Florida Zoos, Aquariums & Wildlife Attractions

Safari Wilderness Ranch

Location: Lakeland, FL (between Tampa & Orlando)

Size: 260 acres

Not a zoo or theme park - intimate safari experience with no crowds or lines. Custom safari vehicle tours through large herds of exotic animals across pristine wilderness. Also offers camelback safaris, ATV tours, kayak wildlife viewing, and camping. Drive-thru option available.

Giraffe Ranch

Location: Dade City, FL

Experience: African Safari Setting

Licensed working ranch specializing in exotic species under huge live oaks and open grasslands. Fully guided 4-wheel-drive safari vehicle tours viewing zebra, tapir, deer, and more. Unique Camel-Back Safaris and Segway Safaris allow eye-level encounters with zebras, pygmy hippos, and other species.

Lion Country Safari

Location: 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470

AZA Accredited

Florida's only drive-through safari and walk-through amusement park. See free-roaming lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and more from your vehicle, then explore additional walk-through exhibits and attractions.

Everglades Safari Park

Location: 26700 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33194

Experience South Florida's delicate ecosystem with exhilarating airboat rides through the Everglades. See alligators, birds, crocodiles, and other exotic wildlife in their natural habitat. Includes wildlife shows and exhibits.

Big Cat Rescue

Location: 12802 Easy St, Tampa, FL 33625

Size: 45 acres

Wildlife sanctuary home to 140 cats representing 16 species: lions, tigers, leopards, caracals, servals, bobcats, lynx, and more. Saves and houses exotic cats while rehabilitating injured or orphaned local wild cats. 90-minute guided tours for ages 10+. Strong advocate for ending private exotic cat ownership.

McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: West Palm Beach, FL

Animals: 200+ species

#1 rated attraction in West Palm Beach. Provides rehabilitation for native orphaned or injured birds including eagles, owls, hawks, and ospreys. Features retired entertainment/zoo big cats and confiscated illegal pets. Tours include reptile room with diverse species.

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: Jacksonville, FL

TripAdvisor: #1 of 157 things to do in Jacksonville

Rescues big cats from serious situations and provides loving forever homes. Walking tours feature tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, bobcats, arctic foxes, and coatimundis.

Carson Springs Wildlife

Location: Gainesville, FL

Species: 25 different species

Conservation and educational facility rescuing exotic animals in need. Every tour provides information about conservation, preservation, and nature's balance. Educational focus for all visitors.

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: Jupiter, FL

Hours: Daily 10am - 4:30pm | Admission: By donation

Home to native Florida animals: bald eagles, deer, otters, bears, alligators, foxes, and Florida panthers. Open to public 7 days a week. Admission by donation makes this an affordable wildlife experience.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Location: Homosassa Springs, FL

State park sheltering animals incapable of surviving in wild due to captivity or injuries. Features Lu, the oldest hippopotamus in North America (born 1960 at San Diego Zoo). Lu was granted honorary Florida citizenship by Governor Lawton Chiles in the 1990s - the park's only non-native animal.

Seacrest Wolf Preserve

Location: Northern Florida

Tour Length: 4 hours with breaks

Hands-on experience with Gray, Arctic, and British Columbian wolves in large, open habitats. Tours include breaks to interact with other residents including foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Unique wolf encounter experience.

Peace River Refuge & Ranch

Location: Arcadia, FL

ASA Accredited WSPA Member

Non-profit 501(c)(3) exotic animal sanctuary licensed and accredited by American Sanctuary Association. Provides lifetime care for abused, neglected, confiscated, or unwanted exotic animals. Rescues range from big cats (tigers, cougars, leopards) to wolves, bears, primates, small wild cats, bats, and more.

