Encounters
Animal Encounters from $70!
Go in with unrestrained cheetahs, meerkats, monkeys, tree kangaroos, owls. Pat a Rhino, hand feed lions, tigers, giraffes or sun bears!
…and help us support conservation in the wild, local animal welfare groups, charities and causes World-wide!
Over the last few years, over $1,000,000 has been donated in cash and in kind through our Tour and Encounters and Jamala Wildlife Lodge revenue!
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Lion Encounter
Look into the eyes of a lion and be forever changed by their majesty and grace.
Get close enough to see the spikes on their tongue as they devour their afternoon treat while you learn about the amazing adaptations of Africa’s most famous predator.
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Everyday at 3:15pm
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 6 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Tiger Encounter
marvel at the size of the tiger’s paw when they are centimetres from you, before being astonished by the size of their teeth!
These big cats will leave such an impression on you that you will carry a passion for their conservation - you will leave understanding the threats facing wild tigers, while knowing there is hope for protecting their future.
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Everyday at 2:30pm
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - Approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 6 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Sun Bear Encounter
Meet our beautiful sun bears and hear their remarkable story!
A story of Otay’s survival and of how Australian Mary Hutton saved over 1,000 bears, including our own Otay, who she brought to us. You will personally feed the most aggressive of the bear family, but while letting you know who is boss, they will gently take the food from you. Sun Bears are one of the most endangered species on earth, with only an estimated 2,500 left in the wild.
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Everyday at 1:30pm
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - Approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 6 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Meerkat Encounter
Meet and feed our ‘gang’ or ‘mob’ of meerkats in this memorable encounter.
Join a keeper and enter inside their habitat where you will interact with these enchanting animals! Everyone loves the meerkats! We believe that you will have so much fun joining our meerkats in their desert habitat, that you won’t want to leave – but you DO have to!
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Everyday at 11:45am, 12:00pm, 12:45pm, 1:00pm
Maximum of 2 people at a time but larger groups can be split into groups of 2
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 8 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $139pp
Children $86pp
Weekend and Public Holidays Prices:
Adults $166pp
Children $107pp
Group Booking Prices (4pax+):
15% Discount for groups of 4 or more adults.
Giraffe Encounter
You will be overshadowed and in awe of our towering giraffe pair Shaba & Mzungu!
They are currently looking after their latest arrival, so give mum & dad a break by providing them with lunch!
Step onto our raised feeding platform and stare into the eyes of these gentle giants – at least until the food comes out! Then hold on tight as Shaba pulls the leaves from the branch in your hands. Or perhaps Mzungu is more your style, daintily pulling each leaf from the branch with her dexterous tongue!
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Everyday at 1:45pm
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 6 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Rhino Encounter
Get as close as possible to the second largest land animal – two or more tons of power and strength!
We want you to be captivated by this species and to become an ambassador for ensuring their survival in the wild.
Either Eco or Ubuntu almost invariably choose to come over to meet our guests and the next time someone says ‘the hide of a rhinoceros’ you will probably be able to tell them that you have experienced the texture of a rhino’s skin!
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Everyday at 3:00pm
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 6 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Tree Kangaroo Encounter
You will have the privilege of feeding our beautiful Tree Kangaroo Simbu his favourite food.
At the same time you will learn all about this incredible species and how our breeding program is assisting their survival.
You will be moved by the closeness that you come to this tree climbing kangaroo, and learn what a remarkable species it is.
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Everyday at 10:30am
2 people max
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 8 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekdays Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekends and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $91pp
Children $54pp
Barking Owl Encounter
The Barking Owl is native to Australia and New Guinea.
We want guests to get an appreciation of the many incredible birds that exist and how they can help them. You will enter Ruby and Rocco’s aviary and be enthralled by their grace in flight and their amazing abilities as an apex predator. Feed them and have them fly to you and see if they land on your outstretched arm!
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Everyday at 2:45pm
2 people max
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 9 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $70pp
Children $43pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adult $91pp
Children $54pp
Black & White Ruffed Lemur Encounter
Join the Canberra ‘conspiracy’ of Black and White Ruffed Lemurs
Yes, a troop of lemurs is also known as a ‘conspiracy’! We wish to introduce you to a truly amazing family living here at the National Zoo & Aquarium. Masina & partner Polo have produced 14 children while in the breeding program at the zoo, contributing to vital conservation efforts of this Critically Endangered species. Go into their habitat and be greeted by this incredible group of lemurs!
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Monday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 11:30am
4 people max (unless organised previously)
Duration - approximately 15 minutes
Min. age - 10 years (must be accompanied by a paying adult if under the age of 16)
Prices (zoo entry not included)
Discounted Weekday Prices:
Adults $107pp
Children $54pp
Weekend and Public Holiday Prices:
Adults $128pp
Children $64pp