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Book Your Tour – Zoological Wildlife Foundation

ZWF Tour Details

Important, Need-To-Know Information About Our Tours

Encounter our animal ambassadors for a once in a lifetime experience!

Our tours are conducted Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm* (BY RESERVATION ONLY).
Office hours are Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.
All tours must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance.
All packages are transferable upon request.
All photos taken during the photo opportunity & encounter packages are to be taken with guest cameras.
Only minors of 17 years of age may take a tour without any adult supervision. In order to take the tour, they will need to present a waiver signed by their legal guardian/parent along with a valid photo ID. If you need a waiver, please contact us via email or by phone.
Children under 17 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian at all times.
For some animal encounters and photo opportunities, children’s minimum age requirements are subject to change based on the age and growth of our felines and other animals
Please be advised that there will be a late fee added for those that are late for their scheduled tour. The charge is $15.00 per reservation.
All tours must be reserved in advanced and require completed releases and waivers.
The animals we offer for interaction vary on their health & character at the time of the encounter. All animal encounters are available for a limited time due to the size or temperament of the animal.
Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. If you purchase tickets as a gift for another guest you will need to email this information to our booking office to transfer the purchase. If purchase is made with cash we do not need proof of identification.
Guests must provide a valid driver’s license (or identification) upon arrival at the facility. The name on the ID must match the invoice/reservation name. Guests will not be allowed to attend their tour without a valid id. Please contact 305-969-3696 with any questions.
20% discount for: Senior citizens, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, military veterans & on active duty, college students & people with disabilities. Please call the office for booking. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO GENERAL WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE.

No refunds! All activities are final sale.
If for any reason the client decides to cancel their scheduled activity, we will always proceed to issue a CERTIFICATE with the total amount paid available to be used at any time that the client wishes.
All proceeds from the activities at the park is what allow us to provide guests with this wonderful experience and the care of all our wild animal friends.
Please Note: some animals may not be available do to their size and temperament at the time of your visit. If there is a specific animal encounter you scheduled your visit around, please call our booking office at 305-969-3696 to check their status before scheduling your visit.

Blackout dates apply for all Book Anytime, Any Day activities. Please see below for the list of blackout dates.

Halloween (10/31)
Veterans Day (11/12)
Thanksgiving (11/24)
Christmas Eve (12/24)
Christmas Day (12/25)
New Years Eve (12/31)
New Years Day (1/1)
Valentine's Day (2/14)
St. Patrick's Day (3/17)
Easter Sunday
Easter Day
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Father's Day
Independence Day (7/4)
Labor Day

THANKSGIVING: NOV 24, 2022
Office Schedule: 8:30AM-2:00PM
November 24th, 2022 – 9:00AM is the first tour, 2:00pm being the last tour of the day. (Tours from 9am-2:00pm).

CHRISTMAS EVE: DEC 24, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm.
December 24th 8:30am- 2pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

CHRISTMAS: DEC 25, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
December 25th 12pm-6pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S EVE: DEC 31, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm
December 31st: 8:30am-3:00pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S DAY: JAN 1, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
January 1st: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

ZWF Tour Details

Important, Need-To-Know Information About Our Tours

Encounter our animal ambassadors for a once in a lifetime experience!

Our tours are conducted Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm* (BY RESERVATION ONLY).
Office hours are Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.
All tours must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance.
All packages are transferable upon request.
All photos taken during the photo opportunity & encounter packages are to be taken with guest cameras.
Only minors of 17 years of age may take a tour without any adult supervision. In order to take the tour, they will need to present a waiver signed by their legal guardian/parent along with a valid photo ID. If you need a waiver, please contact us via email or by phone.
Children under 17 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian at all times.
For some animal encounters and photo opportunities, children’s minimum age requirements are subject to change based on the age and growth of our felines and other animals
Please be advised that there will be a late fee added for those that are late for their scheduled tour. The charge is $15.00 per reservation.
All tours must be reserved in advanced and require completed releases and waivers.
The animals we offer for interaction vary on their health & character at the time of the encounter. All animal encounters are available for a limited time due to the size or temperament of the animal.
Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver's license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. If you purchase tickets as a gift for another guest you will need to email this information to our booking office to transfer the purchase. If purchase is made with cash we do not need proof of identification.
Guests must provide a valid driver’s license (or identification) upon arrival at the facility. The name on the ID must match the invoice/reservation name. Guests will not be allowed to attend their tour without a valid id. Please contact 305-969-3696 with any questions.
20% discount for: Senior citizens, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, military veterans & on active duty, college students & people with disabilities. Please call the office for booking. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO GENERAL WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE.

