Most city outings do not include feeding a giraffe, which is exactly why this one gets people talking. Visitors can meet the zoo’s tallest residents up close, then continue exploring a collection that includes tigers and primates.
The day feels active but not exhausting. Shaded paths make it easier to move between habitats, and the surrounding park offers room for a picnic or a longer family afternoon.
Peacocks wandering the grounds add another unexpected touch, especially when one appears beside the walkway without warning. The zoo has been part of the community for decades, yet the animal encounters give it a fresh reason to visit.
This eastern New Mexico destination manages to feel exciting and comfortable at the same time. You can take your time, watch the animals closely, and leave with a story that sounds almost like a safari.
By the end, feeding a giraffe may be the moment everyone is still talking about on the drive home.
Eye To Eye With A Giraffe
A face-to-face encounter with a giraffe is one of those bucket-list moments that sneaks up on you. At this zoo, the resident giraffes named Antonio and Jerrica make that moment completely real.
The feeding platform puts you right at their height, and the experience feels far more personal than anything you would find at a typical exhibit.
During the 30-minute encounter, you can offer treats directly from your hand while the giraffes gracefully lean in to accept them. Photo opportunities here are outstanding, since the animals are calm and curious by nature.
On a good day, when the giraffes are feeling especially social, you might even get a gentle touch, creating a memory that is hard to top.
This experience can be booked online, so planning ahead can make the visit easier. The encounter page lists the session as 30 minutes and confirms that participants can feed Antonio and Jerrica while taking photos there.
Few moments in travel feel as unexpectedly magical as looking a giraffe directly in the eye at Hillcrest Park Zoo, located at 1208 N Norris St, Clovis, NM 88101.
A Mini Safari In The Middle Of Town
Forget long flights and expensive travel packages. Clovis, New Mexico offers its own version of a wild expedition right inside city limits.
The zoo holds the title of the second-largest zoo in New Mexico, which means the variety of animals on display goes well beyond what most small-city attractions manage to pull off.
A Bengal tiger prowls its habitat with quiet authority. Camels chew lazily in the afternoon sun.
Red kangaroos, spider monkeys, lemurs, zebras, and even a wolf round out a collection that genuinely surprises first-time visitors. Free-roaming peacocks wander the grounds like they own the place, and Canadian geese frequently make seasonal appearances near the zoo’s ponds.
The layout is thoughtfully designed so that each new turn in the path brings a different species into view, keeping the sense of discovery alive throughout the entire visit. Families who arrive expecting a modest outing often leave talking about the sheer range of animals they encountered.
For a city of its size, Clovis delivers a safari-style experience that punches well above its weight class.
Shaded Paths Between Animal Habitats
New Mexico sunshine is no joke, especially in the warmer months when temperatures climb fast and shade becomes your best friend. Fortunately, the pathways at this zoo wind beneath a generous canopy of mature trees that keep things cool and comfortable throughout the visit.
Walking from one habitat to the next feels relaxed rather than exhausting.
Benches are scattered at thoughtful intervals along the shaded routes, giving visitors a place to pause, observe the animals nearby, and simply soak in the atmosphere. Families with young children particularly appreciate these rest spots, since little legs need breaks and little eyes need time to watch the animals without being rushed along.
The combination of tree cover and well-placed seating creates an overall vibe that is peaceful rather than chaotic. Visitors who come during morning hours often describe the experience as almost meditative, with birdsong mixing in with the sounds of the animals nearby.
A stroll through the shaded paths here feels less like a checklist activity and more like a genuinely pleasant afternoon well spent in good company.
Wide Open Grounds Made For Wandering
The zoo sits inside the larger Hillcrest Park, a sprawling recreation area that covers 157 acres of green space. That context matters because it means a visit here never feels cramped or rushed.
The zoo occupies part of this extensive public park, giving visitors room to explore animal exhibits before continuing into the surrounding recreation areas.
Lighted ball fields and courts also fill the park, adding more activity beyond the zoo. Beyond the animal exhibits, the broader park includes playgrounds, covered picnic tables, a splash park, a dog park, and a walking trail that extends beyond the zoo boundaries.
