If you are an animal lover - THIS IS A MUST SEE! My boyfriend and I were taking a trip to St. Augustine and looking for some unique things to do. I came across this place on TripAdvisor, and was immediately excited. Secluded from town, this reserve is a home to SO MANY beautiful animals. Something careful to note is this is NOT a zoo. I am personally against zoos for the most part, and wouldn't have a desire to visit one. This is a sanctuary for once mistreated animals, or unwanted animals. Every animal here was born in captivity, none were removed from their original habitat. Schedule your tour online. They will ask for you to pay half of the cost upfront. Ours was $30/person. They only do tours on feeding days so plan accordingly. If you choose to visit, be sure you're not bringing your Mercedes. It's set far from a main road on a dirt path that will quickly get your car dusty if not muddy (pray it hasn't recently rained). The lot is mud/dirt as well. Also, unless you are comfortable with porta potties, stop at a restroom ahead of time. Though their porta potty is well kept. Once you get there you will check-in under a tent-they do accept credit card to pay for the remaining balance of your tour. I was excited from the moment we got there, because right on the other side of the fence was an adorable bobcat and its trainer playing around. The bond you see between the animals and their trainers is really incredible. If you;re wondering if you get to play with or pet the animals, the answer is unfortunately no. Sad face. I suppose it's too much of a liability to risk a tourist being eaten! :) Once on the tour, the guide will give very detailed info about each animal and where they came from. You will mostly see (a TON) of lions and tigers, along with wolves and other smaller cats. There is also a black bear. The coolest part of the experience is seeing how they feed the animals. It's a whole process! Some of the big cats are more aggressive than others, and if you're lucky you will get to hear a lion roar. I had never been so close to such massive wild animals before, and there is nothing else like it. DO NOT miss this place. I even want to come back to volunteer one day. It was a great experience. read more

A MUST SEE for all ages!! I support them through and through. These tigers and animals are well cared for and loved by all who visit.

This sanctuary is amazing! So many different species of cats. I will never be able to see a big cat as close as I did on this tour. This is an unforgetable experience. The staff is extremely helpful and nice. These people genuinely care for these abused animals and give them unconditional love. Highly recommended for people of all ages, since they have a cart on the tour in case you get tired, they give you cold water and towels to cool off during summer months. Well done! read more

The big cats were amazing. The personnel were very informative with incredible interaction with the wild cats!! Great setting. Animals amazingly cared for. Tour during feeding hours. Very insightful. The staff was concerned to answer questions, provide cold water in the heat and a rude if needed. We brought a 20# bag of carrots and u would have thought they were gold bars! Organization is very appreciative of donations. Hats off for all your volunteer hours to make our tour special. read more

Excellent tour. Lots of large cats and wolves. Very knowledgeable volunteers. Highly recommend to ages 8 and up.

This place is amazing- yes, the animals are in cages but whats the alternative? euthanasia? a random zoo? They are well cared for and it is so blatantly obvious all of the staff loves and adores these animals. The fact they are all rescues (a lot of them from awful, abusive situations) and this facility rescued and rehabbed them should say it all. Wonderful, UP CLOSE experience with lions, tigers, wolves, a bear, and several other gorgeous animals. The tour was great- highly recommended. ps. to those complaining about no cell phones/photos allowed- shame on you. you should enjoy the live experience and not complain about this simple, sensible rule. read more

Every time I go to the reserve is better than the last. Love this place. Always appreciate your support so we are happy to do that. The animals are gorgeous and the caretakers love them dearly. So grateful these animals have a good home. read more

06/18/20 totally a great place! Ive been in Jax 20 years this was my first time. Totally qorth it great staff

An amazing educational experience. Just feet away from some of the most majestic animals on earth. Sad that there is such a need for a place like this. Most animals were either abused, surrendered, etc. Many were bought as babies and then used as 'photo ops' until they became to big. Their option: euthanize or rescue. These animals are very well cared for and treated with love and understanding. The interaction between the volunteers and the animals was incredible - such respect. read more