No refunds! All activities are final sale.
If for any reason the client decides to cancel their scheduled activity, we will always proceed to issue a CERTIFICATE with the total amount paid available to be used at any time that the client wishes.
All proceeds from the activities at the park is what allow us to provide guests with this wonderful experience and the care of all our wild animal friends.
Please Note: some animals may not be available do to their size and temperament at the time of your visit. If there is a specific animal encounter you scheduled your visit around, please call our booking office at 305-969-3696 to check their status before scheduling your visit.

Blackout dates apply for all Book Anytime, Any Day activities. Please see below for the list of blackout dates.

Halloween (10/31)
Veterans Day (11/12)
Thanksgiving (11/24)
Christmas Eve (12/24)
Christmas Day (12/25)
New Years Eve (12/31)
New Years Day (1/1)
Valentine's Day (2/14)
St. Patrick's Day (3/17)
Easter Sunday
Easter Day
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Father's Day
Independence Day (7/4)
Labor Day

THANKSGIVING: NOV 24, 2022
Office Schedule: 8:30AM-2:00PM
November 24th, 2022 – 9:00AM is the first tour, 2:00pm being the last tour of the day. (Tours from 9am-2:00pm).

CHRISTMAS EVE: DEC 24, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm.
December 24th 8:30am- 2pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

CHRISTMAS: DEC 25, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
December 25th 12pm-6pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S EVE: DEC 31, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm
December 31st: 8:30am-3:00pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S DAY: JAN 1, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
January 1st: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

Important, Need-To-Know Information About Our Tours

Encounter our animal ambassadors for a once in a lifetime experience!

Our tours are conducted Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm* (BY RESERVATION ONLY).
Office hours are Monday through Sunday between 8:00 am – 6:00 pm.
All tours must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance.
All packages are transferable upon request.
All photos taken during the photo opportunity & encounter packages are to be taken with guest cameras.
Only minors of 17 years of age may take a tour without any adult supervision. In order to take the tour, they will need to present a waiver signed by their legal guardian/parent along with a valid photo ID. If you need a waiver, please contact us via email or by phone.
Children under 17 years old must be accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian at all times.
For some animal encounters and photo opportunities, children’s minimum age requirements are subject to change based on the age and growth of our felines and other animals
Please be advised that there will be a late fee added for those that are late for their scheduled tour. The charge is $15.00 per reservation.
All tours must be reserved in advanced and require completed releases and waivers.
The animals we offer for interaction vary on their health & character at the time of the encounter. All animal encounters are available for a limited time due to the size or temperament of the animal.
Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. If you purchase tickets as a gift for another guest you will need to email this information to our booking office to transfer the purchase. If purchase is made with cash we do not need proof of identification.
Guests must provide a valid driver’s license (or identification) upon arrival at the facility. The name on the ID must match the invoice/reservation name. Guests will not be allowed to attend their tour without a valid id. Please contact 305-969-3696 with any questions.
20% discount for: Senior citizens, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, military veterans & on active duty, college students & people with disabilities. Please call the office for booking. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY TO GENERAL WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE".

No refunds! All activities are final sale.
If for any reason the client decides to cancel their scheduled activity, we will always proceed to issue a CERTIFICATE with the total amount paid available to be used at any time that the client wishes.
All proceeds from the activities at the park is what allow us to provide guests with this wonderful experience and the care of all our wild animal friends.
Please Note: some animals may not be available do to their size and temperament at the time of your visit. If there is a specific animal encounter you scheduled your visit around, please call our booking office at 305-969-3696 to check their status before scheduling your visit.

Blackout dates apply for all Book Anytime, Any Day activities. Please see below for the list of blackout dates.

Halloween (10/31)
Veterans Day (11/12)
Thanksgiving (11/24)
Christmas Eve (12/24)
Christmas Day (12/25)
New Years Eve (12/31)
New Years Day (1/1)
Valentine's Day (2/14)
St. Patrick's Day (3/17)
Easter Sunday
Easter Day
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Father's Day
Independence Day (7/4)
Labor Day

THANKSGIVING: NOV 24, 2022
Office Schedule: 8:30AM-2:00PM
November 24th, 2022 – 9:00AM is the first tour, 2:00pm being the last tour of the day. (Tours from 9am-2:00pm).

