There are loads of enjoyable issues to do in Florida and no scarcity of animal encounters both. In reality, there are total theme parks devoted to animals and ocean life. But if you’re in search of one thing particular to make your trip unforgettable for the animal lover in your loved ones, listed here are a number of distinctive animal experiences in Florida the place you may rise up shut and private to unique animals.
You might also need to try a few of these accredited drive-through zoos and safaris throughout the United States.
Unique Animal Experiences in Florida
Note: I used to be a visitor of Visit Florida and obtained complimentary admission to many sights as a part of a press journey to introduce writers to a few of what Florida has to supply households. All opinions are my very own.
Feed lemurs on the Safari Wilderness Ranch
The Safari Wilderness Ranch is about on 260 acres amidst pristine watershed in Lakeland, Florida, about 45 minutes exterior of Orlando. Neither a ranch or zoo, the Safari Wilderness Ranch has tons of of animals, primarily hoof inventory, together with scimitar-horned oryx, Defassa waterbuck, eland, Red Lechwe, zebras, fainting goats, ostriches, llamas, camels and extra.
There are some ways to view the animals, together with on horse or camel again, ATV, or kayak, however the usual safari makes use of a lined open-air automobile that seats as much as 20 individuals. Throughout the safari the ranch’s educated guides reel off innumerable info in regards to the animals you encounter.
While it’s enjoyable to look at the animals roaming and frolicking of their expansive, pure habitat, the particular moments come when the bus stops and you’ll be able to get shut up with the animals. All guests are given a cup of pellets to feed sure animals. And the animals know you’re coming and the llamas, water buffalo and deer stroll proper as much as get their share.
Those shut encounters are so enjoyable, and somewhat slimy, however the really particular moments include the add-on experiences like a hoop tail lemur feeding. Small teams are introduced into the lemur enclosure and given grapes to interrupt aside and feed to the lemurs.
We have been instructed to not contact the lemurs, however they’d no hesitation in touching us. They greedily grabbed our palms and pulled them shut, rapidly snatching no matter grapes have been resting there. The infants, not fairly up on their desk manners, have been desirous to lick up each sticky drop. You simply can’t beat it.
Safari Wilderness Ranch now additionally provides safari glamping in 10 fantastically appointed safari tents on the property. For in a single day company, continental breakfast is included and the ranch also can set up sundowner safaris, chook watching safaris, and mountain bike excursions.
Safari Wilderness Ranch is positioned at 10850 Moore Rd. Lakeland, FL 33809.
Trek above the animals at Animal Kingdom
If you will have been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you will have certainly gone on their Kilimanjaro Safari trip to look at the animals roam of their animal habitats. Now, Animal Kingdom can be open at evening so you will get a completely completely different nighttime safari expertise.
However, for those who actually need to do one thing completely different, join a Wild Africa Trek. This three-hour, privately-guided, VIP expedition travels above the animals within the Safi River Valley on a shaky rope bridge (don’t fear, you’re hooked into a security harness.) You may also take a non-public safari automobile throughout the savanna, getting unique perception into the animals and park operations.
Wild Africa Trek is positioned in Animal Kingdom. Prices range based mostly on season and requires a separate admission ticket to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Meet penguins at SeaWorld Orlando
Penguins are certainly one of my favourite animals (I admit that I sleep with a stuffed penguin) and whereas I hope to make it to Antarctica in the future, I welcome alternatives to see penguins earlier than that day comes. One of the shut encounters supplied by SeaWorld is a Penguin Up-Close Tour.
We had an opportunity to go behind the scenes at Antarctica: Emperor of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando for a forty five minute tour to be taught all in regards to the penguins housed there together with how they breed, what they eat and the way they dwell. After seeing the place the keepers work, we stepped into the backdoor of the exhibit to satisfy the Rock Hopper, Chinstrap, Gentoo, King, and Magellanic penguins residing there.
After having an opportunity to satisfy a penguin chick (their fluff is so gentle!!), an grownup Gentoo penguin came visiting to say hiya. They greet you with a bow and a hiss. After first I believed it was going to chew our toes however it’s simply the penguin’s means of claiming hiya.
SeaWorld is positioned at 7007 Sea World Dr, Orlando, FL 32821.
Go behind the scenes at SEALIFE Aquarium
I’ve been to a few SEALIFE Aquariums now…one in Orlando and the opposite in Kansas City…and they’re all pretty comparable. However, this time round we acquired to do certainly one of their VIP experiences and go behind the scenes to learn the way their 5,000 animals are cared for, together with the ocean turtles.
This 25-minute, behind the scenes tour confirmed us how the water is handled, the science behind the upkeep of the tanks, the place meals is ready, and even had an opportunity to see the large tanks from above. Actually, we mixed this tour with the opposite iDrive 360 sights and had a behind the scenes tour at Madame Tussauds wax museum and a glass of champagne as we rode the Orlando Eye.
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is positioned at 8449 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. The behind the scenes tour is $5.00 and requires a typical aquarium admission, which is $20 for an grownup and $15 for a kid.
