Behind the Scenes Zoo Experiences
Enjoy a once in a lifetime behind the scenes experience at Assiniboine Park Zoo! These experiences will bring you up close with some of the Zoo's most charismatic creatures. Experiences are guided by our educators and animal care professionals.
Important Information to Read Before You Book
Before booking your experience, please read the following information regarding rules, policies, safety protocols, and more.
- All behind the scenes experiences start in front of Tundra Grill, located in the north end of the Zoo. Please arrive at the Zoo entrance 30 minutes before your experience so you have time to walk to the meeting spot.
- Experiences are non-refundable and are only valid for the date and time booked. Guests must arrive on time at the meeting point or will not be able to go on the experience.
- Closed-toed shoes are mandatory throughout the experience.
- Masks are mandatory throughout the tiger and snow leopard experiences.
- All experiences are wheelchair accessible, except for the harbour seal honorary trainer experience. Please inform us if a participant has limited mobility when booking.
- Service animals cannot be accommodated in the behind the scenes experiences.
- Photos or videos will only be permitted when your guide specifies it is safe to do so. Our team will take photos throughout the experience which will be sent to participants within 2 - 3 business days.
- All participants must be 10 years and older. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
- Life jackets will be provided for the harbour seal experience and must be worn properly.
- Please be advised encounters are subject to change based on zoological operation requirements.
Experience Dates
The schedule is subject to change based on zoological operation requirements. Please click a 'Book Online' button to see current availability and reserve your experience. If your preferred date does not appear in the booking calendar, it is sold out.
When available, more dates may be added for August, September, and October. Please check back often.
Tiger Enrichment Experience
The experience begins at 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes before your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Friday, May 17 | Friday, May 24 |
| June | Saturday, June 1 | Sunday, June 9 | Friday, June 21 | Saturday, June 29 |
| July | Monday, July 1 | Saturday, July 6 | Thursday, July 11 | Monday, July 15 | Saturday, July 20 | Thursday, July 25 | Monday, July 29 |
Snow Leopard Enrichment Experience
The experience begins at 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes before your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Sunday, May 19 | Sunday, May 26 |
| June | Friday, June 7 | Saturday, June 15 | Sunday, June 23 |
| July | Thursday, July 4 | Monday, July 8 | Saturday, July 13 | Thursday, July 18 | Monday, July 22 | Saturday, July 27 |
Harbour Seal Honorary Trainer
The experience begins at 1:00 pm. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes before your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Monday, May 20 | Friday, May 31 |
| June | Saturday, June 8 | Sunday, June 16 | Friday, June 28 |
| July | Friday, July 5 | Wednesday, July 10 | Sunday, July 14 | Friday, July 19 | Wednesday, July 24 | Sunday, July 28 |
Polar Bear Honorary Trainer
The experience begins at 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo at least 30 minutes before your experience.
| Experience Dates | |
| May | Saturday, May 18 | Saturday, May 25 |
| June | Sunday, June 2 | Friday, June 14 | Saturday, June 22 | Sunday, June 30 |
| July | Wednesday, July 3 | Sunday, July 7 | Friday, July 12 | Wednesday, July 17 | Sunday, July 21 | Friday, July 26 | Wednesday, July 31 |
Behind the Scenes: Tiger Enrichment Experience
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes before your experience so you have time to walk to your meeting location.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our Amur tigers. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our tigers and enjoy a marvelous opportunity to discover how we enrich the lives of our animals and create unique enrichment items for the cats. Your incredible adventure wraps up by observing the cats interact with your enrichment item which directly contributes to our high standards of care.
Masks are required for this experience.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Snow Leopard Enrichment Experience
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 10:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes before your experience so you have time to walk to your meeting location.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our snow leopards. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our snow leopards and receive a marvelous opportunity to discover how we enrich the lives of our animals and create unique enrichment items for the cats. Your incredible adventure wraps up by observing the cats interact with your enrichment item which directly contributes to our high standards of care.
Masks are required for this experience.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Harbour Seal Honorary Trainer
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 6 people
Start Time: 1:00 pm. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes before your experience so you have time to walk to your meeting location.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our harbour seals. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our seals and enjoy a fantastic opportunity to learn about and observe how training benefits our animals. Your experience continues as you transition into an honorary trainer, directly participating in our positive reinforcement training program.
Please note: the seal experience is not wheelchair accessible.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
Behind the Scenes: Polar Bear Honorary Trainer
Length: 60 minutes
Cost per person: $85 + GST and Zoo admission*
Maximum Group Size: 4 people
Start Time: 11:00 am. Please arrive at the Zoo 30 minutes before your experience so you have time to walk to your meeting location.
Meeting Location: In front of Tundra Grill
Join our educators and animal care professionals for a memorable behind the scenes experience that brings you up close with our polar bears. With the guidance of an animal care professional, you will be introduced to one of our polar bears and enjoy a fantastic opportunity to learn about and observe how training benefits our animals. Your experience continues as you transition into an honorary trainer, directly participating in our positive reinforcement training program.
*Zoo, Inspire, and Inspire Conservation Members - please select the "Member Package" option which excludes the cost of Zoo admission.