CHRISTMAS EVE: DEC 24, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm.
December 24th 8:30am- 2pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

CHRISTMAS: DEC 25, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
December 25th 12pm-6pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S EVE: DEC 31, 2022
Office schedule: 8:30am-2:00pm
December 31st: 8:30am-3:00pm (9am being the first tour and 2:00pm being our last tour of the day).

NEW YEAR’S DAY: JAN 1, 2022
Office schedule: 11:00am-5:00pm.
January 1st: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day).

Pet A Tiger Cub & More At This Up-Close Miami Zoo

By Aunindita Bhatia

Published Mar 23, 2022

This Miami zoo fosters safe interactions between wildlife, such as tiger cubs, and humans, in order to encourage educational takeaways.

Shutterstock

Have you ever been to the zoo and wished to pet the animals, but you couldn’t? Well, at the Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) Miami Zoo situated in Miami, South Florida, you can get to experience that and beyond.

The ZWF Miami Zoo offers an experience of an intimate once-in-a-lifetime encounter with wild animals, an experience you will not get anywhere else in Florida. ZWF Miami Zoo is a small, intimate zoo that aims to educate the public of rare and endangered animals both in the wild and in captivity. They believe that educating the public on these endangered animals will help preserve them for a long time and decrease their disappearance daily.

A Little About The Zoological Wildlife Foundation (ZWF) Miami Zoo

ZWF is one of its kind in South Florida to allow an encounter with the animals. It is a five-acre zoo that houses over 40 rare animal species at their location, with plenty of these available for interaction with tourists. The animals that are available range from domestic animals and primates to big predatory birds and mammals.

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Among the animals available for interaction are:

Chimpanzees
Gibbon Apes
Tiger Cubs
Jaguar
Owls
Snakes
Lemurs
Anteater
Lions Club
Ligers
Capuchin monkeys

The ZWF allows tourists and guests intimate tours and interaction with their exotic animals by appointment. It is recommended to contact them and schedule an appointment for the best experience; it will most probably be one of the best experiences you will ever have with animals.

RELATED: Creepy Crawly Carousel: A Unique Bronx Zoo Attraction

Where Do The Tiger Cubs Come From?

You may be wondering where did all these animals come from? The tiger cubs used in the zoo would have been rejected at ‘normal’ zoos; they would have been euthanized if it weren’t for projects like the ZWF. At ZWF Miami Zoo, they house matured tigers together, occasionally mate, although not encouraged, and therefore have cubs born.

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If this is the case, the cubs are taken in and raised from the first day they are born if the birth mother abandons the cubs or refuses to raise them by herself. So if you were wondering where the parents of these cubs are; they are there, but mostly the cubs are born under captivity, and the parents are instinctively not interested in taking care of their cubs which is where ZWF steps in to take over from the beginning.

Where Do The Adult Rescues Come From?

The animals are usually rescue animals from different locations, taken under different situations. So,e of these animals was kept illegally and taken and brought to the ZWF program, while others are from facilities such as ZWF.

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In contrast, others are taken from rehab/rescue centers. Sometimes ZWF may have a few animals which are shipped right to their program to propagate.

RELATED: Best Zoo Hotels Around The World For Animal Lovers

Booking A Tour To ZWF Miami

Tours are conducted daily at the zoo between 9 a.m and 6 p.m (only by reservation), and the office is open between 8 a.m and 6 p.m. to book online, telephonically, or in person.

One may choose from multiple packages depending on the type of experience they may wish to have. For example, a tourist may choose to book the overall experience ZWF VIP Jungle Experience package, which allows them a 5-hour uninterrupted guide experience that includes:

The overall wildlife experience
Presentations of the animals
Encounter with the owl
Interactions with feline
Experience with primates
Encounter with the sloth
Interaction with tamandua
Lunch catered for (1 hour)
Special appearance from Limbani, the world-famous chimpanzee

This awesome package is priced as:

$4000. 00 for any two adults (18+) and $1000.00 for each additional adult
$1200.00 for any two children aged between 4-17, and $500 for each additional child

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There are several other affordable packages such as the ‘General Wildlife Experience’ package. In this package, the tourist still gets to have an intimate experience with the habitant animals and has the opportunity to tour the multi-acre park. It is a 1 hour guided tour that also allows hands-on interactions with the several wildlife animals of your choosing. All this experience comes at the affordable price of:

$95.00 per adult over 18 years
$60.00 per child between 4 and 17 years

Please note that the prices exclude tax and any donations; additionally, no interaction with any wildlife over 40 lbs will be allowed, as stated by the law of Florida.

