Daily Activities

Please read carefully before planning your visit.

Regular Zoo Hours

Days Wednesday – Sunday

Time 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

• Birmingham Zoo is closed Monday and Tuesday
• Entry into the Zoo stops thirty (30) minutes before closing
• Holidays observed
  • Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the Zoo will be CLOSED
  • Christmas Eve EARLY CLOSING at 1:00 pm on Thursday, December 23, 2021
  • Christmas Day on Friday, December 24, 2021, the Zoo will be CLOSED
• Early Closing Dates and Times
  • Thursday, December 23 at 1:00 pm

Rides & Attractions

Red Diamond Express Train

Protective Life Carousel

• Weather Dependent
• OPEN  Wednesday – Sunday
• Time  10:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Cost Single tickets are $3.95 (plus tax) for ONE (1) RIDE, per person.
• Tickets  Sold and purchased onsite at each ride location ONLY.
  • Guests cannot purchase ride tickets at the front gate nor online.
  • Unlimited Ride Wristbands are not available for purchase.
  • One (1) ticket per person, per ride, for ages 2 years and up

• Family Plus Member Ride Wristbands cannot be reserved online
  • FPM wristbands but will be available onsite at the Zoo when you arrive.
  • Show Member card to receive wristbands onsite.

• Ride tickets are for daytime operation only and are not valid for special events.
  • One ticket per person per ride, ages 2 years and up.
  • Children under 2 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult on the train and carousel.
  • Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult chaperone on the train.
• Limited Capacity & Cleaning
  • The train and carousel will be operating at limited capacity to ensure riders are at safe distance from one another.
  • In addition, the train and carousel will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned after each ride.
• PLEASE NOTE
  • Ride tickets are non-refundable but are date-transferable up to one year after the purchase date.
  • Zoo Discounts for rides cannot be combined with any additional coupons, specials, or offers.

Splash Pads

• Weather Dependent
• OPEN  Wednesday – Sunday
• Time  9:00 am – 4:45 pm
  • No additional cost – Included with the general admission for the day

Animal Encounters & Experiences 

• Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter & Feedings
  • Weather Dependent 
  • OPEN Saturday & Sunday ONLY
  • Time  10:0 0am – 12:00 pm OR until sold out
  • Cost  $3.95 (plus tax) per person entering the platform
  • Tickets  Sold and purchased onsite at the Giraffe Encounter Outpost Gift Shop ONLY
    • Guests cannot purchase feeding tickets online nor at the front gate
    • Face Masks  All visitors are required to wear face masks on the giraffe platform and to participate in giraffe feedings.

• MyEyeDr. Lorikeet Feedings & Aviary
  • Weather Dependent 
  • OPEN  Saturday & Sunday ONLY
  • Time  10:00 am – 3:00 pm
  • Cost  $3.95 (plus tax) per feeder (not per person)
  • Tickets  Sold and purchased onsite at the MyEyeDr. Lorikeet Aviary  Tiki Hut Gift Shop ONLY
    • Guests cannot purchase feeding tickets online nor at the front gate

• Goat Walk
  • Weather Dependent 
  • Wednesday – Sunday
  • Time  9:30 am
  • Included with the price of daily admission and Members receive free daily admission
  • The Goat Walk is an exciting experience and enrichment activity/exercise for our goats and is not interactive for guests, but is viewable from the walking paths around Alabama Wilds. Please note, the route of the goat walk varies and goats may be walked through certain areas restricted to guests.

