WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR VISIT
Bring Learning to Life at The Dallas Zoo! Encompassing 106 developed acres, The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoological experience in Texas! Now, we've grown even larger with the addition of our Giants of the Savanna exhibit, featuring expansive habitats for elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and more. We offer a wide variety of educational programs and experiences utilizing wildlife and the environment as a living classroom. At the zoo - stroll through the Savanna, hike through Africa, lunch with flamingos, learn about creepy crawly adaptations at Bug U, and visit with a troupe of gorillas at our gorilla habitat and conservation station.
This checklist will help you finalize your plans, prepare for your day and ensure a safe and educational visit for your group. Enjoy your day at the Dallas Zoo!
Field Trip and Program Reservation Form
- Make the most of your visit by scheduling an intriguing On-site Education Program or one of our self-guided Backpack Tours.
- Experience the 5 major habitats of Africa on the Monorail Safari Tour (open seasonally).
- Stand eye to eye with a giraffe in the Giants of the Savanna!
- Explore the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo and meet the animals UP CLOSE!
- Take a spin around the world on the Endangered Species Carousel.
- Relax and enjoy lunch while watching the flamingos from the Zoofari Food Court.
FEES
The Dallas Zoo accepts major credit cards, school/business checks, and cash (large bills preferred).
- Zoo Admission Fees: Payable in advance or at the front gate.
- Monorail Safari Tour Fees: Payable in advance or upon arrival at the front gate or Monorail cashier booth.
- Parking Fees: $7.00 per vehicle. Government-plated school buses (yellow buses) park free.
- Education Program Fees: Must be pre-paid at least one week before your scheduled program date.
CHAPERONE POLICIES
Chaperones are important. They help make field trips safe, fun and educational for everyone. Help chaperones do a good job by reviewing these guidelines with them before you arrive. We cannot make exceptions to these policies.
Assign chaperones to their group before you leave school . Be sure students know their chaperones. Chaperones and their assigned students must stay together the entire day. Undisciplined or unchaperoned students may cause the entire group to be expelled from the Zoo.
Chaperone Requirements:
- Zoo: Minimum of one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students with your group.
- Monorail Safari Tour: Minimum of one (1) adult chaperone for every seven (7) students.
- Must be at least 21 years of age or older.
- Please discourage chaperones from bringing additional children with them on the visit.
Chaperone Responsibilities:
- Know the schedule for arrival, program, Monorail Safari Tour, lunch and departure.
- Know the educational goals of the visit
- Enforce all Zoo rules.
ON-SITE PROGRAM RULES
Program payment must be received at least one week prior to the scheduled program in order to confirm your reservation. If you need to reschedule or cancel a program, you must notify the Education Department at 214-670-6832. Programs must be cancelled at least two weeks before your program date or you will be billed the program fee.
- Class size is strictly limited to a maximum of thirty (30) students per program for all programs. Exceptions include self-guided backpack tours.
- All programs begin promptly at the scheduled time.
- Tardiness may result in the cancellation of scheduled program.
ZOO RULES
Rules ensure a safe and enjoyable field trip experience. Failure to follow the rules may result in the expulsion of your entire group from the Zoo. Please review these rules with your students and chaperones before arriving at the Zoo.
- All students must stay with their chaperone(s) at all times.
- For safety and security, have students wear a nametag that includes their name, the school's name and the teacher's name.
The following will not be tolerated:
- Climbing on rocks, walls, railings or fences
- Defacing Zoo property
- Screaming, running or tapping on the exhibit glass
- Feeding exhibit animals
- Throwing objects of any kind into exhibits
- Littering
MONORAIL SAFARI TOUR RULES
Getting started:
- Arrive at the Monorail Station (in the Wilds of Africa) fifteen (15) minutes before your tour is scheduled to depart.
- Save your receipt - it is your boarding pass.
- We will do our best to accomodate late arrivals, but we reserve the right to cancel or adjust tours as needed.
Group size requirements:
- Only the exact number scheduled for the tour can be accommodated. Additional group members may have to wait for the next available opening.
- There must be one (1) adult chaperone for every seven (7) students. For safety reasons, exceptions cannot be made. Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age or older.
- Each car seats eight (8) and must be filled. Please divide into groups of eight (8) - seven (7) students and one (1) chaperone.
On the train:
- For health and safety reasons, there is no eating, drinking, or smoking allowed on the Monorail Safari Tour.
- Follow all instructions given by Monorail Safari Tour personnel.
MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
The Dallas Zoo is located just south of downtown Dallas off I-35E, at 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway.
Take the Marsalis exit off Interstate 35E, go north on the service road and turn right at the 67-foot giraffe into the parking lot.
Please check with the Zoo parking station attendant for specific parking instructions.
QUESTIONS
Questions? Call our Scheduling line at 214.670.6832. Also, please feel free to email us at education@dallaszoo.com if you have any additional questions.
We look forward to seeing you at the Dallas Zoo!