What You Need To Know Before The Visit

On the day of the visit, you will get a tour guide who is just as passionate about animals and has extensive knowledge about them. Each tour guide is equipped to answer any question that visitors may have, from broad topics to more specific questions. That is because, at ZWF, they personalize individual encounters on every tour according to the guest to ensure they get the most experience out of their time with them.

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Booking an intimate tour with ZWF will feel like going to an old friend’s house who owns a private zoo in their backyard, right in Miami. Each visit with every animal is booked in advance to make it intimate, educational, and unique for the tourist without the usual overcrowding found in any typical zoo in Miami. Their only advice to the tourist is ‘to be sure that they charged their camera on the day of the tour because they will want to remember the exciting encounters they will have with animals.’

NEXT: The Best U.S. Zoos Offer More Than Self-Guided Tours

West Florida and Disney. Part 2

- chasing manatees
- cat egret
- settling in at Disney

Contents:

Part 1: Longboat Key island
Part 2: chasing manatees, Mote, Lowry, visit Disney
Part 3: Disney's Magic Kingdom
Part 4: Blizzard Beach Water Park; Animal Kingdom

Part 2 : Route: Kayaking - Manatees - Mote Aquarium - Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa - Drive to Disney World Orlando .

Our Florida base was on Longboat Key Island, on the southern tip of which was South Lido County Park, a well-known habitat for sea cows (yes, manatees are still called that, although this is not quite right). In one of the offices at the entrance to the park, we rented two kayaks, got a good detailed laminated (!) map of the mangrove tunnels, and set off to look for manatee .

The waterway passed through mangroves. Mangrove trees are evergreen deciduous plants that have settled on tropical and subtropical coasts, and have adapted to life in conditions of constant ebb and flow (up to 10-15 times a month). They are rather big in height, several human heights, and have bizarre types of roots: stilted (lifting the tree above the water) and respiratory (pneumatophores), sticking out of the soil and absorbing oxygen.

What fun it was to walk through the mangrove tunnels, heads nearly touching the densely intertwined tree arches. Black mangrove crabs, the size of half a finger, rolled down from the roots in whole placers at our approach. But sea cows were hardly worth looking for here, so we soon entered the open waters of Sarasota Bay.

It is quite deep, and is one of 28 estuaries in the United States designated by Congress as National Importance. Estuary is the mouth of a river in the form of a funnel, expanding towards the sea. Do not confuse with the delta - the mouth, divided into several channels.

We had a picnic at the tip of one of the capes that jut out into the bay. While the child happily splashed in the shallow water, cruise barges scurried past. The bay is a popular place for dinner, sunset, jazz, and other corporate outings "on the water."

When we sat down in the kayaks again, we found that now there were not three of us, but ... five. The impromptu accompaniment was due to two cheerful cormorants with emerald eyes, which either appeared or disappeared again overboard. These cunning birds have long learned that it is easiest to catch fish disturbed by a kayak, so they can often be seen during rafting.

In the meantime, we have already made good progress along the bay. The warning sign “Manatee zone: slow speed” indicated that there should be sea cows right here.

Manatees often get under the propellers of boats and motor boats, get tangled in fishing nets and hooks, so with the help of such signs they somehow try to protect animals from injury.

But there were no cows. Not here, not further, all the way to Otter Key (Otter Island). Its shoreline is solid thickets, but the opposite shore is occupied by such houses that you will only see in soap operas about rich life.

These include private piers, pools with waterfalls flowing directly into the bay, and yachts of various shapes and sizes. But we spent a lot of energy on rowing there. It is not clear where the side wind that came from actively interfered, constantly blowing it to the otters, then to the millionaires 🙂 With great difficulty, we rounded the cape and headed back to the base. In total, we swam for three hours, but the manatee issue was never resolved.

Where to see manatees in Florida (map) >>

Somewhat annoyed, we returned to the hotel after dropping into the “Shore grill” and Publix. At the checkout, a very cheerful old man from the queue became interested in the child.

– How old are you? he asked Alexandra.
- Six.
- Oh, and I'm 96.
- For real? (- Is it true, or what?) - the child was surprised.
- Pure truth. Now I'm going to play golf with my friends.
- Well, come on, - he said happily, and quite briskly walked to the car, rattling bottles not only with non-alcoholic contents.

This is how Florida retirees live. As they say, feel the difference.

(- My old eyes are not the same as before. Did you see where the ball went? - I did, but I can't remember).

