We headed up to Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo this past Saturday. They were having a Party for the Planet 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! read more

See all

Well worth visiting if up in Gainesville for a medical appointment as we were. 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. read more

See all

This was a nice little zoo ran predominantly by the Santa Fe College students. It was a nice small zoo if you like birds, tortoises, deer, monkeys and reptiles. It is great if you only have a hour or two to spend looking at the animals. It was only like $10 a person admission to enter. read more

See all

This 10 acre accredited zoo on the Santa Fe College campus in Gainesville opened in 1970 with about 200 animals is quite unique. Open from 9am to 3pm seven days a week. Admission fee is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 4-12 and under 4 is free. There are picnic tables within the playground area. No food or drinks in the zoo but guests are welcome to bring their own. We were able to see a variety of birds including a peacock, eagles, parrots, ibis, herons, ducks, storks, and rosette spoonbills. Also monkeys, tortoises and snakes. Restrooms are near the entrance. The zoo relies on community support to fulfill its mission of wildlife conservation and education. It was a fun little outing. read more

See all

Wonderful experience! Late in day and not many people. Staff was starting to feed so even more interesting. read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

My sister was in town visiting, and we were looking for something to do that we wouldn't normally do. She had recently read about the Santa Fe Zoo, and realized that in all the years that she had lived here, she had never actually been to the zoo. Oddly, this is somewhat common for people living in a city... they never go and do the things that visitors would do. You never go see the tourist attractions in the place that you actually live. So we went, and were very happy to do so. It was a cool morning, and the zoo is small enough that it can be taken in in just a couple of hours, so that was good. We saw the various birds and turtles, said hello to the gibbons and the ocelots, and generally enjoyed our trek around the grounds. The zoo is inexpensive to go to, quite educational, and a lot of fun to enjoy for people of all ages. Well worth the visit. read more

See all

We had an amazing time! We had went to the community college teaching zoo for Halloween! And I think everyone there did an amazing job! From the costumes, to acting, and the whole setup was astonishing. I would recommend! Here's a video: https://youtu.be/_rT27KSyE5s?si=rSfhJwvxrn_2585l read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Wife and newborn waiting in line to walk into the zoo! - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all

My sister is a student under the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Program and she has been trying to get me to visit her and this zoo ever since the program started. Well, I finally had the time and I am so sad that I didn't find out about this zoo sooner! Open every day besides Christmas and Thanksgiving from 9AM-2PM. Parking is free and admission is very cheap compared to other zoos. The zoo is mainly run by students under the Santa Fe Zoo Keeping Program. Did you know that this is the only zoo on a college campus accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)! Once you enter the zoo, you are given a quarter (part of admission) and you have can drop that quarter under your choice of animal conservation; therefore, it allows the guests to be a part of the conservation movement! You can choose between these conservation: Florida native birds, Indigo snakes, Asian small clawed otters. How neat is that! I was so surprised of the wide variety of animals here at this small 10-acre zoo. All the students are very knowledgeable about the animals. Although a small zoo, I spent a lot of time just observing how the animals live and interact in their enclosures. My favorite were the cute tree kangaroos! You can see them just chilling and napping with their fluffy tail. And if you hear any loud high pitch screaming, it's probably the gibbons or the lemurs. Definitely go check them out too because they are very active and you'll see them swing from one branch to the other. I was very pleased with this small little gem in Gainesville, FL. Also, every Halloween they host an event called Boo at the Zoo where your admission only costs one canned good item! The whole zoo is decked out in handmade decorations by the students and lots of spots for your kids to trick or treat while seeing some animals. I went this year and was surprised by the details in the decorations. Overall, you can tell how passionate these students and the faculty are for their animals. I highly recommend stopping by! read more

