Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, formerly known as the Living Desert Museum, is a zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert. The park highlights desert animals from around the world, especially North America and Africa. Highlights include the Mexican wolf, eagles, giraffe, zebras, camels, and more. The park’s garden section features cactus, a butterfly garden, and a palm oasis area, among other plantings. The best time to see the animals is in the morning, when the animals are often at their most active as it is the coolest time of day. The zoo can be quite hot, especially in the summer, so plan ahead, wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water.

The Living Desert is part-zoo and part-botanical garden, all in the extraordinary setting of a desert. Along with animals like mountain lions, bighorn sheep and meerkats, there are a handful of gardens that showcase more than 1,400 species of plants, including multiple varieties of cacti, prickly pear and agave. Past visitors enjoyed seeing The Living Desert's animals but recommended arriving early, since the park offers little shade and temperatures often rise above 100 degrees. Many also suggested paying an extra $5 to feed the giraffes, and if you're traveling with little ones or don't want to walk between exhibits, consider purchasing a ticket for the property's hop-on, hop-off shuttle. Passes cost $6 for adults and $3 for children between 3 and 12. From October 1 to May 31, The Living Desert is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the summer the attraction is open every day between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission is $19.95, but discounted rates are available for seniors and kids ages 3 to 12. Camel rides are also offered select months for $6 per person. Park tickets can be purchased on the property's website, but some extras cannot be booked in advance. In addition to the attraction's exhibits and gardens, you'll find a free parking lot, two gift shops, restrooms, a model train set, the interactive Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center, a seasonal carousel and two eateries. The Living Desert is located about 17 miles southeast of Palm Springs in the adjacent city of Palm Desert.

Ever wonder what a roadrunner and coyote really look like? At The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, you can meet the real life inspiration for these desert-dwelling "Looney Tunes" characters. This Palm Desert zoo focuses on educating visitors about animals from deserts in North America and Africa, including giraffes, warthogs, jaguars and bighorn sheep, to name a few. The Living Desert also has a number of gardens showcasing the various cacti and other plants native to the desert. Hikers, be sure to bring your gear. The Living Desert has 1,080 acres of undisturbed desert land and a number of nature trails through the preserve are open seasonally to the public.

The Living Desert is a 1200 acre facility that specializes in the plants and animals found throughout the deserts of the world. Many exotic and endangered species can be seen in natural surroundings. MissionDesert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.The Living Desert is a 1200 acre facility that specializes in the plants and animals found throughout the deserts of the world. Many exotic and endangered species can be seen in natural surroundings such as bighorn sheep, oryx, cheetahs, wolves, striped hyenas, thick-billed parrots, leopards and golden eagles. The botanical gardens represent over 1500 species, indigenous to the arid areas of North America and Africa. A state-of-the-art wildlife hospital allows visitors to interact with the staff while procedures are being performed on animals. A children's discovery center and desert play park, live animal shows, endangered species carousel, G-scale garden railroad, and many other features can be found in this unique zoo which sits in the middle of the Coachella Valley, just 15 miles east of Palm Springs.For almost four decades The Living Desert has been engaged in the important work of preserving, conserving and interpreting the desert and all its varied plant and animal life. Even as we take immense pride in our accomplishments over the last forty years, we remain as dedicated as ever to the goals that initially inspired us when we first began operations in March of 1970.

A wilderness preserve that reintroduces species back into the wild, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens focuses solely on desert environments. The gardens feature a series of landscapes that recreate regional desert environments, including flowers, edible plants, and cacti. Talk to the tour guides, who will explain how integral deserts are to the world's ecosystems. The park also manages conservation and desert reconstruction programs. Plan to visit The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens during your Palm Desert vacation using our convenient Palm Desert vacation planner.