It was the last evening on the coast. Well, since we didn’t manage to see manatees in the wild, let’s look at them at least in an aquarium. Therefore, right in the morning we went to the Mote marine lab in Sarasota, on the opposite tip of the same island.

And then suddenly, out of the blue, we saw - not one, not two, but whole ... four sea cows in a roadside pond. Rather, they were two females with cubs.

Usually a female manatee has one cub every 3-5 years, very rarely twins. Pregnancy lasts about 9 months. The peak birth rate is in April-May. Childbirth takes place under water. A newly born manatee is about 1 meter long and weighs 20-30 kg. Immediately after birth, the mother lifts the cub on her back to the surface of the water so that he takes his first breath. For about 45 minutes, the baby usually remains lying on the mother's back, gradually coming to his senses, and then they are again immersed in the water.

The mother feeds the baby with milk for a long time, although after three weeks he can eat seaweed. Together they will spend about two years, and then the manatee will go free swimming.

We were standing near the shore when one of the mothers swam almost close. Studies have shown that manatees have poor eyesight. But they have sensitive hearing, and, judging by the large olfactory lobes of the brain, a good sense of smell. Lamantyha funny flared nostrils on the muzzle, and even sort of grunted. Well, or snorted. I don’t know why we deserved such attention from them, but having made several circles, the mothers with the kids sedately swam towards the big water.

Well, the topic of manatees could be closed and ticked: they were seen in the wild. But since the aquarium was literally around the corner, it was decided to explore it.

Originally, the marine laboratory, founded in 1955, dealt only with sharks. But gradually, research programs began to cover other areas: the vital activity of coral reefs and phytoplankton, the impact of marine fisheries on the environment, the study of sea turtles, dolphins, and of course, manatees.

In 1980, an aquarium was opened at the laboratory, where, along with healthy animals, those who were rescued and left also live. For example, dolphins bitten by sharks, or turtles with torn off fins (fall under motor boats). Many of them are released into the ocean after treatment, but if the chances of survival in the wild are low, then they are left in the aquarium.

Tickets >>

One of the most interesting exhibitions is devoted to jellyfish. Among them are glowing in the dark, a la "blue fly agarics" with red spots on their hats; and elegant net jellyfish with long tentacles, vaguely reminiscent of ghosts.

Or the spotted leopard eel, also known as heteroconger. His vidocq is also alien - it sticks out of a mink in the ground, sways. Now imagine that there are a hundred of them - you get a whole garden. In English, they were nicknamed “garden eels”.

Shark feeding is very unusual. They are not just thrown into the water with pieces of protein, but they are trained. Before feeding, large white tablets with an oblique black cross are lowered under the water, and they knock three times. Sharks, like cute little ones, swim where they need to, and receive a reward.

The second building of the aquarium was inhabited by exactly those whom we hunted on this trip. The number of manatees living in Florida waters is approximately 6250 individuals. Manatees are "native" to the United States, as evidenced by fossils. Depending on the time of year, they can often be found in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. In very rare cases, manatees can even swim as far north as they have been seen in Massachusetts.

Manatees can live for at least half a century. And the oldest representative of its kind was officially considered a manatee named Snooty (“Snooty” - “arrogant”). He spent all of his 69 years in the Florida city of Bradenton, to whose aquarium he was taken at the age of 11 months in 1949. The official title of the oldest manatee is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. In the wild, sea cows, as a rule, do not live up to 10 years.

Two manatee brothers, Hugh and Buffett, live in the Mote laboratory aquarium. Their favorite pastime is to chew. On the day, each of the brothers kills about 80 cabbage heads. Their characters are completely different. If Buffett kept closer to the bottom, preferring the far corners so that it was not so clearly visible, then Hugh stuck his heel to the glass with all his dope, and even seemed to laugh.

The high activity level is probably why Hugh, who is three years older than Buffett, actually weighs 300 kg less! This liveliness of him, in addition to the presence of two small scars on his right shoulder (the result of two abscesses that were surgically removed), makes Hugh easily recognizable. He behaved like a playful, 500-kilogram kitten, which in no way corresponded to a respectable 30-year-old age.

All manatee species are endangered, but little is known about how these animals function in the wild. Hugh and Buffett help scientists learn more by participating in several research programs.

Mote's lab is trying to answer some of the most basic questions, including: How well can a manatee see? (Already proven to be very bad). What is the function of facial whiskers called vibrissae? How much air does a manatee "swallow" when it floats to the surface? And finally, how to help sick and injured manatees in the wild.

