This Colorado Wildlife Destination Gets You Closer To Exotic Animals Than You’d Think

Most wildlife parks keep a comfortable distance between visitors and the animals. This Colorado destination does things differently, letting guests get surprisingly close to giraffes, wallabies, hippos, and hundreds of other animals.

What makes the experience so memorable? You can feed giraffes by hand while taking in wide mountain views, then wander farther through the park to see animals in habitats designed around their natural behaviors.

More than 750 animals call the park home, giving visitors plenty to discover as they move through the grounds. The high elevation adds another layer to the experience, with mountain air, sweeping views, and plenty of walking between encounters.

Families can easily spend hours here, but the experience works just as well for adults looking for something different from the usual day out. Even experienced zoo visitors may find themselves surprised by how close some of the encounters feel.

Giraffes Eat From Your Hand

Feeding a giraffe is the moment most visitors talk about for years afterward. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo keeps one of the largest reticulated giraffe herds in North America, and an elevated boardwalk brings you right up to their faces.

You buy a small bundle of lettuce, hold it out, and wait. A long purple tongue does the rest.

The giraffes are patient, curious, and clearly used to the routine, and they lean in with a slow confidence that makes the whole thing feel gentle rather than scary.

Kids often squeal. Adults usually laugh even louder.

Have you ever been close enough to a giraffe to count its eyelashes?

Feeding usually happens throughout the day, but times can shift with weather and animal moods, so check the daily schedule board when you arrive. Mornings tend to be quieter, which means shorter lines and more one on one time with the herd.

The zoo also runs an international center focused on giraffe care and conservation, sharing what they learn with keepers around the world. So your handful of lettuce is part of something bigger than a fun photo.

Bring small bills or use a card at the feeding station. And keep your fingers flat, because those tongues move fast and they are not shy about going after seconds.

Wallabies Hop Beside You

No fence. No glass.

Just a winding path where red-necked wallabies lounge, hop, and occasionally nap right next to your feet.

The Australia Walkabout lets you share the trail with them, which feels strange in the best possible way. Visitors walk slowly and keep to the path while the wallabies do whatever they please, and sometimes that means stretching out in a sunny spot and ignoring everyone completely.

Watching a wallaby scratch its belly two feet away is oddly hilarious. Would you keep your cool if one hopped straight across your path?

The rule here is simple. You look, you photograph, you do not touch.

Wallabies get to decide how close they come, and honestly, they often choose closer than you expect.

Morning visits usually mean more movement, since the animals get active before the Colorado sun climbs high. Later in the day you might catch a whole group dozing in the shade like a pile of soft brown pillows.

The exhibit is flat and easy, a nice break from the hills elsewhere in the park. Little ones especially love it, because there is nothing between them and a real live animal.

Slow down here. Stand still for a minute and let the wallabies come to you.

Penguins And Hippos Up Close

African penguins waddling past your ankles is not something you plan for. At Water’s Edge: Africa, it can absolutely happen.

The penguin area is designed so the birds sometimes stroll on the visitor side, flippers out, chattering away like they own the place. They move with that stiff little penguin march that never stops being funny.

Then there are the hippos. Huge glass windows let you stand eye to eye with Nile hippos as they glide underwater, and seeing something that big float so gracefully is genuinely surprising.

There is even a scale nearby so you can compare your weight to a hippo’s. Spoiler: you lose badly.

Curious how many of you it takes to equal one hippo?

Keeper talks happen here through the day, and they are worth catching. You learn how the animals are trained, fed, and cared for, and the keepers answer questions without rushing.

Grab a bench and just watch for a while. Hippos have a habit of surfacing right when you think nothing is going to happen.

Come early or late in the day for the clearest underwater views. Midday sun can throw glare across the glass, and the underwater show is far too good to miss.

Sky Ride Above The Animals

Imagine a ski lift, except instead of snow below you there are grizzly bears, Rocky Mountain goats, and Amur tigers.

The Mountaineer Sky Ride is an open-air chairlift that floats you above part of the park and up the mountainside. Your feet dangle, the breeze picks up, and Colorado Springs spreads out below like a map.

It costs a few extra dollars, and regular visitors say it is worth every cent. Ride it first thing in the morning to skip the line and catch cooler air.

From up there you spot animals you might walk right past on the ground. Tigers pacing, goats balancing on rocks, the whole mountain doing its thing.

