We attended the Zoo lights presentation here at the end of December. I had initially purchased online tickets to see the zoo, thinking that once we were done with that, we could simply see the lights once it turned dark . However, when I called the office to check the zoo hours, I discovered that the zoo closes at 5 PM, and everyone needs to leave the facility. Then they re-open at 6 PM for people to see the lights at night. A ticket to the zoo will not get you in to see the lights. That was quite a shock….I had to have my zoo tickets cancelled, and then re-purchase tickets for the light show. So, once we arrived for the Zoo lights, we found the display to be very extensive and quite enjoyable.

A huge zoo where I spent a whole morning but you can safely spend a whole day. The zoo is divided into thematic areas. America, Australia and Africa are the continents from which the guests who populate this zoo come. During the day there are continuous opportunities to listen to the people who care about animal health, on their website there is the time of each meeting (there are so many that it is virtually impossible to do them all). There is also a mega city with trains and various play areas for children. I have seen many people carried around with electric cars but given the size of the park it may be necessary especially for those who are not used to walking so much. Really nice.

We brought our two-year-old daughter to The Living Desert to feed the giraffes, and it was such a great experience! The weather was perfect—not too hot—and there was so much to see and do that it kept our little one engaged and excited the entire time. She absolutely loves animals, so this was a perfect outing for her. The highlight of the visit was, without a doubt, feeding the giraffes. She got to hand them lettuce, and it was such a magical moment—she still talks about it to this day! This zoo is well laid out, family-friendly, and a great way to spend a day in the Palm Springs area, which happens to be one of our favorite nearby getaway spots. We will definitely be returning on future visits!

This is worth the $40 adult admission fee but probably only if you go early in the day and not in the summer. During our winter visit the animals were all out and about and the crowds were low because we started at 9am. By the time we left at noon the parking lot was packed. There is a lot of walking to see everything but this also helps reduce congestion. Loved the gardens too!

The Living Desert is well worth a visit, even if the price of admission is nearly $40 per person. High marks for enthusiastic staff, beautifully kept grounds, and close access to the animals (giraffe feeding!). The collection is relatively small, and as the name suggests, focuses more on desert wildlife, such as coyotes, prairie dogs and tortoise. Large African animals feature cheetahs, giraffe and rhinos; Australia is represented by wallabies, emus and kookaburra. This zoo also has Amur leopards to admire.

This desert zoo was really well done. You could see every animal because of the design - no hidden animals. Clean, very friendly staff, and over half a day to explore. We have been on a couple of safaris, and this was satisfying to see.

Hubby & I went with another couple and their 2 young daughters on a Sunday morning to beat the crowds. Thankfully they knew enough to book a private tour. Our guide was, Dave, a lovely older gentleman who drove us around in a large cart and was so well-informed about all the species of animals. The best part was feeding the giraffes with the girls (and being able to cut the long line, as a tour group!). The place is quite large, so being driven around to see all the habitats was quite welcome. If you have kids or just love animals, this is a great place to visit.

Amazing time with family at the zoo. Went with two boys, 10 and 3 yrs old. Got to feed the giraffes, and had a wonderful time. Bring a hat (or get one at the gift shop) and sunscreen. The weather wasn't too hot but very sunny so you can get a sunburn.

Visited early morning which was apparently the right thing to do as all the animals were out and about waiting to be fed so you saw lots of them wandering around. the layout is nice to the right of the entry gate but the park area to the left seems to be spread out for no reason with almost no animals until the very end so if you are short on time go right, not left. Feeding the giraffes was a nice experience too.

Such an amazing experience! Beautiful property, well maintained! Good food! Clean bathrooms and the animals and scenery are breathtaking! It doesn’t feel like a zoo! It feels more like safari! We saw animals that we had never seen in other zoos! I hope the management keeps up the good work and keeps the place as nice as it is now! Definitely worth the drive.