The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

I was pleasantly surprised by The living Desert Zoo! I have visited the San Diego Zoo and the safari park more than a dozen times and heard about a zoo in the desert, but honestly never expected it to be this great. I proposed the idea of a weekend getaway in Palm Springs and a visit to the Zoo for our daughter's birthday this past weekend. She absolutely loved it! Summer heat can be a bit intense and the hours to visit are short for that reason. I think we'd love to visit again in the Fall when the weather cools down. The zoo in general and the animal habitats are very well made. The employees were very kind, especially the older gentleman who gave us a tour of the wildlife hospital. He was knowledgeable and shared great facts making sure to keep our kids engaged. Feeding the giraffe is such a wonderful experience. It's short, but a great encounter. The price of the zoo is also a plus. Spending $500 at the San Diego Zoo for a family of 4 just for entrance and a cheap lunch isn't as fun as spending that on a hotel night and entrance to the Living Desert Zoo.

Whoever designed this place clearly looked at a regular zoo and said, “What if we gave the animals dignity… and the humans heatstroke?” The Living Desert is one of those rare places where you don’t feel like you’re staring at animals through sad little cages. The habitats are beautiful, spacious, and somehow convince you that you’re the one on display. The giraffes? Absolute professionals. Ours posed for photos like he had a publicist and a SAG card 🦒🥬📸 The zebra stood under the only patch of shade in the entire zip code, proving once again that survival is less about evolution and more about finding good real estate. Meanwhile, the tortoise was out there living his best retirement, moving with the confidence of someone who knows he’ll still be crossing that same path when we’re all paying taxes on Mars. The grounds are immaculate, the staff is friendly, and the entire park feels thoughtfully designed. Just do yourself a favor and go early unless your dream vacation involves becoming a rotisserie chicken. Summer hours start before sunrise for a reason. Watching the kids light up was the best exhibit of all. There’s something magical about seeing a giraffe lean in close enough to make you question every horse you’ve ever met. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m still emotionally processing the fact that a giraffe has longer eyelashes than I ever will 😭

This zoo is one of the best I've been to. And I visit a lot of zoos. I recommend going right when they open The animals were very active in the morning. The animal enclosures are clean spacious and mimic the environment the animal would live in in the wild. The animals appear well-fed and healthy and all have access to water. There is an on-site veterinarian care center for the well-being of the animals. The staff and volunteers are very helpful and friendly. In fact they go out of their way to provide the zoo visitors a positive experience. Everyone was so nice. There is plenty of shade along the routes to keep guests out of the sun and lots of benches available to rest upon. The park is ADA friendly for wheel chairs. And i had no issues bringing my service dog in. They inform you at the ticket counter of which areas service dogs are not allowed in. These restrictions are necessary for the safety of some of the animals. I highly recommend this zoo for anyone visiting the Palm Springs area.

Top tier Zoo, 100% recommend! Very well thought out, well funded and well cared for zoo. I couldn't have been more impressed. All the animals suited the climate of the desert which allows you to see them flourish more naturally. Lots of free roaming animals and walk through areas. Not to mention the scenery within and surrounding. Given that, I only found out it existed by googling things for babies to do near me. How could a zoo of this quality not be more advertised and known of. Either way, I'm glad I found it. Had a few hours to kill, so me and my 1 year old daughter had a blast and a great daddy daughter day that I'll forever remember. Plenty of food options, restrooms, water fountains and easy accessible ramps. Bravo California, Indian Wells and whoever owns/ designed that zoo! Next time I'll be back with swim gear for the splash area!

first time coming here. what a beautiful zoo! it was bigger than i expected so lots of walking. super autism friendly. wasn't crowded at all. lots of places to sit. all the workers we encountered were really nice, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! you can bring in a wagon if you have kids too and you can bring in snacks as well so that was nice. they have a mary go round and a super cool splash pad for kids! i will say i think the giraffe feeding is over priced but overall i would recommend this zoo and we had a great time!

Beautiful place and a good size zoo. The gardens are also beautiful and a nice walk. Well maintained and staff was really helpful and friendly. The splash pad was a nice touch on such a hot day for the little ones. They have the occasional indoor exhibits and the discovery center so you can take a break from the heat. We went early April and it was already 95°F. I would definitely recommend visiting in the colder months when the weather is really nice in the desert. 🏜 There is plenty of restrooms, water filling stations, and places to buy food. They do also allow you to bring in your own food which is nice 👌 I recommend visiting at least once in your life.

I had no idea a place like this existed just 2 hours from Los Angeles and honestly, it completely blew me away. The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens in Palm Desert is unlike any zoo I’ve ever visited — it’s part zoo, part botanical garden and part nature preserve, and the combination is just magical. What makes this place truly special is the setting. Instead of the typical zoo enclosures, you’re walking through actual desert landscapes with mountains in the background and wildlife roaming in open spaces. It feels less like a zoo and more like a real safari experience right here in Southern California. The highlight of our visit was absolutely the giraffe feeding. For just $10, you get to hand-feed lettuce to these gentle giants nose-to-nose. It’s one of those experiences that puts the biggest smile on your face and stays with you long after you leave. The feeding sessions run daily from 8AM to 12PM so make sure you get there early! Beyond the giraffes, we spotted black rhinos, wallabies, tortoises and so much more. The Rhino Encounter and Private Safari Tour are also available if you want an even more immersive experience. A few tips if you’re planning to visit: ✅ Go between October and April for the best weather ✅ Arrive early — mornings are cooler and animals are more active ✅ Buy tickets online in advance ✅ Bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water ✅ Check if you qualify for the Museums for All discounted admission program Whether you’re a local or visiting Palm Springs for the first time, The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens is 100% worth adding to your itinerary. Perfect for families, couples and solo travelers alike. I can’t wait to go back!

First time visitor and had no idea Palm Springs had a Zoo! Great experience. Definitely need to start the day there when it opens because of the heat. Animals were all active between 8-10 then started hiding out after that. Wife and son did the rhino encounter and loved it, they were able to feed and touch the rhino and that alone is a once in a lifetime experience. Child has to be 5 years old for the rhino experience so my younger child and I strolled the park. Saw some cool camels, giraffes, and cheetahs. They also had a really cool train exhibit that my son loved. Great park will visit again.