Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

​Located along the banks of the Trout River, just north of Downtown, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to over 2,000 exotic and rare animals and thousands of plant species.

Serving as an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums since 1987, the Zoo offers families unique ways to learn, experience and interact with wildlife and the environment.

After exploring popular areas like Land of the Tiger and Range of the Jaguar, guests can also experience the Zoo by climbing aboard the Wildlife Train, going for a ride on the Wildlife Carousel, learning about the environment at the 4D Theater and having fun at the Zoo’s Splash Ground and Play Park. Keeper chats and animal feedings allow up-close interactions to learn about unique animals throughout the Zoo.

From its once humble beginnings dating back to 1914 with a red fawn deer in Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is now home to over 2,000 exotic and rare animals along with 1,000 varieties of plant species.

At this award-winning Zoo, guests can experience animal exhibits such as the African Forest, River Valley Aviary, Giraffe Overlook and the Australian Adventure. On the Africa Loop, take a stroll along the 1,400-foot-long boardwalk to the Plains of East Africa to see ostriches, southern white rhinos, warthogs and more. Also be on the lookout for the wild breeding colony of endangered wood storks. In Elephant Plaza, say hello to the elephants as they make their home alongside a 275,000-gallon pool. Admire vipers, cobras, mambas and more at the nearby African Reptile building.

At the Giraffe Outlook, walk along an elevated viewing platform for an eye-to-eye look at the Zoo’s herd of reticulated giraffes. Overlooking the African Savanna, guests can learn about the giraffes from zookeepers and take part in feeding opportunities throughout the day. The nearby Savanna Blooms offer a quiet space to take in the beauty of the botanical gardens.

On the Zoo’s Asia Loop, discover both Malayan and Sumatran tigers in the award-winning Land of the Tiger. This unique area allows the tigers to roam 2.5 acres through an innovative trail system taking the animals above guest walkways connecting different areas of the exhibit.

At the popular Range of the Jaguar, watch these animals play, swim and climb through South American terrain. The adjacent Palm Plaza Restaurant offers a fantastic viewing area of the creatures underwater. Make your way inside the Lost Temple to see poison dart frogs, vampire bats and more.

There’s more to explore at the Wild Florida area, home to alligators, black bears, tortoises, whooping cranes and even bald eagles. At Sting Ray Bay, guests can feed and pet these unique animals for an additional fee.

A young girl feeds a giraffe over a fence at a zoo in Jacksonville, Florida.
A young girl feeds a giraffe over a fence at a zoo in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offers guests more ways to learn and have fun with experiences like the Wildlife Train taking riders around the Zoo with two locations to hop on/off throughout their visit. The artistic Wildlife Carousel allows children to go for a ride on wildly colorful animals such as lions, tigers, eagles, okapi and more. At the nearby 4D Theater, learn about animals in their natural habitats and global conservation efforts. For little ones, the Splash Ground and Play Park are included with Zoo admission and provide a fun way to cool off during the warmer months.

The botanical garden exhibits can be found throughout the Zoo, integrated among the animal exhibits. The two-acre Savanna Blooms, near the Giraffe Overlook, is home to a South African oasis with grasslands and African water lilies. Nearby at The Gardens at Trout River Plaza, the centerpiece is an overflowing fountain with an Anhinga sculpture and 13 Grecian-style “living” columns topped with overflowing flowering urns. This area is popular for after-hours, private events. Enjoy the breeze off the water at the Riverview Gardens where guests can discover plants that support and attract pollinators. This garden changes with the seasons, providing a new landscape throughout the year. Other botanical areas within the zoo include the Rivers of Color Garden and the Asian Bamboo Garden, home to the Orchid Pavilion and the Weeping Tree Bridge. The Gardens at Range of the Jaguar feature live oak trees native to Florida and exotic tropical plants from around the world.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens prides itself on teaching guests about conservation efforts and allowing them to learn about different species through interactive and educational experiences. Always evolving and growing, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is one of Northeast Florida’s premiere attractions.

Illumizoo Jacksonville
Illumizoo Jacksonville

Illumizoo Has All the Light Moves

Full disclosure, I am a sucker for lights – fireworks, holiday lights, string lights over a patio – I’m all in. So, when the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens announced they would be opening Illumizoo Summer Spectacle on Fridays this summer, I felt like a kid again.

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