The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

What a beautiful zoo! I was fortunate enough to feed the giraffes and sweet talk them :) we spent almost the whole day there! Misters throughout are nice for the heat! Only reason I docked a star... Gift shop had some awesome designs, unfortunately the women's cut stuff doesn't look great on me (too chesty) and they don't make them in men's or unisex sizing either. The prices are high, but I'm hoping that goes to better the animals there :)

This place is awesome! Feeding the giraffes was one of the happiest moments of my life. There are areas where you can walk freely among kangaroos, birds, owls, and more! They treat the animals with great respect — even adjusting their working hours based on the weather so the animals aren’t exposed to harsh sunlight. The staff is also amazing, always eager to share information and fun facts about the animals. I absolutely loved the place and the experience. It’s truly worth it!

It was a extremely pleasant experience! Cheap, affordable, and an amazing date idea, family outing, or friend outing! Our highlights were feeding the giraffes for about $5 if I remember correctly and at about 10:53am we approached the hyena enclosure as the staff were getting ready to feed them! We heard and got to see them enjoy their lunch! 10/10 would definitely recommend going before it gets super hot in the day as most of the animals might sleep or hide from the sun!

It's a nice clean zoo. The summer months are brutal, but they have indoor dining locations, splash pads for the little ones, and a children's learning center. We were able to feed the giraffe for $10 and pet the goats. Most of the staff were welcoming except for a handful that were driving the golf carts. The volunteers were great as they were welcoming. There is an older volunteer lady who has been volunteering for several years, and she is delightful and insightful to speak too.

We were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had at this zoo!! The animals seemed to be so close-up! It’s well maintained and all the workers there were super friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell they really care about the animals. Our favorites were the giraffes and the walk-through Wallaby exhibit. We truly were surprised walking in and being right next to a wallaby, without any barriers! They were sooo cute!! The model train was really cool too! And not to mention the splash pad! It was almost 90 degrees that day and my son was getting grumpy from the heat. We stopped by the splash pad to cool off and he was ready to see more of the zoo. So if it’s hot and you have kids, prepare to go into the splash pad! I wish we had more time to see everything and spend more time in each thing…we will definitely be coming back to visit when we’re in Palm Springs!

This is an absolute great place to spend your day with family or friends. They have a huge property with multiple open environments for the zoo animals, plenty of restrooms and cafes, plenty of shade for your day in the sun, and even a water park play area for children. They also have huge gardens to explore with tons of desert plants and trees. We especially enjoyed the giraffe feeding time! It costs $10 for some lettuce to feed the giraffes (which they love) and a supervised hand feeding. Even small children can feed the giraffes. There is plenty of parking. They recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid waiting for entry (they limit the numbers for each hour of entry) but we bought tickets on arrival and walked right in. Plan to spend at least 3 or 4 hours here, but you can easily spend all day.

With 10,000+ reviews, it feels like leaving another one is a drop of water in the ocean. Regardless, I’m here in 2025 to tell you, this place is still loads of fun for the family! We had 3-4 hours and decided to give this a go. It’s a huge zoo and garden so in some ways, I’d plan a whole day. However, if you’re like us and only have the 3-4 hours, it can certainly still be worth it. Since we had limited time, we skipped some of the activities like giraffe feeding. It looked like people were having a blast but we didn’t want to spend all our time in line. We made it to every major section of the park and even had a short lunch at Bighorn Cafe. If you’re in the area with little ones, I’d highly recommend this stop! Enjoy 🙌

The Living Desert Zoo is truly a gem in Palm Desert! From the moment we arrived, the exceptional staff—both employees and volunteers—stood out with their friendliness and readiness to assist. They made sure our visit was smooth, informative, and memorable. One of the highlights was the **Giraffe Feeding Experience**, where we got to interact with these magnificent creatures in a fun and educational way. I also highly recommend visiting the **hospital area**—it offers fascinating insights into the incredible care and dedication that goes into looking after the animals. What I deeply appreciate about this zoo is its thoughtful approach to animal habitats. All the species housed here are perfectly suited to the desert climate, which means no polar bears out of place. The focus on natural and appropriate placements ensures the animals are comfortable and thriving. The absolute pinnacle of our visit was the **Rhino Experience** with my daughter. We were able to get up close to a rhino, an unforgettable opportunity. The staff shared inspiring stories about the zoo's efforts to protect and preserve the species, leaving us amazed and appreciative of their conservation initiatives. If you're ever in Palm Desert, the Living Desert Zoo is a must-visit for its unique experiences, dedicated team, and focus on ethical animal care. We can't wait to go back!

