This is such a cool safari park... its a hidden gem TBH. They have farm animals which you can pet…read moreand larger animals you can observe and get relatively close too. Of course their big attraction is the drive thru animal park which you take your own car along a dirt trail and can feed (if you choose) various animals. The price for this place will not break the bank. A couple of observations to improve: 1) It needs to be maintained more... some of the exhibits just feel like add-ons on top of add-ons and it feels dated. 2) A refresh and modernization to the walking trails would be good. 3) A proper cafe or even drink stations with covered seating would be nice. Something more than just random popup trailers. 4) A more permanent (possibly lit) sign off highway 87 would be nice (if possible) Again this place is awesome, would come back!

My Husband and I came here on my Birthday, and it was the most fun and entertaining experience!!…read more First, we did the drive through, and I was not ready for how hard we would laugh and how aggressive an ostrich can be. They come and dart their heads in to get food. Also, the llamas and alpacas will follow your car if they want more food. Hilarious. We repeated to ourselves several times not to feed the donkey and the zebras, as they can bite! We actually drove through the whole thing twice, and I'm really glad we did. More and more animals came to our car the second time around. There are camels that are feet taller than our car. We were able to feed and interact with some more huge gentle giants and also learned to roll the windows up if an ostrich was running towards us! The walk-through portion is fun as well, we fed some barnyard animals and even pet a kangaroo! The big, exciting part for me though was when we got to feed carrots to the giraffes. They are so huge but so docile and they take the carrots with their tongues. This was really a fun experience, with us even putting the carrots in our mouths for them to give us "kisses". All the staff members are friendly and helpful, the areas are well kept and the animals seem to be well cared for. The price is $15 to enter, and that includes the drive through and walk through, you get a wrist band so you can go to each as many times in your visit that you want to. The cups of feed are $3 each the first time, and then an additional dollar for refills. The giftshop was cute with lots of fun stuff to purchase. There is also a food vendor there on site with some yummy foods, and an area with picnic tables to enjoy a nice lunch. This was a great time, and I will recommend to anyone in Fayetteville or surrounding areas!

This was such an awesome experience, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Keep in mind these…read morepeople are volunteers this establishment runs off of people like you and me visiting and donations. This is not a zoo it's a sanctuary and rescue and I highly respect what they do here. it takes a lot, more that I can probably fathom to rescue and care for all the animals they have here (they do have a lot) from a variety of turtles, tons of different birds that were beautiful, monkeys, horses, donkeys, a camel, cats, dogs, raccoons, fox, bunnies, reptiles, ant eater, bats, pigs, the list goes on. You can tell these animals are well cared for as well, just keep in mind that they are rescues and we don't know what they have been through before they arrived. the entrance fee is more than reasonable for the experience.

The 5 stars is for the overall experience. It's an animal rescue on a personal property, it is not…read morea "zoo" that being said we saw some things we have never seen in a typical zoo. You also get up close to the animals but they are still in enclosures. For $15 a person it's more than reasonable and you know your money goes to helping the animals. If you are traveling on I-95 this is 12 minutes off the Benson exit. A great break on your long drive on I-95. Walking surfaces are natural, not paved or concrete, please consider this when choosing your footwear!

The North Carolina Zoo is one of our favorite places to visit as a family. We have been coming here…read morefor years, from when our children were young to now bringing our four year old granddaughter, and it never gets old. The experience is always enjoyable. The zoo is clean, well organized, and offers a very interactive environment that keeps everyone engaged. There is a lot of walking, but that is part of the charm and allows for a more natural setting for the animals. Food is about what you would expect from a large attraction and can be on the expensive side, but the overall experience more than makes up for it. We have never had a bad visit here. It is a place we will keep coming back to, and we are excited to see the new Asia section they are adding this year.

We got to the zoo when it opened on a Sunday. 9 AM. In my opinion, if you can't get there early,…read morethen don't go. We parked in Africa and we thought the animals in Africa were great ! Maybe because it was early and they were pretty active. By the time we got to the North America side, the animals seemed to be less visible. It was hot out. We only stayed until just after NOON. It got so crowded !!! A lemonade was $10 ! No idea how much the food was but ---- NO !!! Bring your water bottles and snacks. Employees were friendly and beyond helpful. Restrooms are pretty spred out so plan accordingly. After just over 3 hours, we walked over 9000 steps. Go EARLY !!!!!

VERY INFORMATIVE! Totally worth supporting!…read moreBeautiful creatures! The tour guides were lovely . I will bring all out of town guests!

This was my first time at Carolina Tiger Rescue - I was a chaperone for my child's field trip…read more They had a little trouble finding all of the parent waivers when we first arrived, but they got it all sorted out. Our tour was great and very informative. Our guide was extremely patient with all the questions the little kids had. We got to see several different types of tigers and servals. They have some other animals there too, but some were either not out where we could see them or are nocturnal. Some of the stories about the animals are just heartbreaking but to be expected since they are all rescued animals. They had a spot with picnic tables where our group was able to eat after the tour before we left. One other thing to note if you come with a larger group - they only have 2 public bathrooms located in the gift shop. We had some long lines with all the kiddos, but we made it work.

