Great Animal Safaris and Wildlife Experiences in Florida

By Jennifer Stevens

Florida is one of the best places in the United States for animal safaris and wildlife experiences. The state has dozens of drive-through animal parks, zoos, and unique airboat safaris to choose from, so you can see a variety of animals up close. Here are 15 ways to see wildlife in Florida.

Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando

Within the Walt Disney World complex is a massive theme park called Animal Kingdom, where more than 2,000 animals roam the 500+ acres of grassland, tropical gardens, and dense forest. The park is organized by theme (Africa, Asia, Discovery Island, Pandora-The World of Avatar, Oasis, and DinoLand U.S.A)—each section representing its unique natural habitats.

One of the highlights of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undoubtedly the Kilimanjaro Safari within the Africa section of the park. Guests are driven through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, modeled to look just like the African savanna, where more than 30 species, including lions, giraffes and rhinos roam free. Also within the Africa section you’ll find a Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail and a Conservation Station, where you can see how the animals are cared for.

Other exhibitions not to be missed: the Maharajah Jungle Trek, which feels like an ancient Asian forest, where guests get the chance to see tigers, water buffaloes and over 50 species of birds;  the high-speed roller coaster ride Expedition Forest;  the whitewater rafting adventure called Kali River Rapids; the Avatar 3D Flight of Passage; and the musical show, Festival of the Lion King.

Tip: Use the My Disney Experience app to plan your visit and to check show times and wait times.
 

Busch Gardens’ Serengeti Safari, Tampa

Tampa’s popular zoological theme park Busch Gardens offers an authentic drive-through African safari. The 30-minute guided tour takes place in an open-air vehicle that traverses 65 acres of grass plains that look just like the Serengeti. Expect to see giraffes, zebras, rhinos, ostriches, and antelopes while on the tour, and see them roaming freely right outside your vehicle.

The Serengeti Safari is an add-on experience within the Busch Gardens theme park. Outside of the Serengeti area, you’ll find animal habitats for gorillas and chimpanzees, kangaroos, tigers, elephants, penguins, cheetahs, and many others. The park hosts and cares for more than 200 species of animals, and offers guests the opportunity to join a behind-the-scenes tour of its Animal Care Center.

For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens boasts 10 roller coasters, including the kid-friendly “Air Grover” within the Sesame Street play area. Within the park, you’ll also find live shows and several kid-friendly attractions.

Tip: Download the Busch Gardens app to plan your day, and make sure to purchase the Serengeti Safari and animal experience add-ons in advance.

Lion Country Safari, Loxahatchee

About 20 miles west of West Palm Beach is a 600-acre wildlife park called Lion Country Safari, where visitors can drive their own vehicles through a variety of animal habitats. The four-mile drive winds through seven areas, where you can observe lions, giraffes, chimpanzees, rhinos, zebras, ostriches, and many other animals from outside your car window.

In addition to the drive-through safari, there’s also a kid-friendly walk-through adventure park known as Safari World. Here, you’ll find a petting zoo, opportunities for giraffe and lorikeet feeding, pontoon and paddle boat rides, and a water park.

If you’re interested in animal experiences, there are add-ons for flamingo feeding, giraffe or bird painting sessions, VIP animal tours, and toddler petting zoo tours.

Tip: Arrive early in the morning or when it’s raining to see animals in their most active state.
 

Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park, Kenansville

Taking an airboat tour is often a big bucket list item for people visiting Florida; and Wild Florida Airboats & Gator Park is one of the most popular outfitters in Central Florida. Airboat tours range from 30 minutes to one hour and take guests into the Everglades to see alligators, birds, and other wetland animals. For those wanting to see alligators up close, Wild Florida has an entire Gator Park, where you can participate in a gator feeding show.

In addition to the gators and wetland wildlife, you’ll see more than 200 animals at the Gator Park, including two-toed sloths, lemurs, and bobcats. Add-on animal encounters include time with sloths, ring-tailed lemurs, albino alligators, porcupines, and capybaras.

Wild Florida also has a drive-thru safari park where you drive your own car for four miles through 170 acres of scenic landscape. There are more than 50 exotic and native animals roaming freely, and guests are encouraged to stop to feed giraffes.

Tip: In the summer, book the first airboat slot (9 a.m.), and during winter, choose 12 p.m., as Wild Florida suggests these are the ideal times.

Safari Wilderness, Lakeland

The family-owned Safari Wilderness Ranch is located in the second-largest wildlife space in Florida (after the Everglades): the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. The ranch’s 260-acre property is surrounded by 850 square miles of swampland—making it a quiet haven for the 450+ animals that roam the grounds.