Kayak by way of Brevard Zoo
I used to be so impressed by the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne on Florida’s Space Coast. As a more recent zoo and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the animal habitats have been lush and spacious, the walkways have been regularly shaded boardwalks, they usually even supplied a splash space for the kiddos to chill off.
The Brevard Zoo provides a couple of distinctive animal experiences. You can feed giraffes and Lorikeets, or have shut up encounters with rhinos. But one factor that I by no means noticed earlier than was kayaking by way of the zoo. We took a brief paddle on a artifical river that cuts by way of the zoo, floating previous the giraffes with nothing however pure boundaries to separate us from these lovely animals.
Brevard Zoo is positioned at 8225 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, Florida 32940.
Watch manatees with Island Boat Lines
Island Boat Lines provides guided eco-tours by way of the Thousand Islands of Cocoa Beach on 27-passenger pontoon boats. These islands have shaped a maze of canals by way of the pure mangrove islands the place dolphins, manatees, and flocks of birds like to hang around.
On our tour we noticed many momma and child manatees, together with loads of dolphins too. In reality, after we acquired again to our slip, a momma and tiny child have been hanging on the market and we needed to look ahead to them to mosey alongside earlier than we may park the boat.
The firm additionally provides sundown sailings, rocket launch boat cruises on the Banana River, and particular bioluminescence excursions.
Island Boat Lines is positioned at Sunset Waterfront Grill & Bar, 500 West Cocoa Beach Causeway (520), Cocoa Beach FL, 32931.
Feed giraffes at Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari provides one of many solely drive-through safaris in Florida. Located close to Palm Beach, you get fairly near over 900 animals, together with massive herds of water buck, orucks, and rhinos in addition to two lion prides, chimps, and giraffes on this 4-5 mile drive. There can be an amusement park and water splash space.
The greatest time to go might be between 11:30-12:00, when they’re feeding the animals, however you’re welcome to drive by way of as many occasions as you prefer to, simply allot 1-1.5 hours for every journey. Lion Country Safari provides distinctive experiences like VIP driving and strolling excursions, giraffe feeding, and even the possibility to look at a giraffe paint an image you could take dwelling.
Lion Country Safari Road is positioned at 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470.
Be a Trainer for a Day at Gatorland
Gatorland is a well-liked theme park and wildlife protect positioned close to Orlando, Florida. Established in 1949, it spans over 110 acres of land and is dwelling to over 2,000 alligators and crocodiles, in addition to a variety of different animals similar to snakes, turtles, birds, and extra.
One of the primary sights at Gatorland is the chance to see these reptiles up shut and private by strolling alongside a raised boardwalk that runs by way of a big swamp space often known as the “Alligator Breeding Marsh.” The park additionally has a number of reveals all through the day, together with the Gator Jumparoo Show, the place guests can watch as alligators leap out of the water to grab meals from trainers’ palms. Other reveals embrace the Up-Close Encounters Show and the Gator Wrestlin’ Show.
For these in search of a extra immersive expertise, Gatorland additionally provides a number of VIP experiences. One such expertise is the Trainer-for-a-Day program, the place guests can spend the day working with and studying in regards to the park’s reptiles alongside an expert coach. Another common VIP expertise is the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line, which takes guests on an exhilarating trip over the park’s alligator-filled swamp.
Gatorland is positioned at 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail Orlando, Florida 32837
Ride an Airboat & Pet a Sloth
There are many locations to take airboat excursions in Florida, together with in southwest Florida and close to Orlando. One of the preferred spots in Central Florida is Wild Florida. Located in Kenansville, Florida, the park spans over 85 acres of land and is dwelling to quite a lot of animals native to Florida, together with alligators, panthers, deer, and varied chook species.
In addition to the airboat excursions and animal displays, the park additionally provides a drive-thru safari expertise the place you may see quite a lot of unique animals from the consolation of your individual automobile. There can be a petting zoo space the place guests can work together with among the park’s smaller animals, similar to goats and llamas.
For a extra unique and immersive expertise, Wild Florida provides numerous VIP experiences. These embrace a Sloth Encounter expertise, the place guests can meet and work together with a sloth up shut, in addition to a VIP animal encounter the place guests can rise up shut and private with varied animals similar to alligators, snakes, and extra.
Wild Florida is positioned at 3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville, FL 34739
ZIpline Over Gators at ZooTampa at Lowry Park
ZooTampa at Lowry Park spans over 63 acres and is dwelling to over 1,300 animals from all over the world, together with elephants, tigers, giraffes, and extra.
The park has numerous animal displays, together with the Asian Gardens, the place guests can see tigers, clouded leopards, and different animals native to Asia. There can be the Primate World exhibit, which options quite a lot of primates from all over the world, together with chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas.
In addition to the animal displays, ZooTampa provides quite a lot of different sights and actions. There is a water play space for teenagers, a carousel, and a zipper line that takes guests over the alligator exhibit. There are additionally a number of VIP experiences accessible together with a behind-the-scenes tour of the park, a giraffe feeding expertise, and a penguin encounter the place guests can rise up shut and private with these cute birds.
ZooTampa is positioned at 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
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