Darby Safari went so above and beyond our expectations. We love zoos, but this was so much more than just staring at a bunch of animals behind bars - instead we had multiple opportunities to get up close, touch and feed the animals. In addition, some free range friends walked along with us humans on the tour and literally wanted to eat out of our hands. Our guides, Maddie and Shane, were fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable about the animals, and excellent at making sure everyone in the fairly sizable tour group had an opportunity to see or feed each animal they introduced. We bought the "Kit and Kaboodle" package which was so incredibly worth it! Some zoos allow you a "personal encounter" with one species, or by holding up an animal and letting you pet it,... but in the encounter room, Maddie and Shane spent an hour or more introducing us to at least 10 animals, all different species, in very interactive ways. We held armadillos, hand wrestled a mongoose, let a tiny monkey jump from shoulder to shoulder between us eating Fruit Loops, fed and high-fived otters, and so much more. I truly can't say enough about how happy we are that we included Darby Safari in our first ever trip to Charlotte! read more

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I took my brother here for a surprise birthday gift, and we both loved it! Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided us with great information about all the animals. My favorite part was doing the capybara encounter and spending a little extra time with them. I'd highly recommend this for anyone who loves animals. read more

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Aesthetic: Charming farm with unique animals. My Favorite: The Capybaras! Experience: I took my husband to the safari to do a Capybara encounter for his birthday, but it ended up being so much more. We were able to learn about and pet farm animals, zebras, monkeys, lemurs, camels, kangaroos, fennec foxes, otters, and so many other beautiful rescue animals. They were all well taken care of and in good spirits. The experience was $25 per person and $25 extra per person to sit and have an encounter in the Capybara's environment. They were so sweet and kept jumping on us to snack on veggies. I can't wait to go back, I want to do all the encounters they have! Everyone in Charlotte needs to visit the farm and safari, it is a great experience. read more

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We went to Darby Safari and did the Kit and Kaboodle experience. Took the general admission part of the tour first which included seeing animals outside and getting to feed most of them, from zebras, camels, goats, kangaroos and capybaras. The capybara had babies and they were so adorable, you're right in the enclosure with them and can feed them. Then you go inside and sit where they bring other animals to you to hold, pet and feed. This included a bunny, ferrets, armadillos, snake, lemur, otters, anteater, bearded dragon and fennec fox. All were so very cute and fun to watch as well. read more

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We did the walking tour and the capybara add on and it was awesome! The tour guide was super knowledgeable. The rules and guidelines were made very clear and it was an excellent experience start to finish. Check them out! read more

Darby Acres Farm - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What a fun time! Getting to experience the wildlife so up close and personal was a dream come true. The staff here is very patient and informative and made the experience one to remember - Special shout out to Julian and Miri for taking time to answer questions and teaching us about our furry and scaly friends. Definitely coming back here again! read more

Darby Acres Farm - Ant eater snacking on some yogurt. - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Such a unique experience. You can tell how loved and cared for these animals are!! Shane was extremely knowledgeable and made our visit awesome. All of the staff were helpful and great! Will definitely be returning. read more

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What an amazing experience!!! Worth every single penny!!!! The staff are knowledgeable and very obviously love and care for every animal there! The kit and caboodle experience was the best animal encounter experience I've ever had! We got to touch and interact with so many animals! Don't miss this!!!! read more

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What an amazing place! My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and it was the best experience! I love animals, so this up close experience was the best time! When we got there, we were greeted but our super nice guide and provided a large bucket of food to feed the animals. As we went through our tour, we fed so many animals and got to learn about them from the guide. It was super fun! At the end we did a private feeding with the capybaras and it was so neat! We got to feed them and pet them for about 20 minutes. If you like animals and you're looking for something fun and different to do, this is the place! They read more

