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    Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

    4.3 (36 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    Kathy K.

    This 10 acre accredited zoo on the Santa Fe College campus in Gainesville opened in 1970 with about 200 animals is quite unique. Open from 9am to 3pm seven days a week. Admission fee is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 4-12 and under 4 is free. There are picnic tables within the playground area. No food or drinks in the zoo but guests are welcome to bring their own. We were able to see a variety of birds including a peacock, eagles, parrots, ibis, herons, ducks, storks, and rosette spoonbills. Also monkeys, tortoises and snakes. Restrooms are near the entrance. The zoo relies on community support to fulfill its mission of wildlife conservation and education. It was a fun little outing.

    Wonderful experience! Late in day and not many people. Staff was starting to feed so even more interesting.

    Jon A.

    My sister was in town visiting, and we were looking for something to do that we wouldn't normally do. She had recently read about the Santa Fe Zoo, and realized that in all the years that she had lived here, she had never actually been to the zoo. Oddly, this is somewhat common for people living in a city... they never go and do the things that visitors would do. You never go see the tourist attractions in the place that you actually live. So we went, and were very happy to do so. It was a cool morning, and the zoo is small enough that it can be taken in in just a couple of hours, so that was good. We saw the various birds and turtles, said hello to the gibbons and the ocelots, and generally enjoyed our trek around the grounds. The zoo is inexpensive to go to, quite educational, and a lot of fun to enjoy for people of all ages. Well worth the visit.

    Wife and newborn waiting in line to walk into the zoo!

    We had an amazing time! We had went to the community college teaching zoo for Halloween! And I think everyone there did an amazing job! From the costumes, to acting, and the whole setup was astonishing. I would recommend! Here's a video: https://youtu.be/_rT27KSyE5s?si=rSfhJwvxrn_2585l

    Rina I.

    My sister is a student under the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Program and she has been trying to get me to visit her and this zoo ever since the program started. Well, I finally had the time and I am so sad that I didn't find out about this zoo sooner! Open every day besides Christmas and Thanksgiving from 9AM-2PM. Parking is free and admission is very cheap compared to other zoos. The zoo is mainly run by students under the Santa Fe Zoo Keeping Program. Did you know that this is the only zoo on a college campus accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)! Once you enter the zoo, you are given a quarter (part of admission) and you have can drop that quarter under your choice of animal conservation; therefore, it allows the guests to be a part of the conservation movement! You can choose between these conservation: Florida native birds, Indigo snakes, Asian small clawed otters. How neat is that! I was so surprised of the wide variety of animals here at this small 10-acre zoo. All the students are very knowledgeable about the animals. Although a small zoo, I spent a lot of time just observing how the animals live and interact in their enclosures. My favorite were the cute tree kangaroos! You can see them just chilling and napping with their fluffy tail. And if you hear any loud high pitch screaming, it's probably the gibbons or the lemurs. Definitely go check them out too because they are very active and you'll see them swing from one branch to the other. I was very pleased with this small little gem in Gainesville, FL. Also, every Halloween they host an event called Boo at the Zoo where your admission only costs one canned good item! The whole zoo is decked out in handmade decorations by the students and lots of spots for your kids to trick or treat while seeing some animals. I went this year and was surprised by the details in the decorations. Overall, you can tell how passionate these students and the faculty are for their animals. I highly recommend stopping by!

    Red-ruffed Lemurs
    Michael T.

    I may be a little biased because I graduated from the Zoo Animal Technology program. But I will still try to be objective. Go Zooies!! The SFC Teaching Zoo is a small AZA-accredited zoo in Gainesville, Florida. It is located on the campus of Santa Fe College. Admission is fair at $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-12. If you attend or work at SFC, then you get in free with an SFC ID card. The only way to see the zoo is by guided tour. The zoo is almost completely operated by the students and a very small staff of about 9 people. The students give the tours. It is best if you call ahead and make an appointment for a tour. But you can walk-in on the weekends and get a tour. You might have to wait up to a half an hour though. The collection of animals is diverse. You get to see primates, ungulates, carnivores, birds, reptiles, and more. Some of the most popular species to look for are the ocelots, otters, tree kanagroos, gibbons, and of course those mischievous capuchins. They have galapagos tortoises there too. They may not be on exhibit in the winter however. The program itself is very competitive and rigorous. I was very impressed with the knowledge I obtained from their courses. They really do teach the students what it takes to be a zookeeper. Keep in mind that it is a "Teaching Zoo" when you visit. The animals you see are animals approved by the staff for teaching purposes. So don't expect lions, giraffes, etc. And go easy on the tour guides. Like I said, they are students. You might get a very professional guide who will go on to be a keeper one day. Or you might get a tour from a student on the verge of dropping out. Just remember it is a learning environment. Overall, I'm a fan of the SFC Teaching Zoo! Yes, I'm a little biased, but so what. I'm a zooie (a graduate of their program). If you go there aware, and patient with the teaching environment, I'm sure you will find it an enjoyable experience and money well spent. Make sure to ask your tour guide to take a picture of your group.

    Refund Refusal
    Kendra C.

    Worth a one time visit, not a pass. Very small & quite uninteresting, especially for my 2 year old. I asked for a refund for my pass after one visit (and just pay for one day), but they refused. So disappointed. Wish there was another zoo in Gainesville.

    Jessica I.

    Great little zoo, perfect for a morning out with my 4 year old. It might not be fantastic for older children, but all of the staff/students are friendly and eager to share their knowledge. We went early (as soon as they opened) in July, I would imagine it gets fairly unpleasant later in the afternoon with the heat and the humidity, but the entire thing is pretty well covered with trees so there is a ton of shade. The aviary was a lot of fun, and my daughter loved the herpetology building. Oh, I would recommend wearing bug spray! I got eaten alive by mosquitoes.

    Jen G.

    We took a quick road trip from JAX to do a day in Gainesville and this was our first stop. You can't beat the price and how quaint it is. There is definitely plenty to see and a playground for the kiddies. We loved the swinging gibbons and watched the male peacock try to impress the non-impressed females on the playground.

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    7 years ago

    Love this with my young daughter! Amazing experience, well shaded, playground with peacocks and lots of other birds!

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    Amazing place to learn young and old alike. My kids loved it as well as me and my wife.cant wait to go back again soon

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    Review Highlights - Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

    Although a small zoo, I spent a lot of time just observing how the animals live and interact in their enclosures.

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    Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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