Right after moving to Florida, my husband was looking for something to do for me for my birthday. We planned on going to St Augustine and my husband found out about the wild reserve nearby. We went and we were very surprised! All kinds of wild animals living nicely and being cared for. I could not believe it. You walk around for about 2 hours and are educated about the various animals. You can not take photos, no flash or anything, but at the time they sold you pictures of the animals to take home if you wanted at the end of the tour. I really enjoyed the wolves. They howled together as a pack. It was quite interesting to witness. Who knew this was near St Augustine? I would definitely recommend and would love to go back soon! read more

My fiancé, our friend and I were finally able to come see the beautiful animals at the Reserve. The staff was very friendly and informative. These animals are obviously very loved and well cared for. It was very muddy and hot, but the staff made everyone aware and ensured water, portable fans and wet towels were available. I was a little disappointed we didn't get to see a tiger bubble bath, but maybe next time. :) We had a great experience despite the heat and will definitely be back! read more

They spend time giving you a bio on every animal there. The housings for the animals are adequate and you can tell the animals are happy, well taken care of, and comfy! I love that they have hyenas. I have only seen them when I went to Africa in the wild so it was very cool hearing about their story and how they were rescued here. Deb sounds like an amazing person. Highly recommend this reserve to visit! read more

Great place to visit, very informative. You get the opportunity to get up close with wild animals. I highly recommend St Augustine Wild Reserve and support their great service to this animals and community. Thank YOU! read more

First of all... this place doesn't look like much from the outside, but dont let that fool you. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, kind and they go out of thier way to be sure you have the best experience possible. No this is NOT a zoo, NOT an animal shelter. This is a rescue preserve for WILD animals that would otherwise be put down. The animals are well fed, well cared for, clearly well loved. Many are a bit scary (5ft away is pretty close to a HUGE Tiger!!), but the staff interacts with confidence and sensible affection when appropriate. Enough staff there to keep even the slowest tourist safe. Great experience for adults and older children. Not recommended for younger kids. This would have a full five stars IF they had restroom Facilities beyond a port-a-potty, and if the crowd of guests wasnt so large. Maybe a great Eagle Scout Project to build a self composting toilet with a pump Sink?? Just a thought! read more

Customer service horrible. I would give this place 0 stars if I could. When I asked for the 9 person golf cart that they said we would be provided for our pregnant friend we were told that we were "lazy asses" we do look young but that is not what was advertised. Honestly the place looks border line illegal... I see the cages the animals are placed in. I have bathrooms bigger than them. Honestly, all in all there is so much to see in saint Augustine feel free to skip this. It was Marty lady with the long blond hair, that called us the "lazy asses" please rethink your customer service. Thank you. Also email says and I quote "9 person golf cart available for all those that would like one" read more

Enjoyed our day at this wild life reserve. Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The rescue animals are loved and well taken cared for. Saw the wild animals up close and learned much about them. Met a "liger" for the first time - yes, it is a real animal! read more

What an experience! To see the beauty of the animals up close is amazing. Even more amazing is the relationship the volunteers have with the animals. To see the animal labeled as the "king of the jungle," rub up against the fence, and even roll over on his back, trying to get scratches from the staff is extremely heartwarming! Please visit and witness it for yourself. The tour is only $30 and all of that goes towards taking care of the animals. read more

Loved the animals that they were being rescued. Didn't like that the animals are in very smaller cages!! The cats looked like they were restless. I would have liked to see them put these animals in bigger space to roam in. Hated the fact that they're militant about guests taking a picture or two of animals at a safe distance. I was in the middle of using my phone halfway through the hot walking tour at 2 PM to text a friend and a son and the two assistants just wanted me to know phones were not allowed. If I can go to San Diego Wild Animal Park, world class San Diego Zoo, Busch Gardens and Disney's Animal Kingdom for a lot more entrance fees and exposure to wilder animals and be able to Take pictures, why is this wild game reserve not able to let paying guests take a pic or two. I think that the reason not very many people has heard of this is because they make it hard for guests to share photos of these awesome creatures. I know. They give you CD's. It's different when you can have pics of them from their natural setting. Not from a Cd. So I will not recommend it to friends because of the unfriendly atmosphere. Also, why would you give a walking tour on the hottest part of the day??? At 2 PM? Why not at 9AM when it's cooler? Again. I love the animals, I did not like the unfriendliness. read more

lived near this place for over 10 years now, but never took a tour. I love hearing the roaring and howling every day from my yard. I was very impressed with the tour and loved watching the handlers interact with the animals. these babies are definitely well taken care of and loved. This might be my new favorite thing to do with out of town guests. read more

