We headed up to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this past Saturday. They were having a Party for the…read morePlanet Day. They threw a party for the animals and celebrated Earth Day. There's a lot to see at this little zoo. We saw lemurs, a tree kangaroo, Visayan Pig, squirrel monkeys, gibbons, Caracals, owls, a beautiful bald eagle, Herons, Cranes, Emus, Kookaburras, Gila Monster, tortoises, a Wood Stork and more! Hard to get photos through some of the fences. What a fun time!

Well worth visiting if up in Gainesville for a medical appointment as we were…read more Cleo the caracal was our favorite. Many exhibits with much vacant land awaiting "The Master Plan". Numerous helpful staff who I think are students at the college. Paths are unpaved and leafy, not wheelchair friendly, but fine for walking. Gift shop had minimal adult sized shirts and none featuring caracals. Yellow parrots nice eye candy.

Amazing! Where else can you hold a baby kangaroo, an otter and tiny baby monkeys. What a great…read moreexperience and super friendly and knowledgeable staff/owners! It was very clean and the animals look loved and cared for. We highly recommend and will be back!

From the owner: Wild Encounters is a hands-on exotic animal experience located in Alachua, FL. We offer private,…read moreinteractive encounters with a variety of friendly and well-cared-for species, giving guests the chance to learn, connect, and create unforgettable memories. From otters and kangaroos to parrots and farm favorites, every visit is educational, unique, and tailored to all ages. Book a personal encounter and experience wildlife up close in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @wildencountersfl Facebook: Wild Encounters Inc.

I love Single Vision and been a supporter of Carl's endeavor since Bruiser Bear was on his little…read moresurfboard many years ago. Anyone who loves wild animals who have been abused, abandoned, or unable to be released back into their habitat will enjoy seeing that they are special and loved by Carl and the employees and volunteers who care for them. Wish that I lived closer, but feel so fortunate that I was able to visit several times. Single Vision is worthy of your support and donations!

Amazing place! All the animals are rescues or zoo "rejects" that have found a wonderful forever…read morehome! The people who care for them absolutely love what they do and these animals are a top priority to them! The tour was glorious and safety if their priority! They could use the donations so recommend giving more than they ask for as their work is very worthy!

I went here before and exactly as i suspected! My love for big cats are a passion of mine forever!…read moreAnd its just what i got! Cats!

An excellent big cat rescue and wildlife preservation center, with tours by informative and…read morefriendly staff! Reasonable admission price and a fun experience for all-ages. You can tell that the animals are well-cared for and happy.

They really treat these creatures like human family. Was such an experience. Got to ride and feed…read morethem. There is so much room for them to roam more than any lame Zoo. They have a thing where you can bathe them. The people who run this are amazing. I know they have been through alot over the years and goad they are able to keep moving forward one giant paw at a time.

A wonderful place to learn about elephants (and the world) from Patricia…read moreI recently visited Two Tails Ranch in Williston, Florida. You have to reserve a spot online before you go. They will respond with a date and time to show up. The sign in the gate when you arrive says they open the gates 10 minutes before the showtime so you may be sitting in your car along the dirtroad if you arrive early. You are directed where to park and then choose what options you want (feeding, picture, ride) and they give you tickets for each item. If you are going to ride the elephant you cannot be over 200 pounds (there is a scale at the ticket counter). Once everyone is done buying tickets you go to the first top. Our group of about 20 sat in rows of chairs under the shade right in front of the elephant pen with Zika the elephant and Patricia Zerbini. She has decades of hands-on elephant care through her family's dedicated efforts. She is the real deal. She stands in front of you and will answer any question in a straight-shooting, authentic, and honest manner, no punches pulled. She shared her experiences about elephants past, present, and future while teaching us about their care and the importance of their current issues. After that, you move in a group to another enclosure with a different elephant where people can feed, get a picture and ride an elephant. I chose all three and found them each well worth the time and money. They are once in a lifetime experiences that I'll remember forever. Patricia then walked us around the ranch, showing us her tortoises, zebra, and lemurs. She will answer any question as she is touring the group around. We ended at the little museum and gift shop, packed with fossils, artifacts, and elephant memorabilia. Two Tails Ranch is a real hidden gem run with love and purpose. If you're even remotely interested in elephants, this is a must-visit. Patricia and her family are doing wonderful work. I highly recommend visiting and supporting their efforts.

Credit to Jacksonville as we have a really fantastic zoo…read more Nicely laid out, well-staffed, clean, clearly marked trails, broken up with kids play areas, hosting a good range of animals from around the world. The new manatee habitat is gorgeous, and allows people to enjoy these gorgeous mermaid potatoes while they're treated and rehabilitated. The weather is the only negative, so plan accordingly with sunscreen, fans. hats, rain ponchos, money for the Kona Ice and Dippin' Dot vendors and so on.

