the safety of guests and exhibited animals.

Docent tours are private tours. We do not combine multiple groups together.

Yes, we have a safe location to store a wheelchair and/or walker while you are engaging in the cart tour. Please indicate on the request form how many wheelchairs/walkers need storage.

The tour will be of the Lower Zoo only. We do not currently offer tours of the California Trail. You are welcome to visit the California Trail on your own after the tour has concluded.

Once you register and pay your tour fee, we cannot refund your payment if you cancel; however, if the zoo closes on the day of your scheduled tour—due to inclement weather—your tour fee will be refunded.

We cannot guarantee that you will see animals or procedures in the Veterinary Hospital as the needs of our animals change on a daily basis. The staff/Docents that lead Veterinary Hospital tours do not know which animals are at the Veterinary Hospital on any given day. We do show guests short video snippets of zoo animals undergoing medical exams or procedures.

You will not get to see animals in quarantine as they are housed in a special area of the Veterinary Hospital so that they will not be exposed to any airborne germs. This is both for the animal's protection and the human's protection. You will see a video featuring many of the animals that have been treated at the hospital as part of your tour.

At Oakland Zoo we practice "protected contact" — that means that in most instances, there is a barrier between the animal and the human. This is for the animal's protection and the human's protection. The only animals that guests have the opportunity to touch at Oakland Zoo are the goats and sheep in the Petting Yard. The Petting Yard is located in the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo.

You may be able to meet a veterinarian, or more often, you may have the opportunity to meet another member of the hospital team, however this is not guaranteed as the care of our animals is top priority.

If you will be accompanied by a service dog, please email lcraig@oaklandzoo.org to book a tour.

Services dogs are permitted in certain locations within the Hospital. For the safety of our animals and in accordance with the American’s with Disabilities Act and the health standards governed by the Veterinary Medical Board, USDA and CDFW, all service dogs visiting the Hospital must be under the control of their handler on a 6 ft. or shorter leash, remain quiet, and have no appreciable signs of illness (coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea) within 24 hours. 

Service dogs are not permitted to share any spaces with Zoo patients and as such will be limited to the lobby and hallways, with all treatment areas and the Ward excluded.  If at any time the service dog barks, vocalizes or is not under the aforementioned control, the service dog and its handler will be required to end their tour and asked to leave the hospital.

You are welcome to take photographs of the outside of the Veterinary Hospital. Photographs are not permitted inside the hospital.

Parking and Zoo Admission are paid for separately.  They are not included in the tour fee.

We can accommodate up to 20 participants. Children age 5-17 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, with these adult-to-student ratios: 

TK-K: 1/6

grades 1-8: 1/8 

Grades 9-12: 1/10

The tours can accommodate up to 20 participants.

Food and drink are not allowed inside the hospital.

Please dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers.