Zoo Scavenger Hunts in New York City

The Murder Mystery Mayhem at the Zoo Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • teens
  • outdoor

Beware: there’s a killer behind that panda…

Your perfectly delightful team-building outing to the zoo is about to be spoiled: someone in your group is plotting to feed you to the lions, or have you hugged by a cobra, or perhaps sat on by a hippo. Because this person—possibly on your own team—is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde.

This person now challenges you to prevent your own murder. Everyone in your group was fed a deadly venom with your lunch, and the clock is ticking down on your time left to live. To save yourselves and get the antidote, all you have to do is reveal the killer’s identity.

Easy, right? Not so fast: the killer has hidden their identity in a series of puzzles that are part of a scavenger hunt at the zoo. Your team must solve a series of interlocking puzzles, decipher coded messages, and meet the conditions of tricky photo challenges around the zoo.

Along the way, your team might…

  • Play monkey see, monkey do with a monkey.
  • Blend in with an animal known for camouflage.
  • Tackle a trivia quiz about famous murder mysteries.
  • Identify snippets of songs that feature animals.
  • Twist, and maybe shout, with snakes.

If your group loves escape-room games, they’ll love this zoo scavenger hunt. The game will also help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for a private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which kids age 7 and up work with adults. It’s a great activity for a school field trip, a birthday party, a family reunion, you name it.

What delighted clients are saying

“Everyone had a great time at the hunt! We are all still talking about it.” —an electrical engineer whose group played the game at the Houston Zoo

“A HUGE THANK YOU. Everyone had a BLAST and your hosts were FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for another great event!!” —an office coordinator in Los Angeles

“We had an amazing time and will be in touch for the next hunt we’d like to do in the near future! Tokia [the hunt host] was amazing, and we’d love to work with her again!!!” —an organizer for a group in Washington, DC

PLUS check out Watson Adventures on Google to see hundreds of 5-star reviews from delighted clients!

The hunt’s afoot! Contact us to learn more—and find more team-building fun at the zoo!


The Wild Wildlife Scavenger Hunt at the Bronx Zoo

  • private
  • adults
  • outdoor

Lions and tigers and bears—oh, yeah!

See the best of the Bronx Zoo as you discover creatures you never even suspected were there—or anywhere! As your team searches for answers to quirky questions about the animals you encounter, you’ll find out why it’s hard to grab a degu, how your neck is like a giraffe’s, what the Good Humor Man might deliver to a tiger, and how to look right through a grizzly bear. 

The game also includes Team Photo Challenges, to spur your creativity and sharpen your eyes.

This hunt is a great team-building activity when you’re looking to surprise and shake up your colleagues or friends by putting them in a completely unusual environment on an out-of-the-box adventure. This game has been recommended by the New York Times and Time Out New York.

Big groups welcome!

We can easily accommodate large groups at the zoo. We staged a hunt for more than 200 employees of American Express here. Plus, the zoo has indoor and outdoor spaces for private events, from barbecues to fine dining.

What delighted say about the Bronx Zoo scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “Watson Adventures was great! They made sure our group had a great time [at the Bronx Zoo]. Would definitely do it again.”

Contact us to learn more about the game—and find more fun in New York City!


The Wild Wildlife Scavenger Hunt for Kids

  • private
  • kids
  • outdoor

If you can talk to the animals…

…you’ll be cheating on this surprising safari. Have a roaring good time with your favorite group of kids as you work together to solve clever puzzles while visiting curious creatures in their natural habitats. One minute you’ll be inside a tropical rain forest; the next, you’ll be peering across the African savannah. This scavenger hunt will help you create lasting memories—and cost you a lot less than an actual safari.

Our surprising Team Photo Challenges will encourage kids to get even more creative and provide hilarious souvenirs of your adventures. Monkey see, monkey do? You just might witness that phenomenon as your little monkeys try to get actual monkeys to smile for the camera!

Many school groups and birthday celebrants have found this scavenger hunt to be a great way to get even more fun out of an amazing zoo in a limited amount of time.

Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa. For ages 7 and up.

What happy hunters are saying about the Bronx Zoo scavenger hunt

A 5-star review on Google: “Watson Adventures was great! They made sure our group had a great time [at the Bronx Zoo]. Would definitely do it again.”

Another 5-star review on Google: “Orange Park and Recreation has participated in 2 Watson Adventures. The first was pre-pandemic at Grand Central and it was wonderful….We just did the Scavenger Hunt at Bronx Zoo and the kids loved it. Can’t wait to book another for the fall!!!! The customer service is excellent. So easy to deal with and very quick responding. Try them out, you won’t be disappointed.”

Contact to learn more about our Bronx Zoo scavenger hunts—and find more fun for kids in NYC!


The Wild Wildlife Scavenger Hunt for Kids at the Central Park Zoo

  • private
  • kids
  • outdoor

An exciting idea for a birthday party or field trip

Kids and adults work together to explore the Central Park Zoo and its vicinity on a scavenger hunt for ages 7 and up. On teams, you’ll follow clues and earn points by sticking out your tongue at a rude animal, learning to speak Red Panda, fishing for piranhas, and meeting Betty and Veronica. You’ll see grizzly bears, snow leopards, birds and bats flying through an indoor jungle, and plenty of penguins and puffins, to name just a few of the animals.

Kids must be accompanied by an adult, and vice versa.


The Murder Mystery Mayhem at the Botanical Garden Scavenger Hunt

  • private
  • adults
  • kids
  • teens
  • outdoor

Watch out! There might be a killer behind those flowers…

So you planned a tranquil team-building outing to your local botanical garden? Uh-oh! Turns out someone in your group—possibly on your own team—is a real Jekyll and Hyde, and they’re scheming to leave you pushing up daisies.

Everyone in your group was surreptitiously poisoned, and the clock is ticking. To save yourselves and get the antidote, you must play their game, identify the would-be killer, and prevent your own murder.

The killer has hidden their identity in a series of thorny puzzles, as part of a scavenger hunt at the botanical garden. You’ll be tasked with answering trivia questions, solving interlocking puzzles, deciphering coded messages, and meeting the conditions of tricky photo challenges around the gardens.

Along the way, your team might…

  • Tiptoe among the actual tulips.
  • Hug the biggest tree you can find.
  • Achieve inner peace in a meditation garden.
  • Tackle trivia about famous murder mysteries.
  • Identify snippets of songs that involve nature.

If your group enjoys escape-room games, they’ll love this botanical garden scavenger hunt. The game will also help you solve the mystery of how to entertain a diverse group of people while boosting morale and teamwork. It’s perfect for a private party or a corporate team-building outing of any size.

A Kids Edition is also available, in which kids age 7 and up work with adults. It’s a great activity for a school field trip, a birthday party, a family reunion, you name it.

Contact us to learn more about the Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunts—and find more fun!


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