The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is dedicated to the plants and animals of the world's desert environments, offering a more specialized experience than a traditional zoo. Its exhibits focus on the remarkable adaptations that allow wildlife to thrive in arid landscapes, while extensive desert gardens showcase native and international plant collections. Set within the Coachella Valley, the grounds blend landscaped habitats with the surrounding desert scenery, reinforcing the connection between the exhibits and their natural setting.

Visitors can see giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, Mexican wolves, reptiles, birds, and many smaller desert species in habitats inspired by deserts from North America, Africa, and Australia. Walking trails wind through botanical displays and animal exhibits, while interpretive experiences emphasize the relationships between wildlife, plants, climate, and conservation. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is especially well suited to travelers interested in desert ecology and those looking for a destination where wildlife and botanical collections are presented as equally important parts of the experience.