YELP SHORT ANSWER: REVISIT, Visit and Enjoy no matter if you're a local been there done that kind of person, or anyone visiting. It is a unique zoo and it is so much more than looking at animals, there is a story behind each of them. As a past Zoo volunteer, I really came to respect how they acquire and care of all the non human guests, they do a lot here. LOCATION: Easy to find, free parking, just off of the 111 and Portola. FACILITY: Really first class and always changing and getting better. So if you've not been for a while, visit again support the treasure of CV. This is a good exercise location as well when it's not too hot. They have several trails with varied lengths and annual passes make it very affordable. STAFF: Most of the interactions are with purple shirted volunteers, they invest their time to assist the human guests, they are there to assist you so ask away. The paid staff are simply amazing making all of this happen. OVERALL VALUE: hard to put a price on it. We are members and I would suggest if you're local or a snowbird, buy a yearly pass at some level, its a donation so don't be a cheap a$$ and make this a weekly visit, say hello to your favorite guests, and make it your walking exercise location. TIP: In the Summer 7:00am open is the best time to get there, bring water, hat, sunscreen, and maybe an umbrella, we get in 3 miles and leave before it gets too warm. Winter anytime is great, I like it best in the rain, yes it does occasionally rain here and some of the animals love it. From June 1 to September 30, the zoo is open from 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM, with last admission at 12:30 PM. From October 1 to May 31, the zoo is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:00 PM

Honestly love it here. The staff is always great ! So many activities for kids and so many different animals. My son loves the splash pad. Get a membership !!!

We have been here twice now and I have had a great experience both times. The staff here is so friendly. I love that the zoo is never too crowded (so far anyway) and that you can really visit the animals peacefully. One of my favorite things to do here is feed the giraffe lettuce, even though it is very quick. It is just a neat experience. The second visit we happened to arrive when they had a show and tell type experience to learn about the giraffes and Kelly the giraffe was close by while the staff fed him produce and talked about giraffe facts and what they do there. Kelly is currently the biggest creature there at 18 feet tall and 2700 lbs. The rhinos will eventually surpass him in weight. There is also a rhino feeding/experience but spots are limited. It was full so we will have to try that another time. You get to visit animals from the African, North Americas, and Australian regions throughout this zoo. Sometimes staff will be nearby and will tell you a lot of facts about the animals while you observe them. I learned about naked mole rats and bobcats during my last visit. The zoo currently has two ten week old sibling bobcats. They were found abandoned in a box on a road in Oregon and were sent here. They were so adorable. There are a few eateries throughout the zoo as well. This was a relaxing experience both times so far. Just be aware it can get extremely hot here very early as it is in the middle of the desert.

If you haven't had your hand slobbered on by a giraffe, are you even really living? We came to The Living Desert first thing in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds and were instantly wowed by the safari-meets-botanical-garden vibe. Shout-out to the cheerful staff who tipped us off on the best giraffe feeding times--turns out, lettuce = pure happiness. Between giraffe kisses, and seeing baby wallabies, cub bobcats, and sprinting cheetahs, I'd say we had a pretty great day.

What a great way to celebrate Mother's Day! It was very hot, but with the camera rolling, and getting exercise walking around with the beautiful animals, we had a ball. It's a great place to visit, and smaller than some of the larger zoos or animal safari. I want to go back when the weather cools down. After I looked at my photos, you would think I was on an African Safari, we saw the same animals we would see in Africa. They also have a great new restaurant on the premises, which we found out about after we stopped on the way and had lunch. It looked really nice.

We were pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had at this zoo!! The animals seemed to be so close-up! It's well maintained and all the workers there were super friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell they really care about the animals. Our favorites were the giraffes and the walk-through Wally exhibit. We truly were surprised walking in and being right next to a wallaby, without any barriers! They were sooo cute!! The model train was really cool too! And not to mention the splash pad! It was almost 90 degrees that day and my son was getting grumpy from the heat. We stopped by the splash pad to cool off and he was ready to see more of the zoo. So if it's hot and you have kids, prepare to go into the splash pad! I wish we had more time to see everything and spend more time in each thing...we will definitely be coming back to visit when we're in Palm Springs!

The staff are exceptional. Every single team member was kind and informative. Lots of natural beauty too.

It's a small private desert themed Zoo. I recommend going at 2pm or earlier. Food/drink places closed before closing time which was dissapointing. We caught one for the a/c before closing. Recommend a misting fan on hot days for the Littles. It looks like they are building a water play area which will make the experience much more enjoyable. Animals look well cared for and we enjoyed the layout of the enclosures.

If a theme park and a zoo had a baby, this would be the result. We remembered the little model railroads from the last time we visited, before the pandemic, but this time the zoo had added many new sculptures for their night time fundraising week. We walked in to a huge display of a golden dragon and a cherry tree, and encountered many imaginative sculptures throughout the grounds. I had checked out the entrance fees to get in ahead of time, and had been scheming to see the night time displays lit up, but no such luck. There is no senior discount, and our entry fee for two came to almost $80. I do understand that they are still building the zoo, but they could give kids more of a discount. I remembered some of the animals from the last visit, but many of them were busy hibernating last time we were there. I have this curious animal magnetism, so almost all zoo animals will approach me if I stand by the fence. (Maybe they know I don't eat mammals, so I'm not a predatory threat!). The porcupine was our first vista, then a big rhino started making its way towards me. We chatted with a friendly volunteer who said that the lions would be back in April when the new big cafe would also be open! We trudged uphill and got to see lots of kids feeding the giraffes, then settled into a couple of rocking chairs to just view the giraffes. It was downhill then, and our next perch was a fantastic log bench with a view of the cheetahs, but we never saw any whiz by! The back area of the zoo held dromedaries, zebras, and camels, as well as hyenas. My favorite was a tortoise that galloped over toward me with a silly grin on its face, accompanied by a leggy heron! There were more light sculptures and some interactive games for kids. We found more rocking chairs near the model trains and took in the scenic railway. When I first read the zoo info online, the only food it showed available was hot dogs and hamburgers, but there were lots of venues for every kind of lunch or snack food with seating nearby! We wound up enjoying ice cream in the shade of some trees near the African animal section.

When my family repeatedly suggested going to The Living Desert, I never would've guessed it was a zoo! While it is quite a drive, I can easily say the visit was worth the miles. It's no wonder they're in the top 10 best zoos in America. If you have a little one who has yet to understand the concept of waiting, then this place is it for you. The park is one of the cleanest zoos I've ever been to and the size of the park was enough to get my little one tired enough for the adults to enjoy a quiet ride home. You will need to buy tickets in advance for the rhino encounter but if you want to feed the giraffes, you can pay $10 for a handful of lettuce. I've been to a handful of giraffe feedings and what makes The Living Desert stand out is you're feeding them on an elevated ledge, so you get an intimate view of their faces, and they don't rush you through the feeding. My little one was so intrigued, we went back for a second feeding. They are beautiful mammals, it was breathtaking to see them up close, and feel their tongues! Currently considering buying the membership because we enjoyed the experience so much and would prefer to make the two hour drive vs. 15 minutes to our local zoo.

We love the Living Desert Zoo! The animals seem to be well taken care of. Some of the paths are a bit rough for a walker. The price of carts are a bit much. I love the things in the gift shop, but I don't like the prices! I think they are a bit too high. There really isn't anything to pick up reasonably there, for kids or adults. Overall, it's a beautiful park with lots to see. Even after several visits it still takes a couple hours to go through.

The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs, CA is absolutely exquisite. Had such a wonderful time. Lots of family opportunities; there is something for everyone. Totally recommend!

This place is amazing, did not expect such a big zoo out in the desert! Awesome zoo and they even have a splash zone for kids during hot days. It's $40 for adult tickets & $30 for kids tickets and under 3 are free. Wide selection of animals to see, also spread out into different continents, Australia to America to Africa! Love this place, will definitely come back more. They also have membership options if you plan coming often or are local!

I was here in 2013 and was happy to be able to return. It has grown in size!!! I was pleased to see all of the animals and plants. Lots of positives. Lots! Let me focus on three things I think the Living Desert could do to make the experience better. First, create a better interactive map that would allow people to find where specific animals are. It was frustrating trying to find specific animals or knowing if we had seen all of the animals in a specific section. Second, have better signage that helps visitors know before where animals, gardens, and amenities are. I'm sure the Living Garden doesn't want too much signage, but it needs more. Third, we saw very, very few staff that we could ask questions of. Place staff around the zoo and gardens, and have them wear easy identifiable clothing, so visitors can ask questions. You might even create "ask questions here" stations. Again, we really enjoyed our visit, but we also found it frustrating and we know a few changes would make it awesome for everyone.

This place is such a fantastic ambassador for the animals. The animals are well cared for and the animals have places to escape the heat and gawking visitors if they so choose. TLD makes this experience very pleasant. I was alone and, very slowly, I walked it for 2.5-3 hours. Many places for eating, restrooms, and water fountains, and benches. I have come here for about 45 years and hope to come for many more years.

The Living Desert was an awesome place and is recommended. Majority of the animals seem happy and have good amount of roaming space. The whole park is super clean and not crowed. The price for entry is a bit pricy but worth it for the one time. Feeding the giraffes was a blast and not expensive at all so that is highly recommended and probably the most sought after experience

The zoo no longer has a contract with Bank of America so there no longer free admission. Still a great zoo where you can see the animals up close. We did go Thanksgiving weekend this time and I guess due to the crowds the giraffes were already well fed so they were pretty far away.

What a nice treat to visit this zoo. I'm hardly ever impressed by a zoo, but The Living Desert pleasantly surprised us! It's broken up into "Africa" and "Australia." The Africa area kept wowing us with the various animals and exhibits we saw. Right off the bat, the giraffe experience was a winner. We could have left after that and been happy with our visit. For $10 you can feed the giraffe a few leaves of lettuce. It was such a treat and so cool to get up close and personal. The giraffes know the drill when they see you walk up to the platform with lettuce in your hand. After leaving the giraffes, we saw goats, gazelles, zebra, a cheetah, hyenas, African painted dogs, and a few others. Another up close and personal experience was to walk into the goat pen and hang out with them. They are pretty laid back and let you brush them. We were vv impressed with this area. The animals you get to see aren't as common as in other zoos. "Australia" is a much smaller exhibit, but worth it to see the kookaburras and the wallabies! You walk in and they are all around. They hop around and are unbothered by the human visitors. You see a few other animals, but those were the most memorable. They had many colorful and large exhibits up for their current night time event. It was a nice addition to the surroundings, I'm sure it's even better at night. There is a new splash pad to cool off. It's geared more towards younger kids. There are plenty of cafes to grab food and drink, and at reasonable prices. I have to say I was very impressed by the gift shop merchandise. The marketing was great! lol. So many colorful shirts, sweatshirts, hats and merch with cute designs. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend this as a must-do activity in Palm Desert.

Wow! Quite possibly one of the finest zoos we have ever seen, and that says a lot for a couple of animal rights activists! The Living Desert focuses on conservation, with spacious grounds, and they focus on inter species interaction, with enclosures that had naturally incorporated ponds, trees, and other natural elements required for healthy animals. The best part was how easy it was to navigate the whole park! It was a continuous loop system which meant you could cover everything without getting lost. The grounds were clean beyond compare, the grounds were dazzling and impeccable, and there were plenty of places to rest for either a beverage or food. An absolute must if you are in Palm Springs and worth the 25 minute drive!

A group of us was visiting a dear friend and she decided to surprise us. We ended up at the zoo! WOW what a Surprise!! I had no idea there even was a zoo in Palm Desert?! I don't want to post too many pics so you can be just as excited. They have a hospital inside where you can go in to see the 75 baby turtles native to us that are endangered. I love the fact they are helping endangered species. I loved the beautiful train set they had on display. I am so happy I caught a glimpse of the cheetah lounging under the trees. I was very emotional feeding the beautiful giraffes lettuce. I had no idea their tongues made natural sunscreen. Beautiful creatures!! I can't wait to see what else they bring in once the expansion is complete. It was a hot day but it was well worth the adventure!

Just okay. The recommended seeing the giraffes first for feeding time. It's $10 per person for 3 leaves of lettuce. The merry go round was also extra ($3/ person). It was fine enough to spend 2 hours. At one point we couldn't find any animals. I was trying to use the website app map but I kept losing service. I wished I had a paper map but I'm sure it's bad for the environment.