This was a one of a kind experience. The tour was educational, fun and eye opening to how these wild animals end up at the reserve. Each animal has its own story. The reserve is clean, all of the volunteers are truly dedicated to their jobs and so friendly. I would highly recommend this experience to everyone. read more

Oh man. What a lucky find! I was in the area and googled things to do in St Augustine and this came up, a bit outside of town. At first glance, I thought it was your typical sad "zoo" with big cats, but it's actually a rescue farm that isn't open to public except on a couple days a week. They allow tours to raise money for the farm. All the animals--which are mostly big cats--are rescues. You get within 5' of these gorgeous creatures. I have never seen such beautiful tigers in my life. Not only that, they were taking baths when we saw them! They were frolicking and rolling around in the baths, I died of cute. No photos are allowed which made me sad, but we bought the $5 photo CD to support the cause. Only downside is going in the summer is brutal heat. But the staff was amazingly considerate of this and supplied free water bottles & wet cold towels, as well as golf cart rides for those who were tired. Everyone was so nice & knowledgable. We plan to donate to the farm when we get home! read more

Was there today. Completely the kind of place I want to support. The animal's enclosures were clean beyond anything I've ever seen. The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable regarding each animal. The cats were SO playful with the staff that one had to laugh at the antics. I learned things I didn't know regarding zoos and the types of animals they prefer, and also the amount of meat that these animals eat. I even teared up at a few points because the tour guide explains how the animals ended up at the sanctuary and some of the stories are just humans being stupid-or worse, trying to make a profit. Later, looking at google, this road has not been easy for the sanctuary owner. It seems that she has many angry neighbors, and could use all the support she can get. She will have mine for life, andI will visit every time I come to the area read more

This visit changed my life. I loved it. The staff were so knowledgable I learned so much and find myself talking about it to anyone that will listen.we were safely so close to the most facinating beautiful large animals. I wish I had taken notes - I bought the CD and can't remember which ones we saw. I highly recommend this place and can't wait to get back there. read more

This is an amazing experience. The animals were well taken care of, the tour was informative. While tickets are $30 per person, its easy to see how they use the money. The cats were also given pumpkins on the tour, which they loved! The tour took roughly 2 hours, there was walking, but most of it was actually standing and watching these amazing animals. They have a golf cart to ride on if you choose. They do say no photography, which is the one and only downside. Given how close you are to these cats with claws and fangs, don't want to take a chance upsetting them! Great experience. Worth every penny. read more

Let me start off by saying that this is not a zoo. The experience that you would have here will be very different from what you would have at a Zoo. This reserve was specifically created as a rescue center for unwanted exotic animals. Let's talk about the experience. They offer tours only 3 times a week, and only by appointments. So, you got to ensure that you book your tickets from their website (you pay 50% at the time of reservation). Read the instructions at their Tours page on the website. Once you are onsite (I would suggest ~30 minutes before the tour), you have to pay rest of the money. It's best to bring cash. If you decide to pay using credit card, you will be adding to the confusion that ensues there while checking-in people. Once everyone is checked-in, you will be given about 10 minutes of "orientation" with instructions/warnings, etc. I would highlight the "no pictures" policy. Depending on the size of your group, you might have problems seeing the animals when they would be fed, because there are only limited number of people who can surround the cage. The tour guide had a microphone and a speaker attached to her waist. I really liked that. Almost all of the animals were fed in front of us. Each of them had a story, which made the whole experience very real and moving. We even saw a while tiger (forgot his name) taking a bubble bath. It was a beautiful sight to watch. The kind of affection that these big cats show towards the volunteers at the zoo is unbelievable. That's something that would only see on TV. They also have a golf cart along with the group in case anyone gets tired and wants to sit for a while. They stock the cart with bottled water which is a nice thought, especially for summer season. After the tour started, we enjoyed every moment of it. Since there is "No photos" policy, which honestly, I believe is good, they do sell CDs with pictures of the same animals without cages, for 5$. There is no food available here, and there is a Port-O-Jon at the entrance as far as bathroom facility is concerned. If you are visiting the reserve during or after rain, have good shoes because the walking area is not paved. read more

