Overnight dates for 2026 are now live!
Check out our new overnight program options below!
The Booking Process:
- Go over the program details and find the program that best fits your group.
- Make your request through this online request form. Select up to 3 dates your group is available.
- If one of your dates is available and you’re ready to book, we will book your program and send a confirmation/invoice.
- If your dates are not available or you request more information, a member of the Education team will be in touch.
- Once your booking is confirmed, a 25% non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks. At this time, we’ll need your best, highest number of participants. You can go down in numbers after this time.
- Four weeks before your program date, your final numbers and balance are due.
After Hours Program Details:
- Dates: You pick. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights; January-November
- Time: Time: 7:00pm-9:00am the next day.
- Price: see below.
- Note: For groups with participants under 18 years old, we require 1 adult for every 7 minors.
- Audience: All attendees must be at least 5 years of age.
- Your Overnight Adventure includes admission to the Zoo the next day. Breakfast is included (dinner and snack is not).
Pick Your Topic:
African Predator Prowl
On the Africa plains, it’s survival of the fittest! Discover the adaptations predators have to hunt and how their prey have evolved to give them a fighting chance. We’ll observe our incredible African predator and prey species, investigating what it takes for these animals to survive. You’ll go behind the scenes to our African animal care staff areas to see how we bring expert care and attention to these extraordinary species. Then after the fun, curl up in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 90
- Cost: $60/person
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in the Harold C. Schott Education Center’s classrooms surrounded by the Discovery Rainforest, including the Oliver Nicholson Memorial Sloth Habitat. Each classroom sleeps up to 12 people, and some rooms can open to sleep up to 24. Your group may be separated across the classrooms depending on the size of the group, and other groups booked that night.
Adventures in Adaptations
Adaptations are the key to life! Join us as we explore how animals find their food, escape predators, find a mate, and overall SURVIVE in all their unique habitats. Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! Then, after the fun, curl up in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 90
- Cost: $60/person
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in the Harold C. Schott Education Center’s classrooms surrounded by the Discovery Rainforest, including the Oliver Nicholson Memorial Sloth Habitat. Each classroom sleeps up to 12 people, and some rooms can open to sleep up to 24. Your group may be separated across the classrooms depending on the size of the group, and other groups booked that night.
NEW! Elephant Trekking at Night
Join us for a wild new Overnight Adventure where teamwork takes center stage! Discover the incredible ways animals cooperate to survive and thrive. From elephant herds led by wise matriarchs to the organized chaos of ant colonies, you’ll discover the power of working together in the animal kingdom. As night falls, we’ll trek through the zoo, meet incredible animal ambassadors, and uncover the secrets of animal communities in action. We’ll even go behind the scenes in the Elephant Trek Pump Room and explore the fascinating CREW exhibit space, where conservation comes to life. Then, wind down the night in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.
*Note: There is the possibility to sleep in the Elephant Trek event space on Monday nights only for an increased cost. For all other nights, participants will sleep in our Education Rainforest building.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 60-90 depending on the day of the week
- Cost: $70/person
- Sleeping:
- If you book Tuesday-Saturday, your group will sleep in the Harold C. Schott Education Center’s classrooms surrounded by the Discovery Rainforest, including the Oliver Nicholson Memorial Sloth Habitat (this building sleeps up to 90 people). Each classroom sleeps up to 12 people, and some rooms can open to sleep up to 24. Your group may be separated across the classrooms depending on the size of the group, and other groups booked that night.
- If you book a Monday program, your group has the option to sleep in the Elephant Trek Event Space (this space sleeps up to 60 people).
Sleep with the Manatees
We have changed things a bit with this program to focus on the incredible animals that share our continent, so if you've done this program before, you might want to do it again! But don’t worry, the manatees are still a strong focus and where we will end the night! Our local species play vital roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They help regulate prey populations to prevent overgrazing, disperse seeds, pollinate plants, cycle nutrients, and enrich the soil. Some even create habitats that provide shelter and breeding grounds for other plants and animals! There’s so much to discover, and learn, from the amazing diversity of life in North America! When the night ends, you’ll doze off at our Manatee Springs building with manatees floating by your bed.
*Note: Our manatees are part of a rehabilitation program and typically return to Florida in early October. As a result, programs booked in October may sleep in an alternate location.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 60
- Cost: $70/person
- Sleeping: Program participants will sleep in our Manatee Springs building, which is one large, open room. Please be aware that there is no way to divide or separate the group within the space. Program instructors will sleep in the same room as participants, positioned at the back of the building to provide supervision while maintaining distance from guests.
Twiga Tented Safari
A truly one-of-a-kind experience, our Twiga Tented Safari will take you across the African grasslands. We’ll traverse through Africa, listening to tales of innovation for living harmoniously with wildlife, such as how a flashlight can shield you against lions, or why a puppy can save cheetahs. On our safari, we will get behind the scenes of Hippo Cove and uncover secrets of our world-famous bloat. We’ll finish up our night at our Twiga tents, gathered round a roaring campfire roasting s’mores and telling stories. This unique adventure ends with a relaxing night in our shared safari tents on cozy cots and waking up to breakfast overlooking Giraffe Ridge.
*Available April – October only
- Minimum Participants: 1 tent, no minimum participant
- Maximum Participants: 4 tents (40 people)
- Cost: $1000/tent
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in our African Safari tents located in the Twiga Tented Camp. Each tent sleeps up to 10 people on comfortable cot bunk beds.
Additional Policies:
Payment Policy
- A 25% non-refundable deposit is required. This deposit is due no later than two weeks after you have booked your program date. This deposit will be applied to your total program fee. Your best, highest estimate of participants numbers is due at this time.
- After your deposit is paid, your participant numbers may not increase.
- Finalized participant numbers (including chaperones and teachers) and the rest of your program fee is due no later than four weeks prior to your program date.
- Minimum payment for African Predator Prowl, Adventures in Adaptations, Elephant Trekking at Night and Sleep with the Manatees is for 15 participants. Minimum payment for Twiga Tented Safari is 1 tent.
- Accepted payments include check, credit/debit card, or purchase order. If you are paying with a PO, we require a copy of the PO; numbers only will not be accepted.
- Please call our Education Registrars at 513-559-7730 to finalize details and provide the rest of your program fee.
- Checks can be made out to: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Please put your order number in the memo line of your payment.
- Mail: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ATTN: Education Department, After Hours Programs, 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45220
Reschedule Policy
- If you need to reschedule, your group may reschedule up to two weeks prior to your program date.
- At least 4 weeks in advance of your program date incurs no fees.
- Between 14-28 days before your program date, $200 rescheduling fee.
- Less than 14 days before your program, is considered a cancellation and will follow the cancellation policy.
Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable after two weeks of booking your program.
- 14 days or more before your program date any payments minus the deposit will be refunded.
- Less than 14 days deposit and all other payments are forfeited.