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    The Living Desert

    4.5 (1.6k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 1:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Wallabies just hanging around
    Faalavelave S.

    This zoo is actually pretty nice. We went in the summer when it was really hot so it was not busy at all and was only open from 7am-1pm. They had lots of resting places to sit, even a cooling room. We went straight to feed the zebras when we got there. It was 10 bucks a bundle of lettuce so I got two bundles. They should really tell you what they consider a bundle being because a bundle was three pieces of lettuce which I thought was a total rip off. I thought it would be a lot more. So the feeding literally only lasted a minute for both of us. It was still very memorable though and I am glad we got that experience together. There was more to see than you think and we made the best of it in the heat. We brought fans and water. They have refill station. I would go back for sure but maybe not in the summer. The giraffes and wallabies were a favorite!

    Stefani M.

    We came here early in the day to take a look around! We had a great time seeing all the animals and we were also able to feed a giraffe. Cost was $10 but you get to interact with the giraffes who have quite the personalities.

    Giraffes
    Jonathan B.

    Normally I'm a little uncomfortable with zoos since I'm unsure about caging animals that aren't native to the local area. The living desert zoo flips this idea on its head by focusing on geographical areas that have similar climates and explicitly not accepting animals that won't do well in the desert. We took the guided tour, not so much to avoid walking (even though it was nice to have a shaded golf court in the unexpected 100 degree heat) but so we would have access to a docent guide who could tell us stories. Leila more than did that -- she was incredibly knowledgeable, very nice, and engaging. There are three main areas to explore: African Safari, Australian Adventures, Wild Americas. There's also more than 50 gardens and 1000 acres of hiking trails. My highlights for each area: Australian adventures The laughing kookaburra gets its name from its maniacal-sounding laughs and hoots. Bennett's wallaby is similar to a kangaroo with larger ears. The emu is the second largest bird in the world, can run long distances up to 30 miles an hour, and has built in "sunscreen." Wild Americas Badgers are fierce, able to fight off an attacker many times their own size. Bighorn sheep are specially evolved for the rocky mountain terrain they live in. Chuckwalla lizards defend their territories with head bobbing and pushups -- no idea why that works. African Safari Painted dogs have vibrant color coats with big ears and are excellent pack hunters. The banded mongoose has a striking striped coat and interact with others in what appears to be social games. And of course the highlight of the whole visit -- we got to feed the giraffes. Their tongues are VERY long which they wrap around the lettuce. They are black to guard against sunburn and spongy (if you accidentally touch it). This zoo has something for everyone and every age.

    Warthog
    Sara P.

    We love going to The Living Desert when we are in Palm Springs. We go right when it opens so it's cooler and typically there is more animal activity. We used to get a discount with our local (Oregon) zoo membership, but I guess that partnership has changed. We also bring reusable water bottles, snacks and sunscreen with us. All the staff are friendly and there are so many passionate volunteers onsite as well. We had several great conversations with staff and volunteers throughout our last visit. You can tell how much they genuinely care about the animals, They also are well versed in facts and fun tidbits about the animals as well. We love going to the wallabies enclosure- it's our kids's favorite. We go there first since it tends to be less busy and the wallabies are not chilling in the shade yet. It's so special to walk through and have the wallabies just hang out near you and jump around. We loved seeing so many wonderful animals- wolves, giraffes, zebra, rhinos, monkeys, just to name a few. You could easily spend at least half a day here. There is also a splash pad area for the kids to cool off. If in the area I highly recommend you check out The Living Desert.

    Samantha C.

    What an awesome experience! My inner little girl was living her best life when I got to feed the Giraffes!! Loved the openness of this Zoo. The family and I created memories that will last a lifetime. My god daughter loved the splash pad, a great touch to add for the hot weather.

    Patrick L.

    The Living Desert completely exceeded expectations. What I thought might be a quick walk-through turned into one of the most enjoyable and surprisingly immersive experiences I have had in a long time. Set right up against the mountains in Palm Desert, the backdrop alone is worth the visit. The whole place feels thoughtfully designed, blending into the desert landscape instead of fighting it. It is clean, well laid out, and easy to navigate, but still feels like a bit of an adventure as you move from one area to the next. The animals look well cared for and the habitats feel natural and spacious. You can tell there is real intention behind how everything is presented. Highlights for me were the giraffes, the big cats, and the variety of desert species you do not typically see. There is a strong educational component, but it never feels heavy handed. One of the best parts is just walking the grounds. The trails, the views, the quiet moments between exhibits, it all adds up. It is as much about the environment as it is about the animals. The staff and volunteers were friendly, engaged, and clearly passionate about what they do. That energy comes through and makes the experience even better. This is not just a quick stop. Plan to spend a few hours and take your time. It is relaxing, interesting, and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish. An absolute gem in the desert. Five stars.

    Genie L.

    The Living Desert is amazing! Such friendly staff and volunteers. Feeding the giraffes was the highlight of the visit. It's a great place for animal lovers with all types of animals like giraffes, monkeys, rhinos, birds, gazelles, zebras, wallaby, camels and so much more. Definitely bring sunscreen and a hat as it gets really hot. You can also bring water bottles to refill and outside food is allowed. Definitely coming back again!