Incredible experience. My girlfriend and I were a little worried that the rain would ruin the fun, but we decided to show up all the same. The staff provided $2 ponchos and the rain went away a half hour into our tour. Even if it had not, we both would have wanted to continue because it was awesome to have a close view of such huge animals. The staff treats lions and tigers like house pets. They feed them bottles and give them bubble baths. My girlfriend is the type that cares more about the treatment of animals than people, but she was so impressed with the care, time and affection that goes into the treatment of these rescued animals. It was definitely a five star tour! read more

Had a great time on the tour. Sam did a great job guiding the tour. And the volunteer staff were so kind and knowledgeable. Shout out to Renee on the cart for providing free water and transportation throughout the tour. Thanks for the great experience! read more

Amazing!!!! These people clearly LOVE what they do! What a wonderful experience! You get within 5 feet of these wonderful creatures. It really was worth every penny and you KNOW that your money goes directly towards those animals. read more

Great wild animal rescue tour! Truly lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Very knowledgeable, caring and courteous staff. You won't be disappointed! read more

We went on a Friday VIP tour so we had a small group. Marti was so much fun while giving us so much information. Being up close to so many beautiful animals is a special experience. Animals are clearly loved, healthy and well cared for. Don't hesitate to go. read more

Very informative and they do a great job of taking care of their animals there. Definitely check them out!

This place is a must see ! You get close to animals, and it's very educational ! I can't wait to go back!

Great tour. The wolf pups and cozy bear were our favorites. We really love how this place takes in rescue animals.

The exhibit was phenomenal. Great to see such amazing animals up close. Make sure to wear comfortable clothes because it will be hot during the tour. The presenter was great and informative. One of the other volunteers was quite rude but everything else was great. read more

This was by far one of the best experiences! The volunteers are amazing, loving, caring and compassionate individuals! Kathy provided much information and history of the animals. The entire staff is extraordinary!They have given all these animals a second chance. They are dedicated, its admirable the time they volunteer. They were wonderful to the tour group, providing water and cold wet towels for the heat! Made sure everyone could see as well. I happily brought supplies needed and donated to this amazing place. Definitely worth the trip, wish I lived closer I would be a regular visitor! Do not miss! Oh the cd of photos for $5.00 is worth it, captures beautiful pics of animals and information. Glad I purchased it! The big cats are happy as house cats with the love and attention they receive from the staff. They purr and roar! What an amazing day! read more

A must-do for animal lovers when in Saint Augustine. An entertaining and educational tour. These wonderful volunteers are working very hard for a noble and necessary purpose. read more

I highly recommend this place. The staff are very knowledgeable and have genuine love and care for the animals, many of which were rescued and given a wonderful home and new lease on life. The tour is incredible and gets you right up next to some of the most gorgeous animals in the world. I was excited about visiting this place and it surpassed all my expectations. Can't speak highly enough of the tour guide, Karen. She was very informative, entertaining, and had a deep bond with many of the animals. They have wolves, bengal and siberian tigers, lions, servals, cougars (puma concolor), lynxes, leopards, coatis, hyenas, a super friendly deer that takes the tour alongside you, and really a menagerie of other cool birds and mammals. Visit them! You won't regret it. read more

I found the Reserve when my employer allows volunteering once a month and I absolutely love it here. The staff are so caring and tailor every meal and activity to each animal. I've been to other wild cat sanctuary's, but this one has my heart. If you plan on visiting, they also have a donation list on their website which tells you what they need daily to provide for these beautiful creatures. It's a must see! read more

A lifelong dream of mine was to see BIG CATS and I was so freggin awestruck I almost cried during the 2 hour private tour. You cannot imagine what it feels like unless you do it and I learned (to my surprise) that these cats are happy even though they are in captivity. We just loved it and it's at the top of the "best thing I've EVER done" list. read more

OMG!! This is a MUST DO!! So awesome seeing these beautiful kitties!! Loved every minute of it!! I would recommend going with donations in hand...only to help these majestic cats.......see their website. The volunteers were awesome........Will do it again and maybe again! Would not recommend for kids under 5. read more