Enjoyed a lovely day here with our family. This is a must when visiting Palm Springs / Palm desert. Best to visit in the fall or winter. They are also doing a big remodel, looks like many new things to come! - parking included in ticket price - they are adding electric car chargers - the gift shop is nice! - super cute carousel - giraffe feeding

Such a fun zoo! We spent four hours there one day (did not expect the zoo to be this large!). The zookeeper talks were so interesting and we were able to see so many animals up close. The rhinos and giraffes were the coolest to see. You can even pay to feed the giraffes! There's a few walk-in areas where you can walk through the enclosement with wallabies. There's also a petting zoo with the most adorable goats. 10/10 recommend! Both family friendly as well as very entertaining and educational for adults.

As someone who is not a fan of going to zoos, I enjoyed my time. I just don't get too excited to see animals, but it's fun watching it through the eyes of my nephew. I advise to go early and do the giraffe feedings early. That was a fun experience. I was quite impressed with the expansions they are doing and the amount of volunteers they had. A great family activity.

One of the must see places in Palm Springs. A great selection of animals (amazing giraffe habitats and Australian trail). You can easily spend a whole day here with little ones. Don't forget to add giraffe feeding to the list of things to do!

Had an amazing visit to this wonderful park. We took our students on a field trip here. There is a lot to see. There is a lot of open walking trails. You do walk for a bit without seeing much. However, all of the staff and volunteers were very kind and were full of information. They went out of their way to make our students feel important. We will be looking in to returning again in the future

There isn't anything to complain about. Perfectly kept animals, grounds kept clean and well maintained. Staff is one giant family, that pull together. They enjoy their jobs if it's a volunteer or paid team members: selling tickets, gift/snack areas, tours, picking up after the animals/humans...you get it, everyone. I would highly recommend becoming a member.

It's always a blast coming here with the family I LOVEEEE how they just added a water park for the kiddos just in time for the summer (Forgot to take a picture) They also added a huge new cafe they updated this zoo so much it's gorgeous! Also at night they have glow In the park activity going on DEFINITELY recommend coming here even if it just for a walk by yourself

We have taken our kids here a few times and it's always been a blast. It's a full zoo at ria point with giraffes, rhinos, camels and more. The kids loved walking through each area and seeing new animals. It's big but all in sections so you really see what you want to see. The highlight for our kids was feeding the giraffes. You pay for lettuce but get a really good experience feeding them up close. Both times we have done it, that's the main thing the kids talked about! Anytime we are in the desert we plan a day here. Lovely experience and any volunteers working have always been so friendly!

Very nice and casual zoo in the Palm Desert. Not a large number of animals out today, but it was 90 degrees, and I guess some animals we in the shade or water. Nicely designed park at a reasonable price. No senior discount, but $39.95 each is not too bad. Fun Park, not too busy, with giraffe feeding area and also petting zoo area with goats that were really gentle. Food was great and reasonable price. Don't forget to stop for lunch at Thorn Tree Grill. Very tasty chicken tender plate. Gift shop on the Exit was nice but super expensive.

We're members here, have been for 4 years, and we love the zoo. This review is specifically for the poor management of the new splash pad. From cranky employees barking at kids one day to ignoring rowdy teenagerbehavior the next, to last minute closings, late openings, and everything in between- this zoo splash pad is unpredictable at best. It's the only game in town for a nice splash pad for kids, and I'm beyond dissatisfied in how poor the communication is. Why are splash pad closures not emailed to members? Or put on social media? Is there ANY staff training for consistency? Hot. Mess. This morning the splash pad was closed until 10:30. We came back at 10:30 and the staff working the splash pad told us they were at capacity (despite patrons walking out which would free up a spot). Eating pizza as they work, more worried about chatting with each other, my kid was in tears not once but twice today because we yet again- couldn't go. This happens often here. Do better, living desert. You're not the only zoo with a splash pad. Figure out how to run it and fix it and if you can't, then have better communication, especially to members regarding operational hours and closures. So unimpressed.

