Last Updated on March 4, 2024
There are so many great spots throughout the state of Florida to see some amazing animals up close and personal.
While many large tourist attractions offer Florida animal encounters, we love exploring the more unique, off-the-beaten-path wildlife parks across Florida.
Animal Encounters in Florida You Won’t Want to Miss
Check out a few of our favorite spots for Florida animal encounters — perfect for a fun and educational day with the whole family or as a solo traveler.
Florida International Teaching Zoo – Bushnell
The Florida International Teaching Zoo (FITZ) in Bushnell teaches the public about conserving endangered and rare animals.
While most people are familiar with a larger zoo full of crowds, the Florida Teaching Zoo is a more intimate experience.
It gives you more knowledge and education about the animals you’re seeing.
If reading the educational signs at the zoo is not your thing, the Florida International Teaching Zoo has expert guides there to teach you.
Learn more about these Florida animal accounters and check out tickets and pricing on the Florida Zoo Website.
Florida International Teaching Zoo Address: 7725 FL-48, Bushnell, FL 33513
NOTE: The Florida International Teaching Zoo opens for the Fall 2023 season on October 21st.
Giraffe Ranch – Dade City
Located just 45 minutes from Tampa, Giraffe Ranch sits on 47 acres next to Florida’s second-largest wilderness area, the Green Swamp.
The Giraffe Ranch offers fun for the whole family, with multiple different kinds of safaris.
If you prefer to stay in your own car, Giraffe Ranch has a Wildlife Drive-Thru Safari, where you can drive and learn about the animals in the comfort of your own vehicle.
The Custom Safari Vehicle Tour also offers an educational drive through the ranch in a 4-wheel drive safari vehicle, driven by an experienced guide.
Other great safari options include the Segway Safari Tour and the Camel Safari Tour which are, you guessed it – on a segway, or on camel-back.
After the safari, check out the other Florida animal encounters at Giraffe Ranch. These include Otter Feeding, Ring-Tailed Lemur Feeding, Camel Mini-Safari, Rhino Encounter, Premium Giraffe Encounter, and Premium Cheetah Encounter.
Learn more and check out ticketing and pricing on the Giraffe Ranch Website.
Giraffe Ranch Address: 38650 Mickler Rd, Dade City, FL 33523
Don’t miss a few of our favorite things to do in Dade City: A Day Trip to Authentic Dade City.
Myakka Elephant Ranch – Myakka City
Myakka Elephant Ranch is a non-profit conservation center that educates guests on elephant conservation and provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors.
If you love elephants, this is the experience for you. You’ll be able to see elephants up close and personal, and learn what conservationists are doing to protect them.
Myakka Elephant Ranch has three packages to meet and greet the elephants.
The VIP Rise and Shine Package allows guests a 1-hour experience to see the elephants eat breakfast, feed them treats, have one-on-one time, and touch and take photos with them.
The best part? You can help bathe one of the elephants (fun fact: they need daily baths). Other packages include the Spa Encounter and the Educational Encounter.
Check out all of the options as well as ticketing and pricing on the Myakka Elephant Ranch Website.
Myakka Elephant Ranch Address: 4450 Verna Bethany Rd, Myakka City, FL 34251
Peace River Wildlife Center – Punta Gorda
This non-profit wildlife center in Punta Gorda works hard to rescue and rehabilitate the wildlife of Southwest Florida.
Peace River Wildlife Center admits injured and orphaned animals and provides them with necessary medical treatment to release them back into their natural environment.
If a patient can’t go back into the wild, they live at the center where the public can see and learn first-hand about Florida’s wildlife.
Learn more about their mission on the Peace River Wildlife Center Website.
Check out some of our favorite things to do in Punta Gorda: A Perfectly Authentic Getaway.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo – Gainesville
Did you know there is only one zoo on a college campus that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)? That zoo calls Gainesville home — The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.
Sitting on 10 acres of the campus, the zoo is run by ten full-time staff members and maintained by about 100 students enrolled in the Zoo Technology Program.
Guests can see over 70 species of animals, including bald eagles, capuchin monkeys, kangaroos, otters, and more!
Learn more about the zoo on the Sante Fe College Website.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Address: 3000 NW 83 St Building Z, Gainesville, FL 32606
While in the area, don’t miss: Ten Awesome Things To Do in Gainesville.
Seacrest Wolf Preserve – Chipley
This animal encounter in Florida allows guests to meet wolves during an unforgettable and educational experience.
Seacrest’s experiences are by reservation only, so make sure to call ahead or visit them online to secure your spot.
While Seacrest Wolf Preserve usually offers multiple different experiences, they are currently ONLY offering VIP Tours (Mondays – Saturdays).
The VIP private tour gets you up close and personal with the wolves, where you become part of the pack with a guided tour by a trained guide.
Learn more on the Seacrest Wolf Preserve Website.
Seacrest Wolf Preserve Address: 3449 Bonnett Pond Rd, Chipley, FL 32428
Smooth Waters Wildlife Park – DeLeon Springs (Closed)
THIS PARK IS CURRENTLY CLOSED – We are waiting for information on a possible reopening. Stay tuned!
Smooth Waters Wildlife Park is located in DeLeon Springs, not too far from Daytona Beach.
Smooth Waters is not only dedicated to education and conservation but operates under the idea of “Fun, Smiles, & Crocodiles.”
This animal encounter in Florida teaches guests about conservation through their interactive programs and experiences.
You can check out behind-the-scenes action on their YouTube Channel!
Don’t miss our feature article on DeLeon Springs: Make Your Own Pancakes in De Leon Springs.
Looking for other interesting animal encounters? Check out:
Wow! My kids love animals. They were happy while watching the videos.
I have been to the Elephant rescue in Williston and it’s amazing! So clean , so educational and many other animals. It was a great experience..please check it out and get people to visit..they can use the $$..a get cause!
Hey I wanted you to know there’s an elephant rescue in Williston Florida that never gets enough attention. And there’s a big cat rescue in Citra Florida that never gets enough attention. Thank you for talking about the animal experiences, people really love that.
Great info! We have earmarked both places to explore down the road. Thanks for reaching out.