There is a nursery at the exit of the aquarium. Here you can see fish with caviar in their mouths, tiny newly born shrimp, jellyfish, and even sharks, you can touch stingray crab, starfish and cucumbers. In general, Mote Aquarium leaves a very worthy impression, it is clear that the animals live there in comfort, surrounded by the care of caring people.

Seahorses holding seaweed with their tails:

And we had to move on, from the aquarium ... yes to the zoo. Or rather, to the zoo, combined with an amusement park - ZooTampa at Lowry park. It was on the way to Orlando, where we planned to arrive in the evening, so the park lay well on the route (see the map at the beginning). Such a small pre-Disney. But why is it small? On the territory of 25 hectares (these are 12 football fields), 1300 animals live, and there are several rollercoasters.

Tickets >>

For $37 (adult ticket, children a little cheaper) you can spend the whole day looking at elephants and rhinos in the safari section; watch manatees chew cabbage; look at the big cats and the aviation.

Knowing our obsession with birds, it would be strange to think that we would miss such a lure. Birds in aviation fly freely, build nests, and hatch chicks.

Old acquaintance - Spoonbill, or Spoonbill:

Great egret chicks. They will start flying in 7 weeks:

We got acquainted with a new species of herons - Boat-billed heron, or Shuttle. Not only do they have very fashionable hairstyles with a black tuft, but the beak is not like other herons' beaks - short and wide, with a hook at the end. They use their chic beak as a scoop to catch something tasty on the hunt (fish or frogs). Cases have been recorded when shuttle beaks even caught mice! And then all cats, yes cats ... Get a heron, who cares 🙂

Rollercoasters in this park are more suitable for small children. But there is one water, called Gator falls - this is already a serious test with a fall into the water from the height of a three-story building. You get out of there wet through, but this is rather a plus in the Florida climate.

Various shows and festivals are regularly held in the park. For example, we caught Zoominations - Chinese Lantern Festival. About 30 intricate objects and luminous installations were built especially for him.

The porcelain pagoda, 16 meters high, was made of 68,000 ceramic cups, bowls, spoons and plates.

Now Lowry is a thriving park and regularly tops various charts and charts. And in the 80s, he became famous as “one of the worst zoos in America” - “one of the worst zoos in America”. Basically, because of the mistreatment of animals and inappropriate conditions for their maintenance. There were even several episodes of animals escaping - from a tiger to monkeys.

Under new management, things have taken off and ZooTampa is now considered the first family zoo in the US, according to Child magazine.
As usual, it's worth arriving early to get ahead of the midday crowds. Spend the middle of the day watching a show and having dinner, and in the late afternoon continue to have fun. And the animals are more active during these hours.

At around 5:00 pm we were already speeding east along I-4. Before Disney World, there was nothing at all - 70 miles, i.e. just over an hour drive. For the first time in Florida Disney we visited - scary to say! - even in the year 2000.

Even the story from those times, from which, in fact, the passion for photo stories began, has been preserved. There were no bloggers, no Facebooks with instagrams yet, and we traveled guided by paper maps. But the need to share impressions existed even in such "prehistoric" times. But enough nostalgia, it's time to live today.

This time we made our task as easy as possible - we ordered a vacation package directly from the Disney website. By the way, the site is sensible and properly organized, everything is laid out on the shelves, very convenient and understandable.
For $912 (with all fees and taxes) we got: three nights at the All Star music resort in the Disney area and tickets for three for two days to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks. Also, it was possible to go to the parks before they open their doors to the general public, and use FastPass - bypassing the queues for attractions. Additionally, we bought tickets to the Blizzard beach water park, which cost an additional $64 each (child tickets $58).

A month before departure, a beautiful box arrived in the mail with solid electronic bracelets (Magic band) inside, all in different colors. They could be used as an entrance ticket to parks, pay for food and souvenirs so as not to carry a wallet, and do FastPass check-in. In addition, the My Disney Experience app was downloaded, which was extremely convenient to keep track of the queues for the attractions.

Disney hotels are not to be missed. Huge purple signs hang over the road, just read it. All-star music resort was built in the 90s. It consists of 10 T-shaped buildings containing 1604 rooms. They are simple, a la motel, all with a door directly onto the street.

Plan of the hotel All-star music resort:

Inside without any frills (however, everything you need for living is there), but the musical theme is respected in the decor: notes on the walls, in front of the entrance there are giant cowboy boots (we lived in the Country Fair building). The walls of the building are decorated with large violins, banjos, harmonicas and bolo ties. In general, Texas stretched out its long arms here, or what is called "feel at home."