Everglades Alligator Farm

Location: Homestead, FL (near Everglades National Park entrance)

Hours: Daily 9am - 5:30pm

Admission: Adults $25, Children (4-11) $19, Under 4 Free

Airboat Packages: Adults $32, Children (4-11) $24, Under 4 Free

South Florida's oldest alligator farm with 2,000+ alligators plus crocodiles, caimans, snakes, tortoises, fish, parrots, emus, and Florida panthers. Includes alligator show, feeding demonstration, and 20-25 minute airboat tour (or extended 45-60 minute prairie exploration tour). Capybara Encounter available.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Location: 999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080

Established: 1893

One of Florida's oldest and finest attractions. Only place in the world where you can see every living species of crocodilian. Features exotic reptiles found nowhere else in Florida, plus birds and fossils. Conducts wildlife research and conservation work with global partners.

Gatorland

Location: 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837

Size: 110-acre theme park

Known internationally as the "Alligator Capital of the World." Protected habitat and nature conservatory at the head of the Florida Everglades. Features thousands of alligators and crocodiles in natural settings with shows, exhibits, and adventure attractions.

Gatorama

Location: Palmdale, FL 33944

Features 1,000-foot covered walkway and wooden bridge with monkeys, bobcats, raccoons, peacocks, ducks, and geese. Six species of crocodiles including American Crocodile. Largest captive breeder in North America of the Acutus Crocodile.

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Location: 3755 NW US 17-92, Sanford, FL

AZA Accredited

400+ animals (plus insects in Massey Services Insect Zoo). Features ZOOm Air Adventure Park aerial course and Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground. Lush tropical world perfect for families.

Brevard Zoo

Location: 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32940

AZA Accredited

Kayaking, train rides, and animal feeding opportunities. Daily rotating animal demos: alligator, otter, and vulture feedings. Guided outdoor Space Coast adventures available.

Jungle Adventures

Location: 26205 East Colonial Drive, Christmas, FL 32709

Natural habitat jungle home of Swampy, the World's Largest Alligator (200 feet long roadside wonder). Live guided wildlife encounters with rare Florida panthers, black bears, gray wolves, white-tailed deer, tropical birds, reptiles. Jungle Swamp Cruise surrounded by 200+ alligators. Hands-on experiences with baby alligators, snakes, tarantulas, hedgehogs.

Jungle Island

Location: 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132

Interactive zoological park featuring exotic animals, botanical gardens, and entertainment shows. Hands-on animal encounters and educational presentations.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Location: 1590 Goodlette Rd, Naples, FL 34102

AZA Accredited

Tropical setting with 23 acres featuring lions, kangaroos, monkeys, and rarely seen creatures like African wild dogs and Asian barking deer (that eats meat). Lush botanical gardens.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Location: 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34234

10 acres of lush tropical vegetation with winding jungle trails. Entertaining, educational bird and reptile shows twice daily in Old Florida setting.

Flamingo Gardens

Location: 3750 S Flamingo Road, Davie, FL 33330

60 acres of lush gardens showcasing rare, exotic, and native plants. Tour citrus groves and Wray Botanical Collection. Free-Flight Aviary, Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary, and historic 1930s Wray Home. Gift Shop, Garden Shop, and Tropical Marketplace.

Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park

Location: West Palm Beach, FL

AZA Accredited

23-acre zoological park featuring 1,500+ animals in lush tropical habitats. Open daily 9am-5pm. Florida's wildest place with diverse animal collection.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

Location: 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Butterfly garden, observation tower on winding boardwalk through coastal hammock, saltwater tanks with marine life (sea turtles, fish, sharks, rays), sea turtle garden with 7 giant turtles. Tiki huts for relaxation.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Location: 14200 US Hwy. One, Juno Beach, FL 33408

Rehabilitates 30-50 adult sea turtles annually. Exhibits include Archelon display, interactive drawers, and outdoor children's play area. Sea turtle patients recovering from sickness or injury.