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What not to love when you get to spend time with animals?!! We did the kit and caboodle tour and I highly recommend. Well worth the dollars! We all had a great time and it was a fantastic activity to do as a family. I do think your kids should be old enough to behave and really enjoy this if you sign up for this particular all inclusive experience. We had a large group the day I went yet we all had time with the animals. The staff were all kind and informative. It did take well over two hours probably due to the size of our group. We went mostly for the otters and did get to feed them but did not get to hold or play with them yet still enjoyed the visit. Highlights for me were Peggy the goat, winter the albino wallaby, Harry the young camel, bob the armadillo, and Georgia the little Joey. We were grateful we wore boots as super muddy after the rainfall we've been having. Take your water bottle as there is no concession stand. This is not a zoo and not an amusement park. Read the rules and be respectful as it is a privilege to get an opportunity to be this close to these animals. read more

this is a great place. i love animas and its amazing!!!! me my mom and my sister did the chill and cuddle for $45 per person and honestly i met animals i never thought i would, like a LEMUR and a FENNEC FOX. lemurs hands feel like crazy and weird like real human hands but it so cool read more

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Guide was awesome, lots of different animals, great place to visit! You can tell they work hard to take care of the animals. read more

Amazing and a wonderful experience!!!! If you like animals, this is a great thing to do!! We did the safari tour for an hour and arrived 15 minutes early. It started right on time. The buckets of food you get are huge!!! I have done so many different animal experiences in different states and I am used to getting little paper cups of food. Here we each received big metal buckets filled to the top with a variety of food. We got to spend plenty of time feeding a wide variety of animals. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about each animal answering all our questions. Then we paid for the small animal experience- getting to hold an armadillo, ferret and bunny. We also did the fox experience. These were private experiences that my girls loved and they did not rush us at all. But the most life changing experience that I will never forget ever: the otter experience!! I have ALWAYS loved Otters and wanted to do an experience with them-but they are either very expensive or lame!! (Like feeding them through a fence). But this was so wonderful! It was a small group and we sat on the floor and they let two otters run around the room. We each got some raw fish to feed them. And they had a ton of baby toys and cat toys to play with. I almost teared up as the otter climbed into my lap. When we pulled up, I was a little leery. The place didnt look like anything amazing...but it WAS! If you like animals-it is well worth it!! read more

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Darby Acres Farm & Safari is an educational family-run petting zoo featuring exotic animals one would normally never have the chance of seeing up close anywhere near Charlotte, NC. From goats, to zebras, to camels, to porcupines, foxes, kangaroos, capybara, and more - the petting zoo itself was fun and very educational, yet the additional animal encounters are where you experience the best this place has to offer. We personally added on these encounters: Otter, Monkey, Ruffed Lemur, Fennec Fox, Kangaroo, and the Small Mammal Package. Our absolute favorite had to be the two Asian Small Clawed otters we got to play with and feed, they were adorable and so full of energy. Our tour guide, Faith, was incredible and very kind; We felt so comfortable around the animals with her around sharing facts and laughing with us. This is definitely an experience worth the visit - with the wonderful owners & staff, amazing animals, and the admission/encounter fees going toward caring for these beautiful animals - Charlotte is lucky to have an experience like this so close. 10/10; Five stars; Would go again read more

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I did the Kit & Caboodle tour for my birthday and it went above and beyond expectation. Most importantly the animals were very well cared for. They were all healthy, bright eyed, active and well socialized. Their enclosures were spacious, very clean, well maintained, species appropriate and provided enrichment. All encounters were careful to put animal and human safety first. I've worked in vetmed/animal rescue for 30 years so seeing animals well cared for and accustomed to their handlers gave me confidence Darby Farms is a place I can support. Now to the tour itself: Do it. Book it right now. You get SO MUCH for such a reasonable pric. We got two hours of personal interactions, petting and feeding, with over 30 species! Our guide Ryan was incredibly informative and knowledgeable, even taught us hardcore animal nerds some new facts we didn't know. He was skilled at handling even the squirmiest of creatures gently. It's absolutely magical to be able to touch and connect with animals I've only seen from behind glass in zoos. Thank you to Darby Acres for providing this unforgettable experience read more

