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Global Wildlife Center

4.6 (153 reviews)
Closed • 8:15 am - 4:00 pm

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Lexi M.

My sister and I had come here 7 years ago and purchased general admission and had an absolute blast! Coming this time with an almost 3 and 1 year old we decided to book the private tour. You have to book online and choose a time slot that was still available. We chose an early time slot to make sure they both got their naps in. We arrived and you can tell they made a ton of updates since we were last here. We checked in and was recommended to order the sack of food and so glad we did! We had 4 adults and we went through the sack pretty fast! Cody was our tour guide and he was extremely nice and very knowledgeable! I highly recommend asking for him if you're doing a private tour. To say we had an amazing time would be an understatement. Feeding and seeing giraffes, bison, deer, cows, zebras, kangaroos, peacocks, llamas and so many more was such an axing experience. We can't wait to go back and do it all again!

Giraffe being hand fed in the jeep!

Wow we did the private tour with Kacie today! We had an amazing time! Kacie was very informative and entertaining! The private tour can go where the train or wagon can't go so you see more animals. Highly recommended Global Wildlife Center!

Giraffes
Beth M.

Who knew there was a Serengeti in the middle of Louisiana?! This was a highlight of our weekend trip for my 7 and 8 year-old girls. Pro-tip: book a time early in the day for optimal animal engagement! We weren't sure how many stops there would be for appropriately rationing our feed...there are 3!

Bucket
Jesy T.

I really enjoyed going to the Global wildlife center and would love to go back when in Louisiana! The safari experience was definitely more than I imagined. I loved how close and interactive you got to be with some of the animals. I wish I would've gotten to see the giraffes up closer, but they were off wandering farther on the lot! Winston was the star of the show no doubt though. Would recommend getting a tub or sac of food to feed the animals if you plan on feeding multiple, the handheld bucket alone is too small and you'll either spill it or have a single animal try to snatch it and have you drop everything. Definitely tons of animals on the lot from camel, to kangaroos, to cows, and more!

Kangaroo
Lorena C.

This place is cool! I love animals in a do not trespass kind of way, I guess it's the city girl ready for the countryside in me. Kind of a long drive and quick trip but Global Wildlife Center is lovely. The staff seem to genuinely care about the animals. The tour, garden and lunch are were all clean. We learned a lot and had a great afternoon.

African Giraffe
Jeannine A.

Fantastic wildlife experience. The tour was great with lots of animals to see. You can feed the animals right from the tram. All of the animals looked happy and healthy. The place was very well maintained. The staff was very knowledgeable and kind. I definitely recommend a trip to Global Wildlife

Sydney C.

If you're ever in New Orleans, I recommend making the hour drive to do this! The drive into the center is exciting - you get a little glimpse of the hundreds of animals you'll be seeing on the safari! There is plenty of parking available. It was $19/pp (12-61 yo) for a 1 hour and 15-minute tour with the animals. At first, I was bummed out that we weren't going to be able to do a private tour because it required a minimum of four people, but, luckily, when we arrived, there were only about 10-15 people on the 11:30 tour (we arrived an hour before check-in time to purchase tickets). There was SO much room to move around (there were three wagons available) that it was basically a private tour itself. It is recommended you arrive earlier than the scheduled check-in times online because tickets cannot be bought online and are on a first come first serve basis. We purchased five 32oz souvenir cups at $2/cup and that's all we really needed to feed the animals during the whole trip between the two of us. You can choose to get a bucket if you want to spend more time feeding the animals! Tons of cows, zebras, deer, llama, donkey, etc... for me, the best part was feeding the giraffes! It's crazy how many animals swarm the safari the whole entire way! This was truly an unforgettable experience. There are safari tours where I'm from, but they're overpriced at $90+ and don't even have anything as up close and personal as your experience at GWC! Just wow.

Mallory E.

We used to come here a lot when I was little but I've been twice as an adult. Once was the covered wagon your with everyone and then again with the private tour. The private tour fits 4-8 people but we only had three and it was perfect. I bought one sack thinking it was enough food - it was not! Between all the animals wanting food and everything you drop on the floor get the biggest size of food they offer.

Amy T.

If you go splurge on a private tour. The tour guide takes you places the big bus can't go. You get all the attention from the animals. Love this place. It's so obvious they love and care for these animals. Plenty of roaming room.

Feed bag. We had 2 adults and 2 kids feeding the animals, and the entire bag was used before the tour was over.
Katie H.

GWC is an amazing place for an outdoor family adventure. We spent extra for the private Pinz tour and it was WORTH IT! Up close and personal with all the animals and our very own tour guide. Very large parking lot and a gift shop if you feel inclined to buy some pricey memorabilia. Will definitely be back next time we have family in town!

Mike T.

It's a good way to spend an hour or two with small children. There are 30 species here, including zebras, giraffes, bison, several kinds of deer, kangaroos, emus, burros, etc. You have to buy food to feed the animals, and a $30.00 bucket lasted almost the whole tour (an hour and 15 mins) for two kids and one adult. There is a guide to explain about the animals... However, to get up close to the larger animals, like giraffes and bison, I think you have to take a more costly VIP tour. Two adults and 2 children with a bucket of feed was a little over $90. Fun!

Kangaroos asleep and not responsive to customers. Could not get close

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Reviews are largely positive. Visitors highlight the friendly and knowledgeable staff, engaging animal encounters, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

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23 days ago

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7 months ago

Always a great time. Staff is super knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I can't wait to do the private tour.

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

The giraffes were the best. Great experience for kids at least 3 and up! We took our grandkids 14 and 11 and they enjoyed it

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11 months ago

Awesome place! Highly recommend! Great for kids and adults!! Buy extra feed! Bought a season pass!

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2 years ago

It's interesting to get up close with exotic animals that you would normally just see behind bars in the zoo.

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

Awesomee! Unforgettable! Impressive! Worth a trip. Get a few buckets of chow for animals and DO NOT feed zebras.

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3 years ago

Inspite of the construction and not many animals, it is still a very relaxing place to visit

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Ask the Community - Global Wildlife Center

I want to to the private tour with my fiance. Would it be possible to pay the minimum amount of a 4 person private tour- and just have the two of us on the ride?

I think so. But I'm sure if you call them they could give you a definite answer. Y'all are gonna love it!!!

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Review Highlights - Global Wildlife Center

“I wish I would've gotten to see the giraffes up closer, but they were off wandering farther on the lot!”

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Splendor Farms - Baby Louie shortly after coming home from the farm

Splendor Farms

(32 reviews)

I contacted Kelly McKinney, owner of Splendor Farms in Bush, LA, in March 2026 to inquire about the…read morepurchase of an adult mini dachshund to enjoy a wonderful life as a companion to my 75-year-old mother. I paid $3650 and flew to Gulfport, MS to pick up this dog, "W." Almost immediately after she was in our possession, our communication with Kelly became contentious and our nightmare began.  It would be impossible to describe what an emotional and physical wreck this almost three-year-old dog was in without sounding like I am exaggerating. She would not eat, would not walk outside on a leash, and was not housebroken. She was frantic, ran, and cringed every time every time we tried to gently approach her. We asked Kelly multiple times what could be going on with W but she either gave us a condescending answer (e.g. "you are apparently scary to her") or didn't respond at all.  These troubles were soon surpassed by much more pressing ones when, weeks later, she W developed a hacking cough and began to completely refuse the little bit of food we had been able to get into her via hand feeding. We sent a video of her coughing to Kelly and begged her to please offer her knowledge to help us figure out what was behind W's rapid decline. She did not respond.  Sedated X-rays ordered by our vet revealed that W's lungs were filled with either a fungal infection or lymphoma. She was immediately transferred to an emergency hospital two hours away for oxygen support and diagnostics, where further testing (urine assay test and bronchoalveolar lavage) solved the case: W had Blastomycosis, an often-fatal fungal disease. Again, we had had W for seven weeks at this point. My final text to Kelly said "if you are at all concerned about the unbelievable suffering [W] - and we - have experienced in the past week, please contact me." She didn't.  W spent 11 days in intensive care, receiving IV meds, constant oxygen, and nutrition through an NG tube. W survived this ordeal, miraculously, but it took someone like my mother who was willing to spend $25,000 on a dog we had only had for two months to save her. She may have permanent lung damage and the treatment for Blasto will be long and expensive. She will be on anti-fungal meds for many months and will need ongoing testing. The total bill for saving her life will likely be in the range of $35,000 but we think she's worth it. Nonetheless, it has been an exhausting, terrifying, expensive nightmare.  Everything above is our own experience and our own opinion. I only wish that, before buying W, we had read reviews available online about adult dogs sold by Splendor Farms, as I now have done and encourage others to do. PLEASE - BUYER BEWARE.

These are not miniature dachshunds. My dogs grew to be large. They look massive next to other…read moredoxies. ALSO - she lied about my 2nd puppy having blue eyes. She sent a SIDE profile pic, of his ONE blue eye and said he had blue EYES. PLURAL. Never got a picture of him face on. Upon arrival we were shocked to see he only had ONE blue eye and the other BROWN. We drove all the way from Texas!!! After looking back at the pictures she sent us, it's clear it was intentional the way she placed him in the photos. Love my boy dogs but will never buy from her again. Kelly, They are BEAUTIFUL dogs, I'll give you that. But beyond that...a little shady and never sat right with me after all these years.

Audubon Zoo - A pair of young black bears.

Audubon Zoo

(470 reviews)

Audubon

The Audubon Zoo is one of those institutions that everyone needs to visit when in New Orleans. It's…read morelocated in a beautiful park, just off Magazine Street, and one can ride the St. Charles Street Car to get there. It's an old institution, and is often working to improve their historic exhibits to better serve their animals as well as their visitors. When I recently visited, the sea lion exhibit was being improved. They still had a sea lion show, and I was there at just the right time to see one of their sea lions enjoying an enrichment event. The exhibits are designed to provide a spacious and natural environment for the animals, while allowing the visitors to observe them. In some cases, this allows several species to inhabit the same exhibit, which is a more natural setting. This is definitely a well planned and managed collection, and helps the visitors understand to need to conserve our natural environment. The zoo has a great Louisiana swamp exhibit, which also helps the visitors learn about the cultural history of Louisiana. There are native animals that few might see in nature, but which the visitors can learn about in this setting. These include Alligator Snapping Turtles, and Louisiana Black Bears. There's plenty of places for the visitors to eat, drink, and buy gifts. These are found in convenient locations throughout the park. It's a great experience and especially good for families.

I went to Sip N Dip! Let me just say....... SIP N DIP is a…read morevibe! The Zoo Is still beautiful and clean. My only complaint is, they ended our event early with no percentage of a refund back. Listen. We had more than enough time to have ALL the fun, but it wasn't what was promised. I'd do it again and I definitely plan to visit the zoo zoo soon. Lol.

Audubon Aquarium - Stingray

Audubon Aquarium

(693 reviews)

French Quarter

Visited the aquarium with my wife and we enjoyed our visit. It wasn't very busy when we visited…read more They had a lot of big tanks and big fish, including some sharks and stingrays. You can pet the sting rays. The insectarium was very cool. I saw some insects that I've never heard of before. They had some living individuals that were very large. Our favorite part was the butterfly exhibit. My wife loves butterflies and to be able to walk amongst 1,000 of them was a great experience and another first for us. The staff was very friendly too.

If you like fish, and other aquatic species, and you have some time to kill in NOLA, this may be…read moreyour place to visit. The way this space works is that you buy your ticket and you enter via the Insectarium. That's not really my cup of tea but the butterfly exhibit, within that space, is great. From there, you go into the Aquarium. What you will find there is tons and tons of fish orientated exhibits. If you've every been to an Aquarium, in any large city, this one is very much the same. You know what to expect. If you want to check out a lot of various versions of fish, this is you place to go. They also have a nice penguin exhibit within the Aquarium. They seem to be very friendly and interactive. There is also a large space housing rescued owls and falcons and the like. Just like in the case of the penguins, personally, I always feel kind of sad for large birds housed in a space like this, as they are basically trapped. The good news is, I guess, is due the fact that they were injured in the wild they can live out their years in safety while being well taken care of. Overall, if your NOLA you may want to check this place out.

Cool Zoo

Cool Zoo

(24 reviews)

Audubon

What a great addition to the Audubon Zoo! This was my first time to see the venue after hearing…read moreabout it for a while. The lazy river is artfully done, giving a nod to Louisiana wildlife and nature areas. There are a lot of skillful and friendly lifeguards around the area. There are several different food pavilions, restrooms, locker areas, and areas to sit. There is also a fun water slide, giving homage to the infamous alligators with albinism who have taken residence at the Zoo and Aquarium over the years. This would be a fun place to relax with your kids during one of the summer sessions. My friends and I attending the adults-only Sip and Dip event held on Fridays during the summer. It was very affordable for a private cabana for six with early access. Be sure to reserve your tickets for the event early online as it does sell out. It got a bit crowded toward the end, and they did run out of regular floats, though some preferred the thick floating noodles offered. Every Friday night has a different theme, so there is something for everyone. They bring in Dickie Brennans for the bar, and they were wonderful with decently priced drinks and quality alcohol. They were also creating with the mocktails. I certainly will return for another Sip and Dip either later this summer, if able, or next year. Absolutely worth it!

Four stars for Cool Zoo's beautiful grounds and water features that are artfully rendered. Two and…read morea half stars for Sip & Dip. Five stars for the incredibly friendly staff. My first time at Cool Zoo was for the adults-only Friday night party, Sip & Dip. This event is 2X a month during the heart of the summer and features theme nights with DJs and of course since this is NOLA, people get creative and might dress in theme. I went on 80s night and the music was so fun and I loved people wearing neon, 80s tshirts and even hair and make-up. Refreshments stands are spread out among the park and they do a themed cocktail and sell beer, hard seltzer and soft drinks, along with typical concession food and popcorn. I had the cocktail of the evening, the Purple Rain and while it was eye-catching, it was so sweet and possibly strong, too, that I couldn't drink more than 1/4 of it (and it's a huge cup, fairly priced at only $13). The grounds are beautiful with fountains and an area with slides and water features that you'd normally see children dominating (with perfectly good reason) but it was actually fun to see adults having at it on the slides and at the water sprayers. Then there's the lazy river, which is a decent size, warm and full of jets to move you along. We ended up not using flotation devices and swam/walked through it. My main issue and why this event isn't personally my cup of tea: it's too crowded. It sells out but I think they sell far too many tickets. We arrived 15 min after it started and there wasn't a lounge chair nor seat at a table to be found. Cabanas are so cheap here but they sell out immediately ahead of the event, likely the day that tickets go on sale. The only way I'd return was if I could get a cabana. The lazy river is completely packed 45 minutes into the event. We were lucky enough to get a locker (which also sell out so imagine being there without a space to put your things??? how is that fun?). People are in general nice enough to hand over the inner tubes but good luck ever getting a place to sit if you didn't line up in advance of start time. I keep going back between 3 and 4 stars for the main reason that everyone who works here is SO nice. The staff really made everything bearable for me, as they were so welcoming and helpful to point out where the lockers were (there's another set behind the set you initially encounter). I just think this isn't the event for anyone who avoids crowds of people. And the crowd that was there that night were totally fine (at least early in the evening). They just sell too many tickets for me to enjoy it.

Global Wildlife Center - zoos - Updated October 2026

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