The ZOO Northwest Florida

Location: 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

1,300+ animals. Hand-feed giraffes, visit petting zoo with goats, cows, and sheep. Ride Safari Line Limited Train winding through 30+ acres of free-roaming wildlife. Up-close animal encounters.

Gulf World Marine Park

Location: Panama City Beach, FL

Live animal shows, fascinating exhibits, hands-on animal interaction. Feel sea lion whiskers, taste dolphin splash. Creates memories for entire families with interactive marine experiences.

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Location: 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Sun-drenched beachfront on Gulf of Mexico. Explore park attractions in approximately 3 hours. Stay into early evening for spectacular sunset views. Marine shows and exhibits.

Tallahassee Museum

Location: Tallahassee, FL

Combines native animals, rare historic buildings, beautiful natural scenery, and exciting public programs. Special events and educational programs for all ages. Something for everyone in natural setting.

Theater of the Sea

Location: 84721 Overseas Hwy., Islamorada, FL 33036

Educational and entertaining marine animal park with up-close performances. Swim with dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays in natural salt water lagoons. Home to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, sea turtles, tropical fish, sharks, alligators, parrots, and birds-of-prey in lush tropical gardens.

Dolphin Research Center

Location: 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL 33050

Meet family of dolphins and sea lions. Spend hour or all day learning about marine mammals. Exciting presentations demonstrating dolphins' high-flying athletics, education fun facts, research, behavior training, medical behaviors, and more.

Dolphin Connection

Location: 61 Hawk's Cay Boulevard, Duck Key, FL 33050

Unparalleled dolphin adventure in beautiful saltwater lagoon with Atlantic Ocean backdrop. Close enough to experience encounter of a lifetime. Explore rare and fragile beauty of spectacular Florida Keys with dolphins as guide.

Florida Keys Wild Bird Sanctuary

Location: Tavernier, FL 33070

Natural setting alongside the Bay showing real Florida Keys. Healthy wild birds along boardwalk, trees, and bay. Features solution holes, cap rock, pneumatophores, minnows, crabs, and sunsets. Bromeliads abundant along nature trail. Perfect for photographers.

Green Meadows Petting Farm

Location: 1881 Jack Calhoun Drive, Kissimmee, FL (Lancaster Ranch Park)

After seven-year absence, Green Meadows has returned to perfect Florida farming location. Ideal country setting with 300+ farm animals to touch and see. Perfect for Florida residents and Kissimmee area vacationers.

Bell Family Farm

Location: Off Interstate 4 (between Tampa and Orlando, 30 min from Disney)

Family-operated petting farm with mischievous goats and zebu. One-hour farm tours available. Owner Sarah Bell leads yoga with goats and baby cow experiences. Unique farm activities.

Oak Aged Farm

Location: Central Florida

5-acre family-owned farm. See, pet, and feed chickens, Nigerian Dwarf goats, and mini pony. Relax and cuddle baby goats. Bottle-feed baby goats for unique hands-on experience.

Petting Zoo Ocala

Location: 11150 Florida 40, Ocala, FL

Kid-friendly farm animals for viewing, petting, and feeding. Barn stroll introduces alpacas, llamas, camels, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, goats, pigs, horses, sheep, ducks, donkeys, emus, and peacocks.

The Little Farm

Location: 13401 SW 224 ST, Redlands area of Miami

Providing quality family activities to Miami-Dade, Broward, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Keys & Key Largo since 1978. Hands-on farm experience with goat milking and feeding presentations, open barn to see and touch animals, pony rides.

Happi Farm

Location: 10251 Orange Dr, Davie, FL 33328

Hours: Daily except Tuesdays, 8am-5pm | Admission: $10/person

Non-profit organization in Fort Lauderdale region focusing on Animal-Assisted Learning and Equine Therapy. Family-friendly petting zoo with affordable admission.

HorsePower

Location: Near Pinellas (St. Pete-Clearwater area)

Special: $5 Days - First Thursday of month

Non-profit rescue farm giving families opportunity to interact with animals. Multiple petting zoo areas, pony rides, playground, play structures, and train rides. Mission-focused on animal rescue.