Excellent learning environment, up close and personal experiences with the animals. Management and staff make safety a priority when it comes to not only the guests but the animals! Absolutely recommend and look forward to making return visits! read more

Darby Acres Farm - Bucket feeding the zebras - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We took the grand kids to Darby Acres this summer. We get them one week every summer & do all kinds of things with them. We did the tour and it was so much fun. The kids got to hold a rabbit at the end which they really enjoyed. The highlight of the tour was Otis. He is a camel who who takes the food from the bucket that he takes from you (cute & greedy). Our tour guide was so nice and she knew every animal by name and there were a lot of them. I could tell she really loves them. Will be back next summer read more

Darby Acres Farm - Feeding the animals - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Such an amazing spot to take your kids (and kids at heart). We did the farm tour, and it was about an hour - perfect amount of time! Highly recommend. Hannah was our farm guide and told us some amazing facts as we looped around the farm (walking tour). You get to feed, pet, interact with - goats, pigs, donkeys, cows, horses, emus, chicken and sheep (and maybe more?). They encourage questions as you're walking, but also give you ample time to feed and explore without feeling rushed. If you come in the summer, it is warm and not much js shaded, so bring a hat and wear sunscreen. You're also allowed to bring water bottles. Again, highly recommend for a fun adventure with your little one! read more

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My daughter and loved this farm. Make sure to wear shoes that you don't care to ruin as it can get muddy, but all of the animals were so precious and you can tell that these people really do care for them. read more

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We had a fantastic time at Darby Acres today! I was shocked to find a safe, clean farm adventure for kids within 20 minutes of the city. Lucky us! Hannah was our guide and she was fantastic. We got a chance to learn and engage with pigs, horses, ponies, cows, goats, sheep, camels, and a number of other farm animals. Hannah did a thorough job of explaining how to interact and feed the animals. We felt very safe and the animals were very sweet and tame. My daughter got to ride the pony and literally won't stop talking about it. It was the perfect amount of time (almost exactly an hour). We're already signed up for a trip to the safari side. But we will certainly be back to the farm often this summer. Highly recommend. read more

Darby Acres Farm - Horseback riding - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

If someone who like farming, this place is free awesome like you can find like many animals. You're like you got feeling like a farmer, bro

My friends and I scout out different farms to go and see the different animals and Darby Acres Farm & Safari didn't disappoint. Let me say I had to cancel my first appointment due to thunderstorms. They were very helpful with the cancelling and rescheduling was a breeze! Today we got the pleasure of having Dawn as our tour guide. She let us spend a lot of time with all the animals. She is very knowledgeable, personable and thoughtful. Many of the animals are rescue and you can tell all of the animals were in good hands. We had a GREAT time, and we'll definitely do this farm again. read more

Darby Acres Farm - One of the many cows on the farm. - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Wow! I took my two kids here so that we can meet and greet the Capybaras! It was so great. My kids got to meet their dream animal and the tour guide did not rush them at all. It was pretty much, "go in and hang out with them \, no rush". Perfect! We will for sure return and do the Otter and Bunnies. Thank you to Maddy for the tour! Very knowledgeable and friendly. Petting the baby Kangaroos was also very cool. Its like a zoo but you get to feed and pet the animals. We will return! read more

We did the exotic animal tour and it was an awesome experience. The two guides were so incredibly nice, informative, and patient with everyone. Lots of different animals to interact with. Our favorite was the capybaras. It's $100 per person for two hours, though ours lasted a little longer, and it was worth every penny. read more

we took my son for his birthday and he is ob with capybaras so we got an interaction with them.I loved every minute of the tour and of course we paid for additional interactions so we could interact with the ruffled lemur and otters also. The staff was very polite and knowledgeable. You can see that they take great care of their animals. I feel for everything you get to experience it is worth every cent. I would highly recommend and we are already planning another visit soon. read more

Amazing staff, who truly love and are so involved in their job. incredible experience! Well taken care of animals, the variety of species is endless! read more