See all

My family and I visited this teaching Zoo. The vegetation and environment looks overall pleasant and charming. There were a lot of mosquitoes all around. Don't forget to bring your bug repellent. I am shocked they don't have more dragonflies in the Zoo to keep the Mosquito population under control. Half of the Zoo is closed to visitors. You won't be able to see the most interesting animals (key deer, tree kangaroo, muntjac, warty pig, and others) in the Zoo. In my opinion, if half the Zoo is closed to visitors, then they need to reduce the admission fee to accommodate the changes. I also witnessed the squirrel monkey and the red ruffle lemur cage walls being covered with thick plastic shields. At least three or more exhibit walls were covered with some plastic that was not plexiglass nor acrylic. This is against the AWA best practices, and it's a form of animal abuse, in my opinion. It's unfortunate to see. There are other measures in place at this Zoo to keep distance from the animals that may have a higher risk of contracting COVID19. read more

This is a super adorable low key zoo. Nice for a stroll. It is shaded too which is great on a hot day. I think it's nice to be able to look at the animals without a lot of people around you. read more

Great space for younger kids to enjoy a variety of animals. Great for a couple hours or less, as that is all it takes to walk through the zoo. Very friendly staff. read more

I may be a little biased because I graduated from the Zoo Animal Technology program. But I will still try to be objective. Go Zooies!! The SFC Teaching Zoo is a small AZA-accredited zoo in Gainesville, Florida. It is located on the campus of Santa Fe College. Admission is fair at $5 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-12. If you attend or work at SFC, then you get in free with an SFC ID card. The only way to see the zoo is by guided tour. The zoo is almost completely operated by the students and a very small staff of about 9 people. The students give the tours. It is best if you call ahead and make an appointment for a tour. But you can walk-in on the weekends and get a tour. You might have to wait up to a half an hour though. The collection of animals is diverse. You get to see primates, ungulates, carnivores, birds, reptiles, and more. Some of the most popular species to look for are the ocelots, otters, tree kanagroos, gibbons, and of course those mischievous capuchins. They have galapagos tortoises there too. They may not be on exhibit in the winter however. The program itself is very competitive and rigorous. I was very impressed with the knowledge I obtained from their courses. They really do teach the students what it takes to be a zookeeper. Keep in mind that it is a "Teaching Zoo" when you visit. The animals you see are animals approved by the staff for teaching purposes. So don't expect lions, giraffes, etc. And go easy on the tour guides. Like I said, they are students. You might get a very professional guide who will go on to be a keeper one day. Or you might get a tour from a student on the verge of dropping out. Just remember it is a learning environment. Overall, I'm a fan of the SFC Teaching Zoo! Yes, I'm a little biased, but so what. I'm a zooie (a graduate of their program). If you go there aware, and patient with the teaching environment, I'm sure you will find it an enjoyable experience and money well spent. Make sure to ask your tour guide to take a picture of your group. read more

See all

I rarely post reviews but felt like the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo was exceptional! It is small, but consumed about an hour and a half with our two young kids (5, 6.5). The grounds, animals, and habitats were very well cared for, and all of the animals seemed healthy and happy. They also have a nice sized playground to get the wiggles out. Every zookeeper (student) we encountered was personable, knowledgeable, and eager to interact with us and our kids. Given that they are all learning their trade, most of them were actively engaged with the animals in one way or another - Training, feeding, observations, and were happy to share what they were doing and learning. I would highly recommend this teaching zoo, and will absolutely be back! read more

It's a small zoo but I think it's great for little ones and they even have a play area for kids. Just wish they would expand the zoo and add more. read more

Worth a one time visit, not a pass. Very small & quite uninteresting, especially for my 2 year old. I asked for a refund for my pass after one visit (and just pay for one day), but they refused. So disappointed. Wish there was another zoo in Gainesville. read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Refund Refusal - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great little zoo, perfect for a morning out with my 4 year old. It might not be fantastic for older children, but all of the staff/students are friendly and eager to share their knowledge. We went early (as soon as they opened) in July, I would imagine it gets fairly unpleasant later in the afternoon with the heat and the humidity, but the entire thing is pretty well covered with trees so there is a ton of shade. The aviary was a lot of fun, and my daughter loved the herpetology building. Oh, I would recommend wearing bug spray! I got eaten alive by mosquitoes. read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I wasn't sure what to expect from a $6 "teaching" zoo but it was amazing! Everyone in the volunteer staff was very friendly and the zoo itself was a great size that's well organized along a trail. A lot of the animals you end up being pretty close to which was great so that my 10 month old daughter was able to see/enjoy them! We spent about an hour and a half there and easily could have spent more time. There is also a cute little playscape! The animals all seemed very happy ... especially the gibbons who were energetic and playful and so much fun to watch! read more