Families can easily build an entire day around the combination of zoo time and park exploration without ever feeling like they have run out of things to do.
Picnic areas are available around the park, making it simple to pack a lunch and turn the outing into a full afternoon event. Several visitors have noted that the grassy open spaces give kids room to burn off energy between animal viewings.
The wide, open character of this destination sets it apart from more confined urban zoo experiences found elsewhere.
Wild Encounters Around Every Corner
Giraffe feeding is the headline act, but it is far from the only wild encounter on the menu. The zoo currently advertises several specially designed encounter programs that let visitors get close to species they would normally only see from a distance.
Camels, sloths, and capybaras are available for booked sessions that go well beyond passive observation.
Reptile enthusiasts have their own dedicated experience, with snakes, iguanas, tortoises, and invertebrates appearing in guided sessions led by a knowledgeable keeper. Each program is designed to be educational as well as thrilling, so participants walk away knowing something new about the animal they just spent time with.
The zoo also offers a bat-eared fox encounter, adding another unusual option to the schedule.
Giraffes Antonio and Jerrica remain central to the zoo’s encounter lineup through a feeding session. Spontaneous sightings still happen throughout the grounds even outside the formal programs.
A peacock might strut past your picnic table. A group of geese might waddle across your path.
Every corner of this zoo holds the potential for an unexpected and delightful wildlife moment.
A Giraffe Feeding Worth The Trip
The giraffe feeding has become one of the zoo’s most memorable experiences. That reputation makes sense once Antonio and Jerrica, the resident giraffes, lean toward the platform for their treats during your scheduled encounter.
The encounter turns a regular zoo visit into something far more personal and gives participants time to enjoy the animals at close range.
The 30-minute session gives participants ample time to settle into the experience rather than feeling rushed through it. You can offer treats by hand, watch the giraffes interact with each other, and capture photos that look like they were taken on an African safari.
The feeding platform is designed to bring visitors closer to the giraffes, creating a comfortable setup for the session.
One practical note worth keeping in mind: the encounter can be booked online, and current availability may vary by date. Planning ahead is a sensible way to secure a preferred time before visiting eastern New Mexico.
The giraffe feeding here is the kind of thing you talk about long after the drive home, especially when the photos capture Antonio or Jerrica reaching down for another bite.
Close-Up Views Of Remarkable Animals
Up-close animal viewing is one of the strongest selling points of this compact but well-curated zoo. The exhibits are arranged so that visitors rarely feel far from the action, and the sight lines into most habitats are clear and unobstructed.
Watching a Bengal tiger pace its territory from just a few feet away is a genuinely spine-tingling experience.
The reptile section offers particularly intimate views, with snakes, alligators, iguanas, and tortoises all visible at close range. Bird exhibits showcase owls and other feathered residents in settings that allow for detailed observation of their markings and behaviors.
Lemur enclosures are set up so that the animals often approach the viewing areas out of their own curiosity.
Visitors who come during morning hours, when animals tend to be most active, report the best viewing experiences across the board. The zoo opens at 9 AM Tuesday through Sunday, with Monday being the one day it stays closed.
Getting there early not only means more active animals but also cooler temperatures and quieter paths, making for an especially rewarding round of close-up wildlife observation throughout the grounds.
A Small Zoo With Big Adventure Energy
Do not let the word “small” fool you into thinking this place is short on thrills. Hillcrest Park Zoo carries the distinction of being the second-largest zoo in New Mexico, and it backs that title up with a varied collection that includes giraffes, a Bengal tiger, reptiles, and primates.
That is a serious roster for a city zoo with an approachable setting.
The adventure energy here comes from the range of what you can do in a single visit. You can feed a giraffe during a booked encounter, watch a Bengal tiger before lunch, and spend the afternoon exploring the seasonal splash park and picnic areas with the kids.
Admission is priced affordably, making it easy for families to justify a full day on the grounds without budget stress.
The gift shop sits near the main entrance and offers souvenirs, mementos, and a penny-smashing machine for visitors who want something to remember the day. The combination of diverse wildlife, engaging encounter programs, and a welcoming park setting gives this destination an energy that feels much larger than its physical size.
A visit here leaves you impressed by how much one place can deliver.