The resort has two swimming pools (one shaped like a guitar, one shaped like a piano), a 500-seat food court with very mediocre food, and a 1.5-mile jogging track. Upon arrival, you need to register in the main building of Melody Hall, activate the bracelets, and that's it - you are free to go, or welcome to Disney World.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Katerina Andreeva.
Houston, Texas - Florida.
May, 2015.

Photos:

Longboat Key

Disney World

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Animparda, Florida, KayAking, Kids

in Florida ★

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Jacksonville (nearby hotels)
Lowry Park Zoo (nearby hotels)
Miami Zoo, Miami (neighboring hotels)
Brevard Zoo, Melbourne (nearby hotels)
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden, Sanford (Nearby Hotels)
Palcho , West Palm Beach
Lion Country Safari, Loxachie
Naples Zoo Caribbean Garden, Naples
Big Cat Rescue, Citrus Park
Gulf Breeze Zoo, Gulf Breeze (nearby hotels)
Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota (nearby hotels)

You don't have to go far to meet exotic animals in Florida. To see endangered species up close and personal, come face-to-face with ferocious predators outdoors, and discover a range of educational and conservation programs, Florida zoos allow animal lovers to see a breathtaking variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. Perfect for a family day out exploring the local wildlife, here are the best zoos in Florida worth visiting this summer.

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, Jacksonville (Nearby Hotels)

Northeast Florida's #1 paid attraction, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is a walking safari that spans 93 acres. Here you can see more than 2000 animals and 1000 species of exotic plants. You can roam the Land of the Tiger, become a zoo for a day, or go backstage with a zoo expert. The most exciting feature at this zoo is the range of animal encounters you can choose from. Kids of all ages can brush adorable pygmy goats in the Animal Care Yard or touch the southern and Atlantic rays at Stingray Cove, while adventurous people can feed the giraffes at Giraffe Overlook or sip a cup of nectar for the Rainbow Lorikeets at the Australian Adventure Zone.

ZooTampa at Lowry ParkZooTampa at Lowry Park

ZooTampa at Lowry Park (nearby hotels)

Home to over 1,300 animals, ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a sprawling 60-acre park. It is here that you can see a variety of exotic animals, from manatees to tigers, monkeys and rhinos, from African elephants, koalas and orangutans. The zoo's most popular feature for kids and adults alike is the opportunity to feed treats to giraffes from the feeding plateau or touch a giant tortoise, while the fun jungle safari takes visitors through some of the animal exhibits. Perfect for younger visitors, there's a cooling pad, a feeding area for playful goats, and lots of fun educational shows to keep them entertained.

Zoo Miami, Miami Zoo Miami, Miami

Zoo Miami, Miami (neighboring hotels)

Consistently ranked as one of Miami's Top 90,389 90,390 Family Attractions, the Miami Zoo is the largest tropical zoo in the continental United States. By hosting over 2,000 wild animals that replicate their natural habitat, visitors get the chance to feel like they're on a real safari. The cage-free zoo, from lions to zebras, giraffes and elephants, uses moats to separate animals from visitors. Pass through the 340-acre zoo and you may catch a glimpse of exotic animals such as the Komodo dragon, ring-tailed lemur or kangaroo. To enjoy a unique bird's eye view of the park, visitors can ride the monorail or, if it's a hot summer day, you can take a refreshing dip in the splash zone.

Brevard ZooBrevard Zoo

Brevard Zoo, Melbourne (nearby hotels)

Located in Melbourne, Brevard Zoo introduces visitors to 880 animals representing 182 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Offering some of the most unique experiences you can have at the zoo, you can kayak through Africa or see wildlife from a bird's eye view while ziplining South America. Kids will love the unforgettable experience, from colorful lorises on their hands to touching a baby, petting a rhinoceros and feeding a giraffe. The park's shaded boardwalk paths are surrounded by lush foliage and wetlands, while a 20,000-gallon aquarium offers a glimpse of a variety of underwater marine life and a play area for children.

Florida Central Zoo, Sanford Central Florida Zoo, Sanford

Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden, Sanford (Neighbouring Hotels)

Tropical Leaf World, Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford with over 400 animals and 23 acres of natives gardens. Pets can be found at the Barnyard Buddies Zoo, and those fascinated by ferocious creatures can see the largest collection of venomous snakes and non-venomous reptiles in the Southeast at the Herpetarium. Be sure to check out the fossa, an animal that is closely related to the mongoose and civet and is the largest native predator on the island of Madagascar. A fun attraction for the whole family, here you can even take the ZOOm Air Adventure Park air adventure course or put on your favorite swimsuit and bask in the warmth at Wharton Smith Tropical Splash.