I hesitated to visit this attraction as the single admission is pricey and I didn't really have time to do a visit justice, but the annual pass is affordable and comes with some extras such as 2 annual guest passes. Just visiting with a guest twice a year more than pays back the cost of joining and this way whenever I am in the neighborhood I can stop by even if it is just for a few minutes. There are shaded seats everywhere and everyone was friendly. Very glad I joined. Saw many animals in just a short first visit. Already planning next trip.

A hidden gem close to Palm Springs . What an amazing place . They have a lot of exotic animals . I missed the giraffe feeding it ends at 3pm but still had a lot of fun . Will be coming back :)

I adore this place. Such a nice outdoor experience in a clean and well maintained zoo. It's great for all ages! Is the $10 for a few pieces of lettuce to feed the giraffe worth it, yes absolutely! Everyone working there we interacted with was so nice and willing to answer questions. I have been twice and would definitely go again.

Kids friendly zoo. Giraffe, hyena rhino and many many others were there! Well designed zoo.

Carne asada fries are not your typical asada fries we're on the salty side. It was more of a Philly fries came with Philly like meat & grilled bell peppers. The chicken strips were actually really good and the fire too and it came with garlic toast that was delicious

We received the family membership through our charter school for homeschooling. We went today and every single encounter with the staff was great. Every single restroom was clean, and the stroller rental is very affordable compared to other places. The gift shop has such cute things and the coolest part of our trip was the giraffe encounter/feeding. My kids were obsessed with the splash pad. My least favorite thing was the large chunks of ice in my blended coffee (it was like half the drink) haha (so if you think about it, it really was a great trip) Can't wait to go back!

I absolutely love this living desert " zoo" it's so sweet seeing these animals they look so happy. I was literally privy to watching animals frolic. I've never seen such happy healthy animals in an environment outside of their own habitat. If you're visiting the area, I would definitely look this place up. They have all sorts of special events, including a happy hour pills and walk around and watch these lively animals run about and what looks like sheer bliss

I have been a member for years. I love this place. I have to go by and see the new restaurant and splash area still I also want to see the new bobcat kittens.

This is the place for multi generational family fun along with a great opportunity to take holiday pictures. Let's start with the photo ops. A lighted gingerbread forest, a giant lit Christmas tree with a tunnel inside for kids to stand in, lots of lighted animal sculptures, and best of all a beautiful red sleigh with Santa and enough seats to fit the whole family. Lots of yummy treats to buy to eat like kettle corn, corn on the cob, hot chocolate, and make your own s'mores over fire pits. The walking trails are well kept. You can meander around in several directions that bring you to different places in the park. You can watch the animals at night. Some are sleeping, some hidden, some wandering around their areas. You can look at all the beautiful lights and visit the miniature train display that spans a large area of the park. It highlights different trains and trolleys in California. Kids can take a ride on an old fashioned carousel. Trails are wide enough for strollers. Lots of seats and benches along the way to stop and rest at. You will definitely get your steps in. Overall, a really fun time for the whole family.

We opted for the personal, two hour guided tour of The Living Desert for some behind the scenes information and views. I highly recommend taking the guided tour - soooo worth it! For one, we didn't have to walk in the summer heat. Second, David, our tour guide, was able to provide us information that we wouldn't have known if we were on our own. And third, a few of the animals were so camouflaged that we were literally looking at them but didn't know it was the animal! David to the rescue! As an added bonus, we had our own time, albeit brief, in feeding the giraffes. We also met one of the staff vets - so cool! Thank you to David and the entire staff, donors and Board of Trustees for this phenomenal experience! I think I'll do this again with my parents just so they don't have to walk.

Overall this is a very beautiful park. Entrance fee of $40. is decent. However, management is missing the mark huge! EXTREMELY challenging to locate QR codes ANYWHERE throughout the park. Not strategically located. We appreciate not providing guests' with a map., but this is basic 101 Zoo operations! Living Desert features a nice Gift shop but $46. for a ball cap is absurd. We paid $20. @ Joshua Tree National Park for the SAME $46. hat selling here. Net effect, the Gift shop lost all (5) purchases from us. I don't reward price gouging ever. $35. for a cap would even be reasonable. The exorbitant gift shop pricing would not prevent us from visiting again. But the Gift shop retail pricing is a significant deterrent. $$$$$ Get it together management.

