Team Building & Optional Activities

The staff at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is committed to making your event a success.  We take pride in offering personalized service for each function that takes place at the Zoo.  The Zoo is a great place for daytime or evening meetings. 

Scavenger Hunts/Team Building
Your guests will go WILD for the Zoo Informational Scavenger Hunt.  Using information found on signs and exhibits throughout the Zoo, your team will work quickly at discovering new animals, hunting for facts and experiencing all the Zoo has to offer.  When booking a meeting of 15 or more, we will provide our Scavenger Hunt on a complimentary basis. Rules, forms, clipboards and maps are supplied for your self-conducted scavenger hunt!  This action-packed adventure has been planned to take one-hour, from start to finish. This gives your guests ample time to explore the Zoo at their own pace after the hunt.  A souvenir purchased from one of our three gift shops would make a memorable prize for the winning team.  

Scavenger hunts are available for groups of 10 or more guests at an additional cost of $5.00 per person, reservations are required.

Behind-the-Scenes Tours
One of our expert zookeepers will take you behind-the-scenes for a personal walking tour of some of your favorite zoo animals and their habitats.  Get closer to the animals than you would from public access, visit their night dens, learn about their care and feeding, animal habits and more.

Current tours feature animals in the African Plains, including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, cheetah and Cape buffalo.  Finish off the tour with a close-up encounter with our jaguars. 

Group Size: Minimum of 6, maximum of 15, per guide.
Minimum Age: 6
Cost: $25 per person, includes park admission
Tours are scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Walking shoes required, uneven pavement.  No strollers or infants. 

Two week advance reservations are required.  Call (904) 757-4463, ext. 120 to schedule your tour.  Pre-payment is required.

Animal Encounters

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offers a special variety of small mammals, reptiles, and birds that our trained specialists can bring to your event where they can be observed closely while our specialist answers your questions. This addition makes a great activity during a lunch break. 

$50 per animal for a half-hour viewing

Train Rides

Experience the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ lush foliage and beautiful gardens while observing the wildlife from the seat of our train.  This narrated ride is a fun orientation of the Zoo.