Amazing for families with young children! Went with our 1 and 3 year old and it was perfect for…read moreboth age ranges. Love that almost everything is just included in admission and didn't need to worry about extra tickets. Will definitely be back! We went in March and it was beautiful weather. There was a good bit of shade provided through either trees or tents, but I could see it be brutal in the summer heat and sun.

Love this place! We had a blast during family day feeding the animals and just strolling around the…read morefarm.

My friends and I went to the Capybara experience where we visited and pet the capybaras. I was…read moreskeptical about the experience at first because the price tag, but it was worth every penny! I will definitely take advantage of other wildlife experiences.

We traveled four hours so my daughter could see a capybara, and the experience exceeded our…read moreexpectations. The farm is beautifully maintained with a diverse range of animals, including many exotic birds. The owner and staff were exceptionally welcoming and knowledgeable. The capybara encounter was a highlight--being able to feed and interact one-on-one made it truly special. Highly recommend. 10/10.

We hired Jude's Ark for my toddler's birthday but as an option everyone could enjoy because she has…read moreolder brothers. EVERYONE enjoyed Jude's Ark - including the adults! My eight year old asked if they could come back for his birthday. The husband-wife team was professional, friendly, extremely patient and clearly passionate about the animals. The animals were all adorable and friendly and you get to touch all of them and hold many of them. Cost is extremely reasonable ($150 for one hour), no additional cost to come to our house in the Apex/Holly Springs area. They set up 30 minutes before and give you the option of a petting zoo style event or an educational half hour with touching followed by 30 minutes to interact more and hold many of the animals. We loved the educational half hour. The kids were fascinated by all of the animals. Don't opt out of the snake and tarantula, surprisingly those didn't feel as scary as I expected and the tarantula was even cute, he "high fives" everyone. I'm not sure I could pick a favorite animal. The bird was so sweet and kept laughing during the presentation. The hedgehog was adorable, as were the ferret, sugar glider and rabbit. Plenty of options for reptile-lovers too! Highly recommend.

Excellent ice cream and nice setting on a small urban farm. Big servings in waffle cones. Delicious!read more

Gotta love a local favorite!! April to October you can enjoy fresh ice cream made there…read more Flavors vary - to keep you coming back. Our favorite is key lime pie.

First time coming here, and I would give 5 stars if not for the exorbitant pricing. Adults costing…read moremore than kids at that, for a kids museum has always rubbed me wrong. But this place is quite expansive with several areas including wildlife, butterfly and insect garden, a train tour that takes 2 laps around (might as well get it for the $6 a ticket), and several outdoor play areas including a tree house and mist/water areas. Place was crowded, but there were still plenty of spaces available at 10:30 in the garage. If I lived closer, I might consider a membership to save costs, but I live too far currently to justify that. The cafe food was mid, and again too expensive. The pricing for me knocks a star off, but if you've never been and are prepared to spend a couple hundred bucks for the day on a family of 4, you'll probably enjoy!

We spent a day at this location while visiting family in North Carolina. We had a lovely experience…read moreand found the location to be quite expansive. There is a lovely wildlife area, butterfly garden, fun little train tour, an outdoor treehouse, and more. The price was quite high, but I imagine based on the number of staff and the animals that this location is quite expensive to maintain. The little gift shop was also great with lots of children's games, clothing items, toys, and more. If I was in the area I would definitely consider an annual pass. All of the staff were lovely from the train driver to the ticket takers. Fun location!

I have spent 2 birthdays there. Its beautiful! I love it! The tours are full of information, I…read morewish it was a little more hands on, but I went back, so if you want to see beautiful live animals, this is your place! I really wanted to hold the Sloth!

The Animal Park at the Conservators Center is a non-profit wildlife center in Burlington that's…read morededicated to abandoned and rescued exotic animals. It's a sanctuary with a focus on the animals' well-being where the residents get to live out their lives with genuine dignity in a safe, caring environment. If you are looking for a typical zoo experience where you can show up without planning ahead and gawk at caged animals for entertainment, this isn't the place for you -- and that is exactly why I love it. What makes it special to me is the meaningful mission and intimate guided walking tours of 10-15 participants led by dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers that last 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You aren't just looking at animals, you're meeting survivors. Most of the residents -- from lions and tigers to wolves and lemurs -- come from difficult backgrounds or private owners who couldn't care for them. If you're lucky, you'll hear the lions vocalizing -- a deep, rhythmic sound the staff calls "oofing." It literally vibrates in your chest and is something I'll never forget. PRO TIP #1: Reservations are a must. Because it's a wildlife sanctuary, you have to take a guided walking tour led by volunteer guides that share the individual backstories of the animals and answer (or find someone on staff who can answer) any questions you may have, which makes the experience so much more impactful than a self-guided walk. Limited weekend-only hours and required reservations mean you have to plan ahead due to volunteers' availability. PRO TIP #2: The habitats are designed for the residents' comfort and enrichment, not for yours. Expect unpaved gravel and dirt paths, so wear mud-friendly shoes or rain boots if it's been raining.