It's crazy that after living in Gainesville for over 10 years I am just now getting a chance to come here after moving out of the city. What a city gem tucked away in the back corner of Santa Fe campus. For a modest entry fee of around $6, you get to see a multitude of animals in a great location. The zoo is laid out in a very easy trail, with different intersections if you don't want to walk the entire property or want to change up the order. The paths were well shaded and it was actually really nice to walk around and see all the animals who all seemed happy and healthy. On quite a few occasions I could see staff interacting with the animals and guests and was very impressed with their demeanor. Besides the animals, the property is very well maintained and a pleasure to walk through. Definitely a great way to spend the day, especially with little ones. They also have a fun playground area that my son loved. read more

We took a quick road trip from JAX to do a day in Gainesville and this was our first stop. You can't beat the price and how quaint it is. There is definitely plenty to see and a playground for the kiddies. We loved the swinging gibbons and watched the male peacock try to impress the non-impressed females on the playground. read more

See all

Spouse and I have visited zoos large and small across the continent, which left us coming to this "teaching zoo" with some skepticism. Ah, a few animals, a few young people learning their trade . . . All of which constituted another of life's learnings in the folly of assumption. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is a physically compact, well designed, well maintained, and well run Zoo. We were unable to see everything on this first visit, but certainly will manage more opportunities. We particularly enjoyed watching the 20 year old (relatively young) Galapagos tortoise using its initiative to reach outside it's enclosure to munch on what turned out to be a volunteer plant that may or may not have been part of its recommended diet. The Tree Kangaroo with the teeny head of her joey sticking out of her pouch was another plus. Several kinds of remarkably ugly pigs reminded us of javalinas from the far west of this country, but these ones came from across the seas. Shopping Tip: There's a small gift shop that will have to wait for another visit. But I brought home a form for "Adopting an Animal" and have spouse's Christmas present in mind (but shhh, nobody tell him!). I should mention that there are convenient restrooms, a soda machine, and several picnic tables just outside the gate. All the staff was enthusiastic, friendly, and helpful. In short, this Teaching Zoo is an experience not to be missed while you're in Gainesville. read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This is a teaching zoo. There is a good selection of animals, just not any really big animals and especially no large carnivores. The entire zoo is shady with rambling dirt paths and boardwalks. It easily fills a day. Wild pigs and primates are most interesting for me, because they are always doing something. Shade is really nice, and makes this zoo stand out. This is a good place to take kids. The zoo is free for toddlers and reasonably priced for adults. It closes at 2pm on Saturday. In a given day, it will gave a few demos (things like a table set up with feathers from different birds, or a table set up with food pellets to feel and info on what animals eat). Restrooms are plain and located outside of the zoo near the entrance, so you have to exit and reenter. read more

The Santa Fe teaching zoo is a gem in central Florida. you just don't find such a wide array of different animals as a smaller zoo but don't let me mislead you..it's not that small wonderful layout and walking trails..lot's of animals to see it will take you a good 2 to 3 hours to get through taking your time I think the cost is still free..not sure..usually is when we go specifically love their Boo At the Zoo event they hold for the kids during Halloween..what a wonderful safe event for both kids and parents Definitely make a visit if you never have or are in the area ! read more

It's impressive to find such variety in a zoo in Gainesville. There was even a tree climbing kangaroo! Great morning/afternoon activity for families, couples, friends, etc. It took about 45 minutes to get through everything, but you can definitely stretch it out to be longer. read more