Raprager Farms

Location: Near St. Pete-Clearwater

Open: Weekends and holiday festivals

Family-owned farm experience with smaller, more relaxed vibe. Petting zoo area and big bounce pillow for kids. Weekend and seasonal operations.

Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo Petting Farm

Location: Central Florida

Home to horses, sheep, cows, turkeys, plus exotic animals like emus, llamas, and peacocks. Also offers horseback riding and airboat rides. Full resort experience with petting farm component.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Location: 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, FL 32751

Voice of conservation in Florida for 100 years. Connects people with nature to save birds and protect places that make Florida special. Raptor rehabilitation and education.

Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge

Location: 18515 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32820

Mission: rescue, raise, rehabilitate, and release injured or orphaned native species wildlife. Provides education about respecting and preserving environment through non-releasable permanent residents known as "educational ambassadors."

Rare Species Conservatory Foundation

Location: Loxahatchee, FL

501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Dedicated to preserving biodiversity through grassroots conservation programs rooted in sound science. Employs "flagship species" concept to identify and conserve high-profile, priority species to leverage protection for ecosystems they represent.

International Rhino Foundation

Location: 581705 White Oak Rd, Yulee, FL 32097

Dedicated to rhinoceros conservation worldwide. Works to ensure survival of rhino species through conservation programs, research, and public education.

Lemur Conservation Foundation

Location: Myakka City, FL

AZA Accredited Related Facility

Conservation-focused organization meeting AZA standards. Dedicated to lemur species preservation through breeding programs, research, and education.

Lubee Bat Conservancy

Location: Gainesville, FL

AZA Accredited Related Facility

Specialized facility dedicated to bat conservation, research, and public education. AZA-accredited conservation organization.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Location: 3000 N.W. 83rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606

Home to 75+ species and 200+ individual animals. Diverse collection includes bald eagles, white-throated capuchin monkeys, Sika deer, Galapagos tortoises, Matschie's tree kangaroo, Asian small-clawed otters, and African grey parrots. Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in naturally wooded environment.

Natural Encounters, Inc.

Location: 9014 Thompson Nursery Road, Winter Haven, FL 33884

AZA Accredited Related Facility

Professional animal training and conservation education facility. Steve Martin's organization specializing in natural animal behavior and training methods.

Silver Springs State Park

Location: 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Silver Springs, FL 34488

350-acre nature theme park surrounding headwaters of beautiful Silver River - the largest artesian spring formation in the world. Located 90 miles north of Orlando, just east of Ocala. Glass-bottom boat tours showcase crystal-clear springs.

Marineland

Location: St. Augustine area

AZA Accredited

Historic marine attraction offering dolphin encounters and educational programs. One of Florida's pioneering oceanariums with decades of marine conservation history.

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

Location: Sanibel Island, FL

AZA Accredited

Unique museum dedicated to shells and mollusks from around the world. Educational exhibits showcase marine biodiversity and shell collection artistry. Only facility of its kind with AZA accreditation.

Butterfly World

Location: Coconut Creek, FL

Largest butterfly park in the world with thousands of live butterflies in tropical rainforest and English garden aviaries. Features hummingbirds, lorikeets, and insect museum. Educational and enchanting experience for all ages.

Wooten's Everglades Airboat Tours

Location: 35 Miles South of Naples on US-41, Ochopee, FL

Authentic Everglades experience with airboat tours, swamp buggy rides, and wildlife encounters. See alligators, birds, and native Florida wildlife in natural habitat. Family-owned attraction since 1953.

Amazing Exotics

Location: Umatilla, FL

Not Open Daily - Call Ahead

Not a theme park or zoo - hands-on educational compound offering truly unique experience with personal interaction with exotic animals. May be closed for renovations - call before visiting.