Travel the zoo with our knowledgeable staff as we prepare to open the zoo for the day.
You will enjoy exclusive before-hours access, learn how we care for our animals and have the opportunity to participate in unique and interactive experiences*. This experience requires advanced reservations, space is limited.
During a Rise and Shine Safari, you will:
- Greet our penguin colony and feed the birds their "rise and shine" fish breakfast from the public side of the habitat.
- Come see our New World monkeys start their day with fun toys and tricky puzzles! Watch our keepers help the monkeys play, think, and get moving as they wake up and get ready for the day.
- Visit the habitat of our gibbon family in Wild Asia! Just like us, some of our animals enjoy a slow, cozy start to the day. While our gibbon kids are often full of energy, they don't always follow a normal "rise and shine" schedule. We'll even make a stop at the red panda habitat to learn about the species.
- Adventure behind-the-scenes and visit our lion night yard, where our pride of lions gets to sleep under the nighttime stars.
- Enjoy a private, up-close experience in our grizzly bear building.
*Animal experiences are subject to change
Offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday only
90-minute experience
- 8:30 – 10 a.m. (April - Sept. 30)
- 9:30 - 11 a.m. (Oct. 1 - Thanksgiving, March)
Rise and Shine Tours are not available Thanksgiving through February.
Prices
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$95 per person
General admission is included after your rise and shine experience. Rise and Shine Safaris are available for groups of up to 6 guests. All guests must be ages 5+, and every group must contain a minimum of one adult guest (ages 18+).
Book Your Rise and Shine Safari
For additional questions about Rise and Shine Safari, please contact programs@akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550 ext. 8973. All Unique Experiences must be scheduled two weeks or more in advance.