Promised Land Zoo is Branson's hands-on animal park — a foot safari where guests feed animals all over the park, plus guided vehicle tours — opened in 2013 and run by keepers who plainly love the work. Its film record is the richest of any Branson animal page.

WILD RTV Adventure at Promised Land Zoo Makes Jaws DROP!

Branson Fam

The Ultimate Excursion: a guided RTV side-by-side tour through Promised Land Zoo's 100-plus species, condensed from a five-hour adventure — royal yaks, big cats and close feeding stops all along the route.

Key takeaways
  • The Ultimate Excursion is the guided RTV tour, the top-tier ticket
  • The zoo holds more than 100 species from around the world
  • Royal yaks are the black-and-white patterned yaks

Branson's Promised Land Zoo

Branson Shenanigans

Branson Shenanigans spends a full visit with keeper-host Blake: Lollipop the spider monkey, kangaroos, armadillos, a boa, a fennec fox, a ringtail lemur, a sloth, and Nubian ibex that stay outdoors through the Ozarks winter.

Key takeaways
  • Spider monkeys have four fingers and no thumb
  • Keeper-led encounters run from monkeys to sloths in one visit
  • Nubian ibex winter outside except on icy days

Promised Land Zoo Christmas | Let There Be Lights | Branson, MO

Branson Fam

Let There Be Lights: the zoo's drive-through Christmas light display, with live animals along the route, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the Animal Adventure Building's up-close encounters — including cuddling a baby kangaroo.

Key takeaways
  • The Christmas lights are a drive-through at the zoo itself
  • Santa and Mrs. Claus appear during the event
  • The Animal Adventure Building offers paid up-close encounters

The excursions

The Ultimate Excursion leads: a guided RTV side-by-side tour condensed from five hours — royal yaks, big cats and close feeding stops across 100-plus species. A full keeper-hosted visit (Branson Shenanigans with keeper Blake) covers the foot safari: Lollipop the spider monkey, kangaroos, a boa, a fennec fox, a ringtail lemur, a sloth, and Nubian ibex that stay outside through the Ozark winter.

The keepers' series

Four parts of All Things Branson's keeper-interview series run here (parts 1, 2, 4 and 5; the set is capped at nine): the zoo's third-season story, Allelujah the Eurasian eagle-owl — the largest owl species in the world — an honest conversation about running a small zoo (round-the-clock work, and the 120-acre drive-thru sister park in Eagle Rock), and staffing (trained, background-checked keepers, many from the College of the Ozarks). Educator Bongo Bree's sloth segments close it. In season, the zoo also runs Let There Be Lights, a drive-through Christmas display with live animals along the route and baby-kangaroo cuddles in the Animal Adventure Building.

Sources: the 9 videos on this page.

#128 Branson Promised Land Zoo Introduction Part 1/5

All Things Branson

All Things Branson's keeper interview series opens with Jungle Josh in the zoo's third season: Promised Land Zoo opened in 2013, built a show stage in year two, and enlarged its lion and tiger enclosure.

Key takeaways
  • Promised Land Zoo opened in 2013
  • A show stage was added in the second season
  • The lion and tiger enclosure was expanded early on

#129 Kickin' It With Kangaroos at Promised Land Zoo PART 2/5

All Things Branson

Part 2 of the keeper series: meet Allelujah the Eurasian eagle-owl — the largest owl species in the world — and hear how guests feed animals all over the park, hyenas included.

Key takeaways
  • The Eurasian eagle-owl is the largest owl species in the world
  • Guests feed animals throughout the park
  • Part 2 of the All Things Branson keeper series

#131 Animal Activists and Zoo vs Theme Park w/ Promised Land Zoo PART 4/5

All Things Branson

Part 4: the keepers talk honestly about running a small zoo in Branson's spotlight — the round-the-clock work, a welcoming city, and how this park compares with their 120-acre drive-thru sister park in Eagle Rock.

Key takeaways
  • The zoo's sister park is a 120-acre drive-thru in Eagle Rock
  • Running a small park is round-the-clock work
  • Part 4 of the keeper interview series

Watch: Promised Land Zoo Branson, guided

3 videos · summaries from the actual guides

#132 Laughing Hyenas and Employees at Branson Promised Land Zoo PART 5/5

All Things Branson

Part 5: staffing the zoo — only trained, background-checked professionals, many hired out of the College of the Ozarks — plus the laughing hyenas of the episode's title.

Key takeaways
  • Keepers are trained professionals, background-checked
  • Many staff come from the College of the Ozarks
  • Part 5 of the keeper interview series

Animal Tales: Sloths with Bongo Bree

All Things Branson

Animal Tales: zoo educator Bongo Bree introduces a Hoffmann's two-toed sloth for a kids' audience — what sloths eat, how they climb, and how their toes are built.

Key takeaways
  • A kids' educational segment filmed at the zoo
  • Two-toed sloths eat vegetables, fruit and flowers
  • Sloths are built for climbing and hanging

Bongo Bree Sloth Encounter on Kids Connection

All Things Branson

A full Kids Connection episode that travels from a Forever Young cast outing at Branson Landing to zoo educator Bongo Bree's sloth encounter at Promised Land Zoo.

More Branson essentials

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