Palm Beach Zoo Palm Beach Zoo

Palm Beach Zoo, West Palm Beach (neighboring hotels)

Animals from North, Central and South America, as well as from Asia, Africa and Australia, live here. The Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach is set on 23 acres of lush tropical habitat. You can get closer to the animals than other zoos by offering various animal exhibits and unique interactive experiences. Subscribe to Sleepy Sloth to touch a two-legged sloth, take a behind-the-scenes look at the Aldabra giant tortoises, meet the world's largest rodents in the Happy Capy experience, or get up close and personal with anteaters, Australian koalas and Chilean flamingos. There is also an interactive play fountain, a colorful carousel and a train safari to keep the little ones happy.

Lion Country SafariLion Country Safari

Lion Country Safari, Loxachie (Nearby Hotels)

Lion Country Safari is just 30 minutes' drive from West Palm Beach. This is one of the best attractions in South Florida. The only car safari in the state, here you will find over 900 animals roaming the area. Gaze at the large herds of waterbuck and rhinoceros at animal shows, or walk 5 miles through the park to see lions, chimpanzees and giraffes casually roaming the grassy expanses. Part of the passage is called Safari World, where children of all ages will enjoy colorful images of birds and fish. Pick up homemade souvenirs from the Lion's Den Gift Shop or rent a kayak to paddle along Shannali Lake while the kids will want to explore the Safari Splash with water features and slides.

Naples Zoo in the Caribbean Gardens, NaplesNaples Zoo in the Caribbean Gardens, Naples

Naples Zoo in the Caribbean Gardens, Naples (nearby hotels)

Naples Zoo in the Caribbean Gardens, a nationally accredited zoo, is one of the most popular family attractions in Naples. The 44-acre park, which began as a botanical garden in 1919, now sees lions, tigers, bears, leopards and gazelles. Here you can feed the giraffes, ride a camel or see a honey badger nearby. Lively animal shows and multimedia exhibitions keep the whole family entertained, while the boat cruise sails past Primate Island, where you get the chance to see monkeys and lemurs. Be sure to visit the Black Bear Hammock exhibit, catch the captivating Snakes Live show, or schedule a visit on 19-foot reticulated python.

Big Cat RescueBig Cat Rescue

Big Cat Rescue, Citrus Park (Nearby Hotels)

Big Cat Rescue, located in North Tampa, is one of the largest accredited exotic cat sanctuaries in the world. Here the mission is to put an end to big cat abuse and be the leading organizer of saving wild cats from extinction where you can come face to face with an 800 lb tiger. Providing permanent homes to more than 80 tigers, lions, servals, cougars and bobcats, Big Cat Rescue has saved these animals from abuse, abandonment, orphanage, retirement, or being rescued from people who want to make fur coats. You'll find several endangered, endangered, or extinct species in the wild, including caracals, ocelots, lynx, and leopards. Tour the reserve and learn about each unique animal story along with little-known facts, or if you're looking for something truly unique, go on a special night tour or a feeding tour. 9Gulf Breeze Zoo Pet Food Gulf Breeze Zoo It is a 50-acre building that is home to animals from all over the world. The area's biggest attraction is that visitors can explore the zoo of 850 animals covering more than 137 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including monkeys, kangaroos, birds, cats and turtles. Kids will love the Safari Line train, where you can ride past hippos, gorillas, and antelopes, roaming the 30-acre nature reserve while you relax on a classic CP Huntington locomotive. Visit the free-flying aviary to see hundreds of colorful parrots flying around you as they perch on your arm, or walk along the raised boardwalk for a bird's eye view of the roaming herds of deer, zebras and rhinos.

Sarasota Jungle GardensSarasota Jungle Gardens

Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Sarasota (neighboring hotels)

Family attraction in Sarasota, Sarasota Jungle Gardens is a small 10-acre tropical oasis that has been delighting its visitors for 39 years. It is designed to captivate visitors of all ages. Here you will find interactive animal exhibits and over 200 animals. throughout the property, including snakes, lizards and alligators. See the one-eyed Screech Owl, watch ringed lemurs play, hold an alligator, or walk the winding jungle paths that surround tropical landscapes and gardens.