Guests can choose from a variety of safari options, from the classic truck canopy tours to ATV and kayak tours, and even camelback safari tours. There’s also the option to drive your own vehicle. Tours range from one hour to 2.5 hours, with the possibility to add on lemur-feeding and cheetah encounter experiences. Expect to see water buffalos, zebras, camels and ostriches among the wandering exotic animals.

If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in a safari wildlife experience, Safari Wilderness offers 10 “glamping” tents so you can wake up in nature. A continental breakfast is included.

Tip: Wear close-toed shoes and avoid the heat of the day to see the most animals.
 

Giraffe Ranch, Dade City

Just 35 miles northwest of the Safari Wilderness Ranch, still in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, is a working game farm called Giraffe Ranch. Owned by the same people who own Safari Wilderness, the Giraffe Ranch shares similar safari offerings, but in a smaller, more intimate setting.

The 47-acre preserve hosts over 600 animals. While giraffes are obviously a central focus, guests can see many herd animals, including zebras, pygmy hippos, ostriches, and antelopes through a variety of safari options. Drive your own vehicle while listening to a real-time audio guide, take a guided tour in a 4-WD vehicle, ride on a camel through the property, take a Segwey tour, or take a personalized tour with the owner in his Tesla Cybertruck.

All safaris allow guests to feed the animals and the admission price includes a giraffe feeding as well. Additional animal encounters include sloth and tortoise feedings.

Tip: Book in advance; tours are guided and space is limited.
 

Zoo Miami, Miami

The first zoo on our list, Zoo Miami is the oldest and largest zoo in Florida, and the fifth largest in the U.S. The center is almost 750 acres, with four miles of walkways, where guests can rent and ride Safari Cycles to easily see some of the zoo’s 2,500 animals.

Optional tours include a 2-hour VIP golf cart tour with an animal feeding experience; a 45-minute tram tour through the zoo’s Asia and Africa sections; and a 30-minute Sea Turtle Hospital Tour to see the zoo’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Guests can also choose to add paid experiences to their visit, including an African elephant experience, encounters with one-horned rhinos, a behind-the-scenes visit with pygmy hippos, a Galapagos tortoise experience, and giraffe and parrot feedings.

Learning opportunities include a trip to the interactive Conservation Action Center, where kids can discover interesting facts about the animals at the zoo and their natural habitats; zookeeper presentations; and night time tours to learn about the zoo’s nocturnal animals.

Tip: Map out your route before you get there. Zoo Miami is huge, so having a game plan will ensure you get to see everything you want.
 

Brevard Zoo, Melbourne

Although much smaller than Zoo Miami, the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne offers a large variety of unique and engaging experiences. The zoo is organized into an African wildlife section, a section featuring Australian and Oceanic animals, a Central and South American rainforest, and Florida wetlands.

The zoo has several animal encounter options to choose from, whether it’s spending some behind-the-scenes time with sloths, aquatic animals, or rhinos. These experiences need to be paid for in advance, but there are other opportunities to interact with animals once in the park. To feed kangaroos, giraffes and birds, all you need to do is buy the snacks where the animals are located. You can also feed stingrays by purchasing tickets at the front gate.

Guests can book hour-long private tours of the zoo, take a 10-minute narrated train excursion through plains with free-roaming camels, zebras, bongos, and ankole-watusis, or experience guided kayak tours through Exhibition Africa or paddle solo in the Wild Florida section. Adventure-seekers can opt to explore the zoo from above, on Treetop Trek canopy walks and ziplines.

Tip: Come early, as the last admission is at 3:30pm. The average visitor stays about 3 hours.
 

Everglades Alligator Farm, Homestead

If you’re headed to the Florida Everglades and are looking for an adventurous wildlife experience, the Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead is a great option. Here, you’ll see the Everglades from an airboat and have the opportunity to see alligators up close.

A general admission ticket includes a 20-25 minute airboat ride, entry to the gator farm, and entry to alligator feeding and handling shows. Private airboat tours are available for groups up to eight people and include entry, shows, and a 45–60-minute airboat ride with a master naturalist.

The airboat rides are fast, loud, and you will get wet. You’re also likely to see a variety of wetland animals like alligators and birds. Afterward, you can watch an alligator handling show and a feeding show, which are held at specific times. Learn all about alligators, including indigenous capturing techniques, and get the chance to hold a baby gator. During feeding times, you can watch more than 500 alligators eat their meals.

Tip: Wear clothes you don’t mind getting soaked.
 

Jungle Island, Miami

A zoological theme park with animal encounters, an adventure park, a private beach and inflatable water park, Jungle Island has a lot to offer guests.

For those looking for wildlife experiences, there are options to have animal encounters with lemurs, sloths, bunnies, flamingos, capybaras, wallabies, and a giant tortoise. In these encounters, you’ll learn all about these animals, interact with them and feed them. There’s also a petting zoo, where visitors can interact with pigs, goats and budgies, while getting an education on the animals from a trained guide.