We had so much fun at this farm. My two year old had a blast. It was an hour long and that was perfect. We brought my 5 month old in a jogging stroller as it is all dirt and rocks. I highly recommend for littles. The pony/horse ride was cute and fun. The camel was the highlight for me. Honestly there are a ton of animals here and I was very pleased with the experience. read more

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I went today to the kit and kaboodle tour and it was amazing it was well worth the money and the tour guides were fantastic! You can really tell the owners and guides love the animals! Also being up so close to the animals and even getting to hold some was THE BEST experience! Thank you for such a awesome time! I will be back in may! read more

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Darby Acres Farm! We have been twice and it has been amazing. My 1 year old and 4 year old love seeing and feeding all of the animals and riding the pony. Hannah has been our guide both times and we adore her! We can't wait to go back! read more

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Absolutely recommend touring this amazing place! So many exotic animals you wouldn't meet anywhere else. All of the animals were very well behaved and quite social. We had an amazing tour guide named Alaina, who was very knowledgeable, sociable, and clearly an animal lover. We got to meet the kangaroos led by another guide, Maddie, who was super sweet and actually showed us the babies inside the mother kangaroo's pouches! Wish I could put 10 stars! read more

What a great experience. I can't wait to book another tour. Hannah our guide was amazing and compassionate to others needs as we visited with the animals. She is great with the little kids and guiding them so no one was hurt. For me personally, as a photography, Hannah went out of her way to make sure I got some good shots, especially the rare black Chicken. I'd say it's a great family place, but honestly I was alone, and I had an awesome time. I love animals, especially rescued. I believe they are all rescued, if not most of them, and are very happy and seem well adjusted. The tour is about an hour, which is perfect: not too long, not too short, especially on a hot day. I'm disabled, yet I had no issues hiking the small course, although I would think about issues on a wet day or if I needed a wheel chair... it is a farm you know. Can't wait to go again, I'm sure it will be soon. Thank you Miss Hannah, you are a sweetheart. read more

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My Family had a blast, place is very organized, animals are very well kept, kids had the opportunity to hold a baby goat and a 5 days old baby pony . We definitely plan to return . read more

What a fantastic covid tailored event for families!! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and it was so interactive!!! We will definitely come back!! read more

Darby Acres Farm - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I called to set up an appointment after reading previous review. The actual site does say it is mobile petting farm and parties. However the owner did say they had to change prices and hours. This is due to being mostly on the road but scheduled tours and pony rides were available as long as workers were there. She had informed me that prices were $10 per walking person and a guided tour including a bucket of feed and interaction with certain animals. read more

Darby Acres Farm - One of the recently weaned lambs. - Zoos Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I attended the July 4th "Kit and Caboodle" tour at the safari location, and it was AMAZING. I was on cloud 9 for hours afterward. The animals seem genuinely well taken care of and loved; many are rescues. I appreciate that they still provide a large number of encounters/pettings/feedings without forcing timid animals to socialize. All the employees on my tour were super knowledgeable and amiable and happy to take photos since I came alone. If you are an animal lover, BOOK A TOUR! They are the only place in NC you can interact with a capybara, and there are so many other cool animals to visit. I will be coming back for more tours with my friends, and it is worth the drive if you're within a few hours of Charlotte. I am a 21-year-old woman who had the time of my life, but there were also young children enjoying themselves--just be mindful of the heat if bringing kids, who may get too tired before the tour is over. Fun for all ages! read more

Decided to take my 3 yr old grandson. Joe handled our tour. Perfect day. Joe was unhurried and kind handling my grandson. He explained and answered and encouraged..and answered some more! I'd highly recommend this as family place. Clean restroom. Definitely a 5 star place read more

Darby safari was a dump. Animal pens were worn down and site was messy and unkept. Animals are hidden by large shipping containers. Almost as though they don't want anyone from the road to see, more because the site is so unkept versus for the safety of the animals. read more

Darby Acres is super family friendly. The animals are well cared for and loved by the family who owns this private zoo. You and your children will be able to be up close with animals that you often would never hear about or even see. Or you can have them come to you for your birthday party or next event. The animals will be a hit! read more