Wild Explorer

The Ultimate 360° VR Experience

This summer, immerse yourself in a 360-degree, 3D live-action journey into virtual reality with marine biologists and wildlife experts. Hop into the pod, strap on your VR goggles, and trek with mountain gorillas, get up close and personal with dinosaurs, take part in Africa’s great migration, or dive with sharks. 

Hours

10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Location

Hawks Desert Dome Plaza 

Price

Wild Explorer is a separate, ticketed experience, and is not included with any wristband packages or Patron benefits.

• • Per rider: $8 ($6 for members)
  • 2 rider tickets: $15 

Explorer Checklist

• Minimum height for riders is 40 inches tall.
• Maximum passenger weight is 600 pounds.
• Maximum one person per seat at all times.
• This immersive virtual reality
•  experience involves loud sounds, visual effects, flashing lights, and multi-directional motion-enabled seating.
• The experience is not recommended for anyone with any condition that could be aggravated by sensory stimulation or motion. 
• No food, including chewing gum, or drink is permitted on the experience.
• A 2 rider ticket purchase can be used for two separate riders.

Experiences

Dinosaur Evolution

The Great Migration

Gorilla Trek

Shark Dive

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 

About

Oceans: Our Blue Planet takes us on a global odyssey to discover the largest and least explored habitat on earth. New ocean science and technology has allowed us to go further into the unknown than we ever thought possible. From the coastal shallows to deeper, more mysterious worlds, we reveal the untold stories of the oceans’ most astonishing creatures.

Showtimes

11:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m.

Elephants: Giants of the Desert

About

Elephants is an epic journey across Africa’s Namib Desert, getting up close and personal with the largest land mammals on the planet. Making one of the world’s oldest desert home, the desert elephants are one of nature’s most inspiring examples of survival and adaptation. Brave the desert with elephant baby Little Foot and her elephant family as they live a timeless tale of resilience, ingenuity and close family bonds. 

Showtimes

11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Pricing

• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium members: FREE
• Non-members: $7 per person
• Audio and visual assistive devices for the Lozier Giant Screen Theater® are available upon request.

All aboard! Take a ride on the Omaha Zoo Railroad. Guests can board the train at the Omaha Depot, located near Stingray Beach and Sue's Wildlife Carousel, or at the African Lodge, located on the southeast corner of the Zoo.

Hours

Closed

All rides operate weather-permitting and will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 50 degrees by 1 p.m.

Pricing

One-way ticket: $3.50 per person
Roundtrip ride: $7 per person
Children 2 and under are free.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members will receive a five-percent discount on their rides purchase by presenting their membership card and a valid photo I.D.

Hours

Open 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily.

All rides operate weather-permitting and will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 50 degrees by 1 p.m.

Pricing

One-way ride: $1.25 per stop (four stops)
Round-trip ride: $5 per person
Children 2 and under are free.

Tickets can be purchased at the self-service kiosks located at each tram stop.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members will receive a five-percent discount on their rides purchase by presenting their membership card and a valid photo I.D.

Thirty animals were added in spring 1999, but instead of fur were covered in brillant enamel. These are the animals that bring Sue's Wildlife Carousel to life. For generations, young and old alike have been enchanted by the nostalgic beauty and magical charm of the carousel.

Hours

Open 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily.

All rides operate weather-permitting and will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 45 degrees by 1 p.m. You must be at least 42 inches tall to ride Sue's Wildlife Carousel without an adult.

Pricing

$4 per person

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members will receive a five-percent discount on their rides purchase by presenting their membership card and a valid photo I.D.

Hours

Skyfari is weather and staff-dependent. For today's hours, visit Today at the Zoo.

All rides operate weather-permitting and will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 50 degrees by 1 p.m.

Pricing

Roundtrip ride: $7 per person
Children 2 and under are free

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members will receive a five-percent discount on their rides purchase by presenting their membership card and a valid photo I.D.

Hours

Stingray Beach is currently closed.

Temperatures must be above 35 degrees to open the area.

Pricing

• $5 for non-members
• $4 for Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium members (must have membership card and valid photo I.D. present)
• $2.50 for school groups
• Feeding cups are available for $1.50 (limited quantities daily)

Go to great heights on your "necks" adventure at our Giraffe Encounter in the Scott African Grasslands.

Closed for the season.

Cost: $5 per branch 

Closed for the season.

Will not operate if there is rain, snow, ice or if the temperature will not reach 70 degrees by noon.

Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park is Alaskan-themed, featuring dancing waters through sprays and spouts and over 75 bronze sculptures created by Nebraska’s own, Matthew Placzek. The spraying water is managed through computerized controls, systematically spraying a mix of water and air through nozzles arranged around the sculptures to simulate the water effects made by the animals as they breech, porpoise, splash, spray water from their blowholes and emerge from or dive into the ocean.  

The centerpiece of Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park is an 18-foot-high humpback whale which has water trailing from its extended fins. A whale’s tail is a separate sculpture and is 16 feet wide and eight feet tall with water flowing from the edge as it appears to submerge for a deep dive. Additional bronze sculptures include: 30 jumping salmon, 25 puffins, 15 sea lions sunning on rocks, three porpoising orcas and three brown bears. Misting nozzles and native Alaskan landscape surround this new area to truly allow Zoo guests to feel like they are in Alaska. 

The Alaskan-themed area a way to incorporate animals and large species that the Zoo does not currently have, and gives kids the opportunity to learn about some of the animals that can be seen near the Alaska coastline.

Scott Alaskan Adventure Splash Park will be located near Glacier Bay Landing and Sue’s Carousel, making this area of the Zoo a hub for kids’ activities.  A family changing area is also located near the new exhibit.

This exhibit is free to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium members or with paid general Zoo admission.