Bring a hat and hold onto loose items, because there is nothing between you and the view. Ready to see a zoo from a tiger’s ceiling instead of its fence line?

The ride also gives your legs a break, which matters on a hillside park with plenty of climbing. Think of it as sightseeing and rest rolled into one.

Weather can close the lift, so ask at the entrance if it is running. On a clear Colorado morning, the combination of wildlife below and mountain peaks ahead is hard to beat.

Elephants And Rhino Snack Time

An elephant trunk reaching toward you is a surprisingly delicate thing. It sniffs, curls, and takes a snack with more precision than most people manage with chopsticks.

Encounter Africa is where African elephants and a black rhinoceros live, and scheduled snack times let visitors get involved. Keepers guide everything closely, so the animals stay comfortable and you stay safe.

The rhino is a whole different vibe. Solid, armored, weirdly calm, and much bigger up close than photos suggest.

A sky bridge in this area adds another treat, giving you views of the city and plains while elephants move around below. Two great sights, one spot.

Keeper demonstrations here explain how these giants get their daily care, including foot checks and training sessions. It is honest, interesting, and shows the work happening behind the scenes.

Snack times fill up fast, so head over a little before the posted hour. Ever wondered what an elephant’s trunk feels like when it reaches for food near your hand?

Exhibit areas sometimes shift due to construction or animal needs, so grab a map at the gate. Staff and volunteers scattered around the park are happy to point you the right way, and they usually toss in a fun fact while they do.

Small Animals, Big Personalities

Not every star here weighs two tons. Some fit in your hands.

The Loft and My Big Backyard are packed with smaller residents like tortoises, snakes, lizards, skunks, chickens, and bunnies. Handlers bring animals out for close looks and sometimes a gentle touch, and the questions come flying from every direction.

Tortoises plod along at their own unhurried pace. Snakes stretch out, calm and shiny, while kids inch closer with wide eyes.

My Big Backyard is built for younger explorers, with slides, play spots, and shady corners where little legs can recharge. Parents appreciate that just as much as the kids do.

The zoo also offers custom experiences for anyone wanting more, including behind the scenes access, helping prepare animal meals, and even painting alongside a reptile. Yes, painting with a reptile is a real thing here.

Which would you rather meet up close, a tortoise or a bunny?

Bird feeding is another favorite in this part of Colorado’s highest zoo, where small colorful budgies land on feeding sticks. It is a bit chaotic and a lot of fun.

Stop by these areas when the middle of the day gets warm. Shade, benches, and pint sized animals make an excellent reset.

Carousel, Views And Pizza

A carousel from around 1925 still spins here, painted horses and all. Riding it feels like borrowing a piece of the past for two minutes.

It is the kind of thing that gets grandparents and grandkids on the same ride, laughing at each other. Simple, cheerful, and a nice pause between exhibits.

Food comes with a serious upgrade at the pizza spot near the top of the hill, where panoramic windows look out over the city. Brick oven crust plus a view of Colorado Springs is a solid lunch combination.

Snag a window seat if one opens up. People rave about that table for good reason.

You can also pack your own meal, since outside food is welcome. Glass containers are not allowed, so use soft coolers or reusable bottles instead.

Water refill stations sit throughout the park, which matters more than you think at this elevation. Colorado air is dry and the sun is strong, so keep sipping.

Scenic overlooks pop up along the paths, turning ordinary walking stretches into photo stops. Which do you photograph first, the animals or the mountain view behind them?

A little planning here goes far. Eat high, ride the carousel, then wander back down slowly.

Plan Smart, Enjoy More

A few smart moves turn a good day here into a great one. First, book timed entry tickets in advance, because everyone needs them, and popular weekend slots go quickly.

The park is open every day of the year, though hours change with the seasons, so check the official website before heading out. Mornings usually mean easier parking and livelier animals.

Wear real walking shoes. The paths climb and dip across the mountainside, and a paid shuttle helps if hills are tough for anyone in your group.

Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light jacket, since Colorado weather flips fast at this height. Most visitors spend three to four hours, and many wish they had stayed longer.

Your ticket also includes the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun up the highway, which closes earlier in the afternoon. Drive up first, then come back for the animals.

Every admission sends 75 cents to conservation projects worldwide through the Quarters for Conservation program. That has added up to millions since 2008.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, an easy drive from Denver and worth the trip. So what are you waiting for?

Grab your tickets and treat yourself to a genuinely fun Colorado day.