Botanical Tours
Activities

Botanical Tours

Plant Day and Orchid Odyssey

Plant Days and Orchid Odyssey are back! See how we've grown!

During this year's scheduled events (see the list of dates below), guests can enjoy Orchid Odyssey from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our orchid house was remodeled in  2021, and the plants are adjusting well to their new environment—there's always an orchid in bloom! The Orchid Greenhouse is located between map locators 9 and 10.

Also on Plant Days, the Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Horticulture staff will be available to answer all your questions about these amazing plants! The Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse is located between map locators 18 and 19, across the bus road from the lions.

A Botanical Bus Tour will be available on Plant Days at 11 a.m. (and at noon on Friday, March 17, 2023), led by a different horticulture staff member each month—giving you a broad perspective of our botanical collections. The Botanical Bus Tour loads at Bus Unloading and follows a similar path as the Guided Bus Tour.

Take a piece of our garden home with you! Each month on Plant Days, a variety of plants will be available for purchase—all grown on site by Zoo horticulture staff. The Plant Sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Orchid Greenhouse entrance, between map locators 9 and 10.

Here's the schedule for 2023 Plant Days and Orchid Odyssey:
Friday, January 20, 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
Sunday, March 12, 2023 (Carnivorous Plants and Orchid Greenhouse; No Bus Tour or Plant Sale on This Date)
Friday, March 17, 2023
Friday, April 21, 2023
Friday, May 19, 2023
Friday, June 16, 2023
Friday, July 21, 2023
Friday, August 18, 2023
Sunday, September 10, 2023 (Carnivorous Plants and Orchid Greenhouse; No Bus Tour or Plant Sale on This Date)
Friday, September 15, 2023
Friday, October 20, 2023
Friday, November 17, 2023
Friday, December 15, 2023

 

Self-guided Tours

Take a self-guided tour of the San Diego Zoo's spectacular gardens and plant collections any time you choose, with our Botanical Tour brochures (see below). Find your way with your Zoo map, and learn more about the interesting, beautiful, and threatened species in our botanical collections.

 

Gardens

  • Australian Outback
  • Elephant Odyssey Trees
  • Fern Canyon
  • Monkey Trails
  • Africa Rocks

 

Collections

  • Aloes
  • Bamboos
  • Cycads
  • Orchids
  • Coral Trees
  • Palms
  • Carnivorous Plants
  • Figs (Ficus)

 

Brochure Downloads

Botanical Tour brochures made possible through the generosity of The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation.

  • Africa Rocks Botanical Tour
  • Aloes Botanical Tour
  • Australian Outback Botanical Tour
  • Bamboos Botanical Tour
  • Carnivorous Plants Botanical Tour
  • Coral Trees Botanical Tour
  • Cycads Botanical Tour
  • Elephant Odyssey Trees Botanical Tour
  • Fern Canyon Botanical Tour
  • Figs (Ficus) Botanical Tour
  • Monkey Trails Botanical Tour
  • Orchids Botanical Tour
  • Palms Botanical Tour
  • Please Note: While we work hard to provide an exceptional guest experience, occasionally wildlife habitats, tours, restaurants, transportation, entertainment or other services change or close without notice and without liability due to unscheduled circumstances.

    Hotel with pool
    Creature Comforts

    PREFERRED HOTELS

    Groom and bride embracing as a giraffe looks on in the distance.
    Wild Weddings

    Picture Your Special Day at the Park!

    Chubby Unicorn ShopZoo collection
    Shop the Collection

    Save the Chubby Unicorns

    SDZWA adventures botswana elephant
    SDZWA Adventures

    Come Travel with Us!