Within Jungle Island, guests will find the Treetop Trekking adventure park, where kids as young as five can participate in aerial courses while surrounded by nature and animals. Older kids and adults can enjoy more advanced treetop obstacle courses, and even opt for the “Thrill-seeker Trek,” with five ziplines and four aerial courses with 37 obstacles.

Tip: If you have a child younger than six, contact Jungle Island to see which animal encounters are possible.
 

Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze

About 30 minutes west of Destin in Florida’s panhandle is a zoo definitely worth visiting. The Gulf Breeze Zoo spans 50 acres, allowing its 1,000+ animals to roam free or to live in large enclosures.

Guests can walk on the zoo’s network of boardwalks to view animals, and even enjoy the Safari Express Train Ride, which winds through a 30-acre preserve where deer, antelope and rhinos roam freely. The ride is 15 minutes with narration, and positions you to see the hippos, orangutans and gorillas up close.

The zoo has several options for animal encounters, including behind-the-scenes visits with giraffes, an Indian rhino, albino alligators, hippos, sloths, and Galapagos tortoises. There’s also plenty of opportunities to feed the animals just by purchasing feed in the zoo’s gift shop. Bird lovers in particular will get a kick out of visiting the Budgiery Adventure Aviary enclosure where you can feed the budgies (aka parakeets) from your hand.

Tip: The train runs every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. (The last train runs at 4:00 p.m.).

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Zoo describes itself as a “walking safari” due to its pedestrian-friendly layout and large enclosures that mimic the animals’ natural habitats. In the zoo’s 115 acres, you can find more than 2,000 animals, with plenty of opportunities for up-close encounters.

The zoo is organized by countries of origin, with an Africa loop, a South American loop, an Australian section, Asian section and Wild Florida area. Each of the exhibits are curated with gardens and landscape to mimic these natural environments.

The behind-the-scenes experiences include an African elephant painting demonstration, a magellanic penguin encounter, a sloth encounter, a chance to hang out with flamingos, time spent with an American black bear, and an educational experience with a warty pig. The experiences are between 45-60 minutes in length and allow visitors to really get to know the animals.

Tip: You must buy your tickets online, and note that behind-the-scenes experiences need to be purchased at least a week in advance. 

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine

Open since 1893, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park has long been a must-see attraction in St. Augustine. The park has a large collection of reptiles, including Komodo dragons, Galapagos tortoises, pythons, and 24 of the 26 species of crocodiles. You can also see exhibits featuring African birds, lemurs and sloths.

Daily wildlife shows allow guests to learn about forest animals, rainforest animals, and reptiles. They are educational and interactive, giving willing participants the opportunity to hold a snake and watch the alligators being fed.

There’s also the option to see the animals from above, ziplining over alligators and crocodiles. In addition to the zipline, there’s a whole aerial obstacle course, with 50 different obstacles and the option to rock climb, rope climb and cargo net climb.

Tip: Don’t plan to bring kids younger than 8 to the Crocodile Crossing zipline, as that’s the minimum age requirement.
 

ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Tampa

Roughly one million people visit ZooTampa each year, and it’s easy to see why. The award-winning 56-acre wildlife park hosts more than 1,000 animals with a wide variety of educational programs and hands-on animal encounters.

There are a dozen behind-the-scenes animal experiences to choose from, with some of the most unique being the manatee critical care center tour and the stingray in-water experience. Guests get to learn about how the ZooTampa staff saves injured and orphaned manatees and how they are rehabilitated and released into the wild. Visitors also get the opportunity to wade in the water with stingrays, touching and interacting with them.

Other exciting wildlife experiences include a macaw flyover, where the colorful birds fly freely overhead in a designated area. Additionally, the zoo’s animal care team is available for animal chats and presentations during the day.

Tip: For animal chat and wildlife connection times, download the ZooTampa map or download the app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
 

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples

The Naples Zoo is located inside the 44-acre Caribbean Gardens, which were planted over 100 years ago. The botanical gardens were intentionally planted 50 years before the grounds became a zoo, in order to create a mature landscape for the animals.

Because of the focus on tropical plants, the Naples Zoo is an extremely relaxing place to stroll, guiding visitors through beautifully landscaped animal exhibits. Every day guests can enjoy giraffe feeding experiences, alligator feedings, lion keeper chats, orangutan keeper chats, and educational talks at the giant anteater and flamingo enclosures.

One of the zoo’s highlights is the Primate Expedition Cruise: a 15-20 minute catamaran ride around Lake Victoria. The cruise is narrated by a guide who takes you past islands of monkeys, lemurs, apes and gibbons.

Tip: Check out the zoo’s daily schedule before arriving to make sure you see and do everything you want.