Gift Shops

• Front Entrance Gift Shop
  • Open  Wednesday-Sunday
  • Time  9:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Tiki Hut at Lorikeet Aviary
  • Open  during lorikeet feeding operating hours
  • Time  10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Giraffe Outpost
  • Open  during giraffe feeding operating hours
  • Time  10:00 am – 12:00 pm (or later)
• Online Gift Shop click HERE to visit

Food & Beverage

• Wild Burger outdoor dining in Trails of Africa
  • Open  Friday – Sunday
  • Time  10:30 am – 4:00 pm
  • Menu  click HERE
• Nourish 205 in Children’s Zoo – outside dining, walk-up window, and indoor dining area
  • Open  Wednesday – Sunday
  • Time  9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Menu  click HERE
• Side Track concessions stand at the Train Depot
• TouCantina Bar & Funnel Cakes on Henley Lawn in front of the flamingo habitat
• Plaza Lemonade & Popcorn at the front entrance under the breezeway
• Dippin’Dots  Predator and Elephant areas
• Lemonade Stand  Trails of Africa

Outdoor Areas

• Henley Park Lawn
• Nature Play area on Henley Park Lawn

CLOSED Areas & Attractions

• Zoo Grounds and a majority of buildings/indoor animal areas are open, but some playgrounds, Full Moon Wild Slide are CLOSED
• Animal Experiences & Encounters including wildlife shows and demonstrations have been postponed

Rides & Attractions

• Full Moon Wild Slide

Buildings & Areas

• Trails of Africa Playground

Encounters & Experiences 

• Camel Rides
• Predator Zone Lion Training
• Sea Lion Show
• Wildlife Show
• Flamingo Feeding
• Ambassador Animals (Mammals)
• Chipangali Research Station

Health & Safety Protocols

Face Masks

• Face Masks are strongly encouraged to be properly worn inside buildings and outside when social distancing cannot be maintained. 
• All Guests & Members to the Birmingham Zoo are strongly encouraged to wear face masks for the protection of other animals, staff, volunteers, and guests.
• Zoo Staff are required to wear face masks around animals and to maintain other heightened safety protocols

Social Distancing

• Capacity  The Zoo maintains strict limits on attendance
• Ground Markers  Directional and distancing markers will guide guests through the Zoo
• Signage and other measures will remind visitors of safe & healthy practices and to follow social distancing guidelines
• ZOO MAP Download a copy of our map of the Zoo, here

Staying Healthy

• Hand Sanitizing Stations have been installed throughout the Zoo and made readily accessible.
• Sanitation Procedures  The Zoo has enhanced our rigorous sanitation protocols and cleaning standards to ensure that all facilities will be thoroughly disinfected.
• High-touch Areas  Staff will be routinely cleaning all surfaces and public areas, such as handrails, viewing glass, door handles, sensory room, and restrooms.
• Feeling Sick? The Zoo continues to follow the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by asking staff and guests to stay home if they are sick, feel sick, or have a fever. We are also encouraging respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene, face masks, and maintaining other heightened safety protocols.

Zoo Manners

• Feeding animals is not allowed. Please respect the special diets of the animals. Treats or “people food” can cause stomach problems for these wonderful creatures.
• Keep habitat areas clean and debris-free. Please help us by not throwing items into the habitats of the animals. Even simple objects can be hazardous if swallowed.
• Stand within the visitor viewing area. Fences and barriers around the animal areas are there for your safety and that of the animals. Please stay on the walkways and viewing areas provided. Stepping over and climbing on barriers is not allowed.
• No pets inside the Zoo only service dogs are prohibited. The Zoo does not offer pet boarding facilities. We allow trained service dogs. Please check with Visitor Services for exact instructions if you are here with a service dog.
• No smoking. No vaping. Recognizing the health, safety, and comfort benefits to humans and animals, Birmingham Zoo maintains a smoke-free, e-cigarette and tobacco product-free environment for all, including areas of Birmingham Zoo property, parking lot, outside grounds, picnic areas, and buildings. Visitors are required to extinguish all smoking materials, including e-cigarettes, before entering Zoo grounds.
• No outside food. Thank you for not bringing outside food into the Zoo. Food and beverages can be purchased at Nourish205, Wild Burger, Sidetrack, and the Gift Shop.

Allergy Information

The Birmingham Zoo is a facility that uses nuts and nut products for animal diet purposes. Traces of nuts or nut products may be found in areas where animal feedings are conducted and areas where Programs and Educational animal demonstrations are performed. The safety of our guests remains a top priority and the Zoo takes precautions to provide a safe environment.