Went to see the new exit and Manatee exhibit. The entrance is beautiful and you can see were a lot…read moreof care an attention was added to the fascade of the exhibition. There was an "art in the park" event so it was wonderful to see local artists set up to sell their creations. One downside of the new entrance is that the walk from the entrance to the tigers is very laborious, with no restrooms, water stations, or shade. It's not bad when it's not crowded, but I can imagine how terrible it will be when summer hits. It would have been nice if the walkway was had an overhead canopy of bamboo. It's also a very industrial area, interesting in a "behind the scenes way" (but completely out of harmony with the rest of the motifs of the zoo). Please note that the zoo is now 100% cashless, and there's a huge discount if you buy your tickets online in advance (or you risk paying up to 40 per base ticket). Overall I love the zoo, I can't wait to see their continued growth, I just wish their new walkways were more considerate of pedestrians and the mercurial weather of Florida.

Excellent in-depth tour of lions, tigers, bears, wolves, jaguars, and more! We got much closer…read morelooks at these animals than in other places my family has visited. The tour we took was 1.5 hours long. They broke us up into groups of about 40. We could always hear our tour guide easily, and she gave us a lot of information about each animal. The animals looked well cared for. For those who need a ride on the walking tour, there are golf carts. They provide bottled water, if you need it. Younger kids or those with shorter attention spans may get antsy or cranky, but I think it is a very enjoyable and unique tour. No photos are allowed on the tour for safety and logistical reasons. Honestly, it is nice to just enjoy the moment and not stress about optimal angles and lighting. A port-a-potty is available. The tour is a must-do in the area!

I took 3 of my grandchildren here mid-day on a late summer afternoon. We thought it would be a fun…read morefor the kids to see the animals in their natural habitats. While the staff can't control the weather, it seemed as though they could've done more so that the animals would be more comfortable in the heat! The day ended up being miserably uncomfortable for us, as well as the animals. Some were impatiently pacing in their cages. Some were just lying around in the dirt. Two were recovering from surgeries. All of the animals looked well cared for and some were enjoying some snacks while we were there. Our "walking tour" included a walk around the facility to each animal's habitat and the guide discussing multiple facts about the animals lives and journey to the Reserve. Start to finish, it took about an hour and included a bottled water. I'd recommend strollers for your kids. It's an unsafe place to allow young children to wander around. The "public" restroom is a port-o-let outside the gated entrance to the reserve. It was just as clean as the ones at a football game/concert! There is no gift shop but they do ask for donations and give you a t-shirt in return. In movie terms, the reserve is the equivalent of a low-budget film. It's saving grace is the effort to keep these animals alive, but as they all grow, I feel like this "low-budget film will not be able to keep up with the demand! Too few employees for so many demanding large animals.

I went there for a visit on a night time feeding. It was a neat concept. They have to feed the…read moreanimals anyways, so why not invite people to educate and raise money for the sanctuary. The animals seem well taken care of and happy. The have mostly tigers but also a lion and some smaller cats. They even have two foxes and two bears! This is different than a zoo, because they have these animals as a way to save them. Some of them were from private owners and some were form closed zoos. The workers and volunteers were all happy as well.

You've never been to a place like this before... and at first, I wasn't even sure what to expect…read more The sign outside is nicely done, but when you walk in, the tables and chairs look like they're 50 years old... clean and organized, but the area clearly needs an upgrade. But that's actually the point... every dollar this nonprofit earns goes directly to animal care, facilities, and expansion. Nothing is wasted on appearances. And that mindset defines everything about this place. We signed up for a tour and arrived early to walk around a bit on our own. By chance, we ran into Curt Logiudice, the founder and owner of the sanctuary... a remarkable man who has devoted his life to this mission. Hearing him explain how it started, how it's grown, and his vision for the future was inspiring. Watching him interact with the bear they have was priceless... playful, natural, and full of trust. You couldn't tell who was enjoying it more... Curt or the bear. What they're doing here is truly admirable. Their mission is the rescue of exotic animals from serious and often tragic situations. Once an animal arrives at Catty Shack Ranch, it has a home for life. They do not breed, trade, sell, or buy animals. The sanctuary is home to tigers, a bear, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, foxes, and coatimundis... all cared for with dignity and respect. The guided tour is absolutely worth it. The staff is knowledgeable, the experience is educational, and you get surprisingly close to the animals while still feeling completely safe. The atmosphere is calm, respectful, and not overcrowded. I noticed families with kids whose eyes were wide with amazement... it's that kind of place. This is privately funded, and even veterinarians volunteer their time to care for animals in need of medical treatment. If you see Curt on the grounds... and you probably will... stop and talk to him. His passion, humility, and genuine love for these animals is unmistakable. Please visit. Please support this place. What they're doing here truly matters. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is a wonderful place for kids. The staff are always helpful and will answer any questions…read more Great place to spend the day. We have been multiple times and are never disappointed. My grandson absolutely loves the cotton top tamarin, and my granddaughter is the same about the Black and white lemurs. We always average being there 4 to 5 hours. Their just never ready to go. They are always acquiring new animals and birds, so the experience is never dull. Always something new to see The only downside is there is nowhere to purchase food. The nearest food is an Arby's in a gas station off of highway 19. So, if you're planning a full day pack a lunch, especially with young ones.

The place wasn't fully done. A few exhibits were closed. The animals were cool though. We went for…read morea field trip, I didn't really learn anything. It was a cool experience!