I've been here a couple times...its a delight! It's a smaller zoo, but they do a lot with the space they have. More importantly, most of the animals have spacious living areas...my favorites are the roadrunners, prairie dogs, Mexican wolves, and giraffes whom you can actually feed and get up close. You'll also get porcupines, owls, eagles, meercats, snakes, goats, bighorns, foxes, wallabys, kangaroos, wart hogs, mongooses, lizards, hyenas, cheetahs, coyotes, and much more. We saw just about everything in about 2 hours, which is usually enough animals for most people, especially on a hot sunny day which there are many in Palm Desert...don't forget to put on sunscreen and bring a hat. $40 is a bit steep for a small zoo like this, but know that your money goes to a good cause.

On the edge of the San Andres fault lies an oasis filled with fun and beautiful creatures here at the living desert. I was out in Palm springs with my fiance and as I enjoy going to zoos, we had to explore this place out. While the zoo itself costs about $60+, it is truly a magnificent place to visit with the family. This zoo is unqiue compared to others I have been as animals here are truly living in their ideal habitats. More so, there is an area where you can feed giraffes for $10 and take pictures with them! Just an fyi there is a no petting policy. They also seem to be building new areas so keep your eyes peeled for newer additions to the zoo. FYI for any hikers out there, there is a hiking trail leading up to the San Andres fault if you have a taste for adventure!

Always fun and interesting. Learn something new every visit. Great shows and animals in natural settings. And diverse settings. I joined and am a member. Great entertainment for visiting friends. When you join you get two passed for friends.

Great visit with the baby ! Must see Clean and walkable Decent food for Venue Restrooms very clean

We took our children and grandchildren once in the day and again a few days later in the night for the lighted exhibits. We really loved both experiences! The night lights is almost over now and it's pretty hot to go to the zoo unless you go real early in the morning. We went around 11:00 am and most of the animals were sort of hiding so it's best to go in the morning . We really liked feeding the giraffes which I think is about $10 person. Forget about some reviews saying Costco has discounts. I went to Costco and they said that was 10 years ago and they don't sell discount tickets!

So much fun! I haven't been to a zoo in years, and this is much more than just a zoo. As one might assume, The Living Desert features animals that can tolerate the heat, like ones from Africa, Australia and South America. Before looking at the map, I didn't realize how many animals called this place home! We spent about four hours exploring the grounds, so I felt it was worth the $39.95 ticket price (per adult). Each of the animals looked comfortable and well taken care of, with enough space to roam around. The exhibits had signs in front of them, giving quick facts about each animal, its conservation status, threats it faces in the wild, etc. Around the zoo, you'll also find signs with timings of "Animal Connections" where the zookeepers host talks about certain animals at their habitats. We attended both the Rhino and Warthog talks and found them both fascinating educational opportunities. Kind senior volunteers were also stationed around to help guide guests and speak more on an ad-hoc basis about the animals. This level of interaction really enhanced our overall experience! Some highlights: 1. Giraffe Feeding - Pay $10 for a handful of lettuce and step up the elevated platform. The giraffes will see you and eat the lettuce right from your hands. They are the most gentle giants, but they gobble it up fast! Have your camera ready! 2. Australia exhibit - This area is an open habitat where the wallabies are sitting in the center with no visible fencing around them. Somehow they know not to hop out of their zone. Parakeets also freely fly around. 3. There's an enclosed area with many friendly goats that you can pet and brush. The small dwarf goats are especially cute! It's worth a visit to the Animal Hospital and Nutrition Center. Although the views into both of these buildings are limited, it's cool to get a glimpse behind the scenes. Visiting this zoo is a must if you're in Palm Springs. We enjoyed every minute of it!

Bring the family to the living zoo and gardens in the Coachella Valley. This was a wonderful venture and day trip to the zoo! We got to feed the giraffe, see leopards, warthogs, porcupines, eagles, rhinos, cheetahs, reptiles, and wallabies. The layout of the various exhibits and gardens have an easy pathway to follow. In the Australian Adventures you can enter and walk up close to the animals. They have a Discovery Center, and an on-site animal hospital. There are plenty of resting areas and a few places to buy lunch and refreshments. You can become a members to l help support the programs or "adopt" an animal: $50 Advocate, $100 Naturalist, $250 Protector or $500 Preservationist. Plenty of free parking available, this is a day to remember! Come on down and don't forget to tell 'em Rosemary sent ya!