    Melissa G.

    This is by far our favorite zoo ever! We've been to a lot of zoos, and this one is such a hidden gem. It's always clean, peaceful, and never overly crowded, which makes the experience so much more enjoyable especially with kids. One of the absolute best parts is getting to feed the giraffes for only $10, which was such a fun and unforgettable experience for our family! Being able to get that close to the animals was amazing, and the staff made it feel so safe and interactive. You can really take your time walking around and enjoying everything without feeling rushed or overwhelmed by huge crowds. Such a fun, relaxing, and memorable place for families. We already can't wait to come back!

    Carmen L.

    Finally came to check out this place. We brought our tickets online for 10am and got there a little earlier and no issue with coming in earlier. Parking was big and free. We checked our African section first as recommended by many. Suggest coming here earlier due to the heat and animals also tend to avoid the heat in the afternoon. Looks like the animals have very big space to run around and live not in cages. It's a small zoo and I think we spent about 2 hours there.

    Tiffany W.

    We absolutely LOVED our visit to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens! It's truly perfect for all ages. Our 2 year olds had the best time seeing all the animals, and even the adults were amazed at how close we were able to get to the wallabies, cheetahs, and giraffes. We also really appreciated the military discount tickets were $39, which felt very reasonable for the experience. Plenty of free parking. We rented a double stroller for only $10.88, which ended up being a huge win. The kids loved it, and we really appreciated not having to use our own stroller especially since some areas had a lot of mud and dirt. It was so nice not worrying about getting our personal stroller wheels filthy. We had an amazing time overall. We were bummed that the butterfly exhibit wasn't available (it's currently replaced by the rhino experience), and unfortunately the rhino experience was sold out by 10:30 AM something we definitely wish we had planned for and will absolutely do next time. Note, the he goat petting experience has been changed due to goats ramming into little kids. So they separated the goats from the public but you're still able to get close in proximity to them. This is a must see stop if you're visiting the area. We can't wait to come back!

    Haleh M.

    While visiting Palm Springs we kept hearing about this Living desert wild life zoo. We decided to stop by thinking we would get to be in close proximity to the animals... turns out it's like any other zoo. The only area where the animals are roaming is the Kangaroo area in "Australia". Tickets were pretty pricey for being a zoo $40 a person to see exhibits without animals. The gift shop was also overly priced. If you have a tot make sure to bring a stroller it's a lot of walking. My kids enjoyed feeding the giraffes and riding the merry go round.

    Lam B.

    The Living Desert opens early which makes perfect sense given the desert heat. Even with the high temperatures, the animals were some of the most active and lively I've ever seen. Adult admission was $39.95, which felt a bit pricey for the hour or so we spent there, but the warm hospitality and unique animal encounters made it worthwhile. While many indoor buildings were closed during our visit, there were plenty of friendly and knowledgeable volunteers throughout the zoo who shared interesting facts and helpful suggestions. Arriving early was recommended as the animals were wide awake and ready for breakfast. The enclosures were designed with low fencing, so you can get surprisingly close to the animals. Some areas could use a bit more upkeep as we noticed cobwebs in the trees and swarms of gnats and flies near a few of the glassed-in exhibits. There was a charming little greenhouse in the back featuring a variety of cacti. The feline exhibits were remarkable as they were full of energy. The Australian section was also impressive, with kangaroos freely hopping and play-fighting a few feet away from us. The reptiles looked healthy and well cared for, basking lazily under heat lamps. There was also an animal hospital available to tour. Although we missed the peak season for seeing desert tortoises, the zoo usually runs a conservation program for them. Visitors may get to observe procedures if they're happening during the visit. The heat was definitely intense, so be prepared. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, and a hat as there wasn't much shade.

    Collette D.

    Absolutely had a great time feeding the giraffes. All the animals were out and moving about or laying out just sunbathing. The crowd was very minimum. The greetings from all the guys were very warming and informational. It was quite an experience. I highly recommend coming on a day is not too crowded where you can just kind of chill and relax and just go with the flow and don't forget to feed the giraffes.

    Giraffe

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    Page 1 of 40

    The Living Desert Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Living Desert

    If you got ebt do you get a discount ?And do they give you a time to enter the zoo?

    People with an EBT card can purchase tickets online (https://estore.livingdesert.org/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=TLDCON&c=WEBDIS). At the entrance, they must show a valid ID and their EBT card, along with the e-tickets.

    Is the zoo stroller friendly, will a 1 & 2 year old enjoy this place?

    Smaller children love this place. Stroller and young children friendly. Strollers and those in mobility devices will appreciate the wide, stair free walkways!

    Can you bring your own food?

    Technically there's no food check when you walk in with a backpack, so I guess you can? I did bring snacks like nuts and bars

    What are the updated hours?

    7am to 1:30pm through September 30.

    Do they sell beer like they do at the san diego zoo?

