If seeing animals behind a barrier isn’t close enough, the Cincinnati Zoo offers a “Night Hike” program that gives you an intimate look at what the zoo is like after-hours. This hike allows you to pet a few animals and view others — like tortoises, armadillos and sloths — when they are at their most active. There is also a Zoo guide who will take you through the hike and answers all of your questions.

The next Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo is on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Keep scrolling to see everything we saw during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3.

Photos by Lydia Schembre

A participant pets Flapjack the tortoise during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A Zoo employee holds a skunk during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Pip the armadillo is taken out of her crate during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A participant pets a goat during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Juno the sloth eats his dinner during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A hummingbird during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Pip the armadillo runs around during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A zoo employee holds Flapjack the pancake tortoise during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Pip the armadillo runs around during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A white breasted cormorant holds a feather in its beak during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Flapjack the pancake tortoise walks around during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Flapjack the pancake tortoise is taken out of his crate during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A participant pets Flapjack the tortoise during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A Zoo employee holds a skunk during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A Chinese alligator rests in its habitat during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A participant pets a goat during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A participant feeds a goat during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Ducks swim in Swan Lake during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
A hummingbird during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Juno the sloth eats her dinner during the Night Hike at the Cincinnati Zoo on Aug. 3, 2024. Photo: Lydia Schembre