This is a small zoo in a shaded area. It has many different animals to see and is the perfect size for kids. I have a 1,4, 6, and 8 year old and it was the perfect size as to not overwhelm them. The price is fantastic, especially for a large family like mine! Last year we went to the "party for the planet" and they had a bunch of activities for the kids. There is a small playground for the kids to run around and play on. If you see someone who works there, feel free to ask them a question, they are more then willing to answer!! They were very informative for us! read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all

A good time to go is in the morning when the animals are just waking up and still cuddling. Also, was excited to a one week old Gibbon with it's mother! Sadly, the otters were nowhere to be found, but I'll make a trip back just to see them with the low price of admission they have. read more

Very affordable and cute little teaching zoo. They're constantly improving the habitats, these animals get a lot of love! The trails are a little disorienting but they're fun to walk around on. read more

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo - Male peacock looking fabulous - Zoos Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

See all

One of the coolest places on campus, love looking at the animals and exploring everything they have there. The Ocelots and monkeys are my favorite things in the world and are absolutely perfect. Love this place! read more

I've never met a more disappointing teaching zoo in my life. Maybe have the ones who actually teach your students have actual teaching degrees and not one who has bipolar disorder and takes it out on students. Not worth attending, better off reading a children's book. read more

Love this with my young daughter! Amazing experience, well shaded, playground with peacocks and lots of other birds!

The zookeepers and students on sight were really fantastic at helping out with many detailed questions pertaining to the animals and really knew the animals. Sadly the office and managerial staff was beyond unhelpful. Don't expect any additional assistance from these individuals as they run this place with a 9-5, outdated "we can't do anything for you beyond what is written on this piece of paper," mentality. Hope they see this comment as a positive motivation to change their ways because it would be sad to see this zoo run to the ground by this underachieving leadership style. read more

This was a sad little excuse for a zoo. Tiny cages the animals are crammed into, not much variety of animals to see, the students acted like they didn't care about anything, and looked outdated. I mean if it's owned by the college, and you know they are floating in money from tuition and fees, you'd think they could do a little more with it. I feel sorry for the animals. I feel like the management does not care either. Don't waste your money or time. Jax zoo is much bigger and nicer! And it's not far away. This zoo just made me shake my head, as I left. read more

This zoo is wonderful. It's hidden behind the Santa Fe college but surprising large for how little of it you can see from it's entrance. There are almost no large mammals, but a large variety of small animals. They also have ocelots and small clawed Asian otters, both of which exceedingly rare to find in US zoos. I went on a weekday and it was empty, so there was plenty of time to leisurely view each exhibit. The zookeepers are very nice, one even lured the emus over to the side of the cage with their daily treat so we could see them more clearly. The paths are dirt and mulch so expect to get your shoes dirty if it has been raining. This zoo is in the middle of a forest and is very shady, so no need to pack sunscreen or worry about overheating. Overall, I look forward to visiting this zoo again and again. read more

Amazing place to learn young and old alike. My kids loved it as well as me and my wife.cant wait to go back again soon

Cute little learning zoo. Good place to just get the kids outside. Not a lot of money either. Kids enjoyed looking at the animals. Staff is friendly. Don't forget the buy spray. There is a little kids playground. read more

Small zoo, but thats the kind i like. After visiting larger zoos (metro zoo miami), i started to hate zoos, they can tend to be very big and filled with people. This place is the opposite. Its set in a natural environment and was not ctowded at all. I love quiet zoos were we can see everything in abou an hour or two. Also i thought tha it was quite inexpensive. 6 bucks for adults and 5 for children. They had a lot of animals for a tiny zoo, monkeys gators snakes birds for example. I will be back with the kids again read more

Fun little Zoo went the other day my first time. Saw some animals that I haven't seen at other Zoo's . Good place to stop if passing by and it was only $6 per adult what a deal. might want some bug spray depending on the season an recent rainfall. read more