    Yes. They have beer & wine at both the Thorn Tree Grill & the Kookaburra Cafe.

    How much does this cost to get in?

    About $29

    Can general admission be upgraded to membership onsite?

    Yes. We did it when we were there. They credit the entrance fee towards the membership. I'm sure it has to be the same day of visit.

    For current general admission timed tickets, what is the time window for entry? Like if your ticket is for 12pm what is the window of time you're allowed to enter the zoo?

    Not sure, but I can tell you that we arrived 15-20 minutes "late" a few weeks ago and still got in.

    Are the model trains open?

    I was there probably 2 months ago and the model trains were definitely open.

    Can you purchase food at the zoo? If not, are there places to sit and eat food brought in? Thank you.

    Yes they have food cafes at the zoo. There are tables and benches to sit and eat. They also have vending machines for drinks.

    Is this a traditional zoo, meaning they've purchased wild-trapped animals who were brought here to the enclosures? Or is it a refuge with rescued animals?

    Animals were either born in human care or rescued from the wild due to injury and rehabilitated.

    How busy does it get in the summer?

    Want busy at all when we went a few weeks ago.

    I'm planning to visit tomorrow, do you have new rules due Covid-19?

    Yes, everything for new Policies and Procedures can be found on our website Livingdesert.org/health… 

    Does anyone know if this place is open now ? And is there any restrictions and/ or limitations as far as petting zoos and what not?

    It is open but not sure about restrictions.

    Are there still camel rides?

    At the moment No. they have the baby camels out at the moment and you can pet and feed the babies.

    How much is general admission?

    Buy your tickets at Costco if you have a Membership. You can get 2 tickets for $22.99. Better than the admission price for adults or kids if you bought direct. Adults are $24.95, kids are $14.95 on their website or at the door.… 

    Is there any place to cool off between animal viewings?

    There's a restaurant, an ice cream shop, a discovery center, and possibly more places that are all indoor.

    How long does it take to experience the entire zoo?

    It can easily take 3-4 hours to experience it fully.

    What times are you able to feed giraffes during January?

    Hi Vianna! Giraffe Feeding is from 9:30am - 2:30am. If you'd like a full list of our Daily Happenings, make sure to visit out Calendar of Events on our website. Hope this helps! =)

    Aaa discount how much?

    AAA $18 with ID

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    Review Highlights - The Living Desert

    Highlights for me were the giraffes, the big cats, and the variety of desert species you do not typically see.

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    43.8 mi

    So glad we checked this off the bucket list. We had a great experience. Despite the morning being…read morevery foggy from having warm weather the day before, the company did a great job of finding clear skies to take off from. Pilot Denni (the owner of the company with almost 40 years of pilot experience) was great and landed in the same place we took off, which is likened to a hole in one in golf. The whole experience was less than 3hrs. The ride itself lasted about an hour. We were transported to and from the launch and landing sites. They took some pictures for us and provided a balloon ride certificate at the end with discounts for local wineries and businesses. Mimosas and a bag of snacks were provided at the end. It was a great experience and would recommend to anyone willing to wake up before sunrise.

    What a magically dreamy adventure! Can't believe it's taken me (a thrill seeker) so long to go on a…read morehot air balloon, but better late than never! It was actually a lot more calm and peaceful than I thought it would be! Even my friend, who's afraid of heights, did it! Sure, she was pretty scared at first and stayed close to the center of the basket, avoiding to look out and down, but she started feeling more comfortable the longer we were in the sky. We booked on their website and used the promo code "Groupon" for a discounted price of about $180 per person. The meeting point was in the parking lot of a shopping center in Temecula at 5:30am. There, they went over some rules, info about hot air ballooning and there was a photographer/videographer, Wesly Cajuste, selling packages for stills and a video. He has a drone that follows the balloon. My friends and I decided to go for it since it was our first time and it was a special occasion (friend's birthday). We were very happy with the way the video and the photos came out. Then, a couple shuttle vans took us to where they were setting up the hot air balloons, which varies depending on the wind. Before getting in the basket, we got to go in the balloon while they were inflating it. It was chilly in the morning, but it gets pretty warm being under the propane tank, so hats and layers are suggested. We were 4 groups of 4 and were assigned to a huge balloon with 4 separate compartments we were snug in. The knowledgeable and experienced pilot, Brian, was in the middle. I read that the baskets have doors but we had to climb in ours. The ride was about an hour long and we had a spectacular view of Temecula valley. I was a little nervous about the landing, but Brian is clearly a pro and did a magnificent job with a smooth landing on an open field. No mimosas in the air since there are no restrooms, but they busted out the Crooks when we got out! The website said breakfast, but they actually just give out ziplocked bags of snacks. Lol! Totally not necessary. The balloon ride was the ultimate highlight! They also give a certificate, which includes a list of wineries you can get discounts at for having done the hot air experience.

    Photos
    Magical Adventure Balloon Rides
    Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves!
    Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves!
    B4 lift off

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    B4 lift off

    The Living Desert - zoos - Updated August 2026

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