We headed up to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this past Saturday. They were having a Party for the…read morePlanet Day. They threw a party for the animals and celebrated Earth Day. There's a lot to see at this little zoo. We saw lemurs, a tree kangaroo, Visayan Pig, squirrel monkeys, gibbons, Caracals, owls, a beautiful bald eagle, Herons, Cranes, Emus, Kookaburras, Gila Monster, tortoises, a Wood Stork and more! Hard to get photos through some of the fences. What a fun time!

Well worth visiting if up in Gainesville for a medical appointment as we were…read more Cleo the caracal was our favorite. Many exhibits with much vacant land awaiting "The Master Plan". Numerous helpful staff who I think are students at the college. Paths are unpaved and leafy, not wheelchair friendly, but fine for walking. Gift shop had minimal adult sized shirts and none featuring caracals. Yellow parrots nice eye candy.

Amazing! Where else can you hold a baby kangaroo, an otter and tiny baby monkeys. What a great…read moreexperience and super friendly and knowledgeable staff/owners! It was very clean and the animals look loved and cared for. We highly recommend and will be back!

From the owner: Wild Encounters is a hands-on exotic animal experience located in Alachua, FL. We offer private,…read moreinteractive encounters with a variety of friendly and well-cared-for species, giving guests the chance to learn, connect, and create unforgettable memories. From otters and kangaroos to parrots and farm favorites, every visit is educational, unique, and tailored to all ages. Book a personal encounter and experience wildlife up close in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment. Follow us on social media: Instagram: @wildencountersfl Facebook: Wild Encounters Inc.

I love Single Vision and been a supporter of Carl's endeavor since Bruiser Bear was on his little…read moresurfboard many years ago. Anyone who loves wild animals who have been abused, abandoned, or unable to be released back into their habitat will enjoy seeing that they are special and loved by Carl and the employees and volunteers who care for them. Wish that I lived closer, but feel so fortunate that I was able to visit several times. Single Vision is worthy of your support and donations!

Amazing place! All the animals are rescues or zoo "rejects" that have found a wonderful forever…read morehome! The people who care for them absolutely love what they do and these animals are a top priority to them! The tour was glorious and safety if their priority! They could use the donations so recommend giving more than they ask for as their work is very worthy!

I went here before and exactly as i suspected! My love for big cats are a passion of mine forever!…read moreAnd its just what i got! Cats!

An excellent big cat rescue and wildlife preservation center, with tours by informative and…read morefriendly staff! Reasonable admission price and a fun experience for all-ages. You can tell that the animals are well-cared for and happy.

My wife and I visited Two Tails Ranch today. There was as a small group of people on the tour…read more Patrica the owner was our guide. It was very personal and the amount of history of the Ranch was fascinating. She explained the sad peril of the all elephants over the world. The Ranch is solely run by her family which has been caring for elephants for generations. They do the they can to give the elephants the best life they can have as unfortunately most elephants know nothing about the wild. Patrica was gentle with the two elephants that we were introduced to. When visiting the ranch you need to have an open mind. Great educational experience!

This is Animal cruelty…read more What a shame for TripAdvisor to support a business who is making money and using people's ignorance, with animal cruelty. An Elephant is letting you ride on their backs, is lying down or is doing tricks only out of fear. They have been forced into submission by applying pain, with bull hooks behind their ears, which is extremely painful, with whips, confinements, food depreciation and fatigue. Those gentle giants have to endure years of fear and pain for peoples entertainment. Two Tails Ranch is saying that they teach people about Elephants, what hypocrites they are.

Jacksonville Zoo is probably one of the best zoos I've visited in Florida. Everything is very well…read moreput together, and the amount of activities and animals to see is amazing. There's something for everyone, and you could easily spend several hours exploring. The reptile exhibit is definitely my absolute favorite. The variety of reptiles and the way the exhibit is set up makes it a must-see, especially for fellow reptile lovers. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be back!

