Omaha Zoo: Ideal Time to Go 8 Amazing Animals to See

The is a wonderful place to visit and learn more about animals and their environment. While there isn’t a bad time of year to visit, some specific times do offer access to special events, fewer crowds, or ideal weather. Plus, you can take advantage of the large zoo and aquarium grounds to see many of the amazing animals.

The zoo dates back to 1894 when it was opened under the name Riverside Park Zoo. Many accolades for the zoo and staff center around the work that they do for animal conservation, much of which goes on behind the scenes. Because the zoo has such a long history, they have really been at the front of some cutting-edge exhibits and research. Some of the most notable things include the Lied Jungle indoor rainforest, the Desert Dome, and the Kingdoms of the Night indoor swamp.

Ideal Time to Visit Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

The zoo is great year-round in part because there are so many indoor exhibits to enjoy. Omaha gets cold temperatures in the winter and hot, humid summers. So having multiple indoor places to explore is key. Even if the temperatures outside are below freezing, you’ll feel tropical as soon as you step foot into the Lied Jungle. During the humid midwest summers, a stop at the Desert Dome is perfect. These indoor exhibits are very large and include multiple floors. You can spend all day indoors at the zoo and still not see everything!

There are also special events throughout the year that are worth marking on your calendar. Ghouls and Glows is the annual Halloween light show that takes place in the evenings in October all around the zoo. Visitors can enjoy trick or treating, animal encounters, and a lighted Halloween walk. Additional options include smores, pumpkin decorating, and carousel rides. Tickets do cost extra but are well worth it for the special memories made.

Summer months include adults-only late-night events. These are also extra but feature access to food trucks, themed cocktails, live music, and late-night access to some exhibits. Easter Bunny visits, Santa sightings, and others are all popular at the zoo. There are also plenty of opportunities for the public to volunteer and get involved in the zoo’s conservation efforts. The zoo also hosts escape challenges where participants have to solve riddles and find clues all around the zoo. There is never a bad time to visit the zoo but these special events make the visit extra special.

Animals at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

With so many fantastic exhibits, it’s not surprising that there are equally interesting animals to see at the zoo. Here are some of the top critters to visit as well as some you may not have expected to see.

2 Red Panda

These animals are located in the Asian Highlands portion of the zoo. This section of the zoo is marked by a replica ruin that stands over the entrance. The are some of the most popular animals in Asian Highlands, so expect some crowds, especially on sunny days. The red pandas are the first exhibit within this section and draw a lot of onlookers. But who can blame them? After all, these small pandas with adorable face and distinct reddish-brown fur are fun to watch.

Other animals nearby include cranes, deer, Indian rhino, and sloth bear. What makes these animals a must-see is the way that they are kept. Asian Highlands has a vast natural landscape that allows plenty of space for the animals to roam and explore, just like they would in the wild.

3 Giraffe

Many visitors to the zoo love to see the giraffes. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium goes above and beyond to let giraffe enthusiasts learn more about these majestic creatures. The giraffes can roam outdoors or go to a quieter indoor herd room. Outdoors, they share their enclosure in the Scott African Grasslands with impala, white rhino, ostrich, and spur-winged geese. Indoors, they have access to food and hay. The Hawkins Giraffe Encounter Area is also available for patrons to get a closer view and to even feed the giraffes, although you’ll have to schedule this special experience.

4 Lions

Another animal in the Scott African Grasslands portion of the zoo, the lion is truly the king (or queen) of this part of the zoo. You can see these big cats sunning and stretching on a tall rock formation or prowling the grasslands, similar to what you would see in the wild. From their spot on the rocks, they can see the entire grassland. It looks like something just out of The Lion King!

Amazingly, this portion of the zoo includes a training demonstration area for the keepers to use. They work with the lions to provide enrichment opportunities, just like with so many other animals in the zoo. In addition to keeper-facilitated enrichment, the environment in the exhibit includes special things for the lions to explore. They especially enjoy a partial Land Rover vehicle, which is situated next to the glass of the enclosure, as well as heated rocks.

If you want to really get to know the lions, consider an overnight stay in one of the nearby Safari Tents. This camp features safari-style tents (with electricity) that are located next to the lion enclosure. Guests can roast marshmallows during the evening and enjoy a keeper-led night hike and morning hike around the zoo.

5 Macaws

, as well as others, are great to visit at the Dick and Mary Holland Meadowlark Theater. The Lied Jungle, which is another must-see, is home to macaws. But the demonstrations at the theater are really worth checking out. The Birds in Flight program put on at the theater allows visitors to not only learn more about these birds but also learn how they can help conservation efforts to help the species thrive. There are 35 different species featured in the Birds in Flight lineup, including scarlet macaws and blue and gold macaws. Many fly during the program to help visitors see them in action.

The big message of the Birds in Flight program goes beyond just seeing birds do tricks, however. While the birds do demonstrate their natural behaviors, the purpose of the program is to educate the public on what the birds can do and what the public can do to preserve their environment. If you like to get up close with birds, you’ll definitely have your chance. Some birds, such as the macaws, fly through the audience to various perches in the theater.

7 American Alligators

You should definitely make time to see the in the Kingdoms of the Night portion of the zoo not just because they are amazing animals but also because their enclosure is just spectacular. Kingdoms of the Night is located under the giant sand dune in the Namib Desert portion of the Desert Dome. It is dedicated specifically to nocturnal animals as well as swamp-dwelling animals like the gators. The swamp covers a quarter of an acre and has 160,000 gallons of water, making it the largest indoor swamp in the world. Visitors walk through on a boardwalk and get to see the animals in their natural habitat. There are nine adult alligators in total. One is an all-white leucistic alligator. In the wild, predators would have likely eaten this animal early on in its life due to its inability to camouflage with its environment. Now, it lives at the New Orleans Zoo and is on loan to its home at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.

9 Sharks

There are numerous species of on display in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium. But the effect of the many sharks circling through the 70-foot shark tunnel is truly breathtaking. Brown sharks, nurse sharks, zebra sharks, wobbegong, epaulette sharks, albino bamboo sharks or cat sharks, swell sharks, , and chain dogfish sharks all call this aquarium home. The exhibits include plenty of information about the sharks, including where their natural habitat is in the world and information about their lifecycle. While visiting the aquarium part of the zoo, you can also check out sea turtles, fish, and plenty of other ocean life.