I really hate leaving this negative review because I genuinely appreciate the role zoos play in…read moreconservation and education. That's why I was so disappointed by this visit. I hadn't been to the Jacksonville Zoo in years, so I was excited to see all the renovations. While the grounds look nicer, it also felt like there were far fewer animals than I remember. I was not able to find a several favorites, including the gorillas, cheetahs, and Florida panthers, and quite a few exhibits felt empty. I know animal collections change over time, but it just didn't feel like there was nearly as much to see. I was also disappointed to hear the koi fish had been transferred to another zoo since they were always one of my favorite stops. For me, the biggest issue was the value. Ticket prices have gone up, but I left feeling like I paid more to see less. The highlight of our visit was the people. The volunteers in the jaguar and rhino areas were incredibly knowledgeable and made those exhibits so much more interesting, and a staff member from a bird enclosure remembered us when we ran into them later in the day at the stingray exhibit. Those interactions honestly saved the experience. I have so many great memories of visiting this zoo growing up, which is probably why this visit was so disappointing. I really hope they continue adding to the animal collection because I'd love to have a reason to come back.

So beautiful and amazing you learn so much perfect for all ages! Please donate so important we save…read morethe species so big and giant and come early beat the crowds the staff is very helpful and so kind and knowledgeable thank you so much for your support your hard work I appreciate it so much! Thank you so all the work and dedication to the community and animals! From Lauren

I took 3 of my grandchildren here mid-day on a late summer afternoon. We thought it would be a fun…read morefor the kids to see the animals in their natural habitats. While the staff can't control the weather, it seemed as though they could've done more so that the animals would be more comfortable in the heat! The day ended up being miserably uncomfortable for us, as well as the animals. Some were impatiently pacing in their cages. Some were just lying around in the dirt. Two were recovering from surgeries. All of the animals looked well cared for and some were enjoying some snacks while we were there. Our "walking tour" included a walk around the facility to each animal's habitat and the guide discussing multiple facts about the animals lives and journey to the Reserve. Start to finish, it took about an hour and included a bottled water. I'd recommend strollers for your kids. It's an unsafe place to allow young children to wander around. The "public" restroom is a port-o-let outside the gated entrance to the reserve. It was just as clean as the ones at a football game/concert! There is no gift shop but they do ask for donations and give you a t-shirt in return. In movie terms, the reserve is the equivalent of a low-budget film. It's saving grace is the effort to keep these animals alive, but as they all grow, I feel like this "low-budget film will not be able to keep up with the demand! Too few employees for so many demanding large animals.

I went there for a visit on a night time feeding. It was a neat concept. They have to feed the…read moreanimals anyways, so why not invite people to educate and raise money for the sanctuary. The animals seem well taken care of and happy. The have mostly tigers but also a lion and some smaller cats. They even have two foxes and two bears! This is different than a zoo, because they have these animals as a way to save them. Some of them were from private owners and some were form closed zoos. The workers and volunteers were all happy as well.

Animal exhibits are always risky. Is it truly a sanctuary? Are the animals being treated well? Do i…read morefeel icky being here? Are they teaching people how to help the animals? The answer here is an 80/20 split for good. The vast majority of their animals are rescue from shut down zoos, and people thinking they can own a tiger. However, they did some breeding years ago, so there are a few "bred in captivity" animals. They no longer breed, which is a plus. They also don't go in the enclosures with the big cats, which I appreciate. The employees were very knowledgeable. The enrichments really seemed to be enjoyed by the animals. The animals seem to be healthy, and comfortable. They very kindly have sun screen and bug spray near the entrance. The bathrooms were nice and air conditioned. The gift shop is small and unassuming. They don't hound you for money, despite being a reasonably priced experience who relies a lot on donations. Overall, while not perfect on the "is it good for the animals front" (there's too much to dive into) they did a lot of things right, and i would go back!

This is a wonderful place for kids. The staff are always helpful and will answer any questions…read more Great place to spend the day. We have been multiple times and are never disappointed. My grandson absolutely loves the cotton top tamarin, and my granddaughter is the same about the Black and white lemurs. We always average being there 4 to 5 hours. Their just never ready to go. They are always acquiring new animals and birds, so the experience is never dull. Always something new to see The only downside is there is nowhere to purchase food. The nearest food is an Arby's in a gas station off of highway 19. So, if you're planning a full day pack a lunch, especially with young ones.

The place wasn't fully done. A few exhibits were closed. The animals were cool though. We went for…read morea field trip, I didn't really learn anything. It was a cool experience!