Miami is located in southeastern Florida on the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Tequesta tribe were the first occupants, dating back to 500 BC with a village of about 200. However, the tribe is thought to have moved to Cuba in the 1700s. Today, there is a diverse demographic in Miami with over 467,000 people.
Miami is often thought of as a beach community, but it has many other attractions. One of these is Zoo Miami, which is a favorite for many who visit the city. The zoo boasts more than 3,000 animals on 750 acres. Drop off your luggage at a Miami luggage storage site first because you cannot bring them with you. See the zoo hands-free!
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Animal Feedings
One of the most popular activities at the zoo is animal feeding. There are four animal feeding experiences to choose from. Get face to face with the giant giraffes where you can serve them food from a wooden platform. You may get slobbered on when they stick out their 18-inch tongue to grab the food.
The camel feeding is next with the stately dromedary camels in the Critter Connection area. You can feed them and visit with zookeepers as well. Giving food to the colorful parrots is also fun in the aviary with other birds. The favorite with most people is the rhino feeding. This exciting experience is unique for sure.
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Animal Encounters
If you have never seen a giant tortoise up close, you have to try this experience. The Tortoise Encounter gives you the opportunity to walk with the Galapagos tortoise in their habitat with an employee of the park. Learn all about these prehistoric wonders and how they are being protected from extinction.
If you have kids with you, take them to the Wacky Barn to get some hands-on experience with some zoo animals. They will get to comb and brush the sheep or goats and learn how they train the horses using animal behaviorist skills. They can also feed the barn animals while you are there.
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Kid Zones
For other fun with the kids at the zoo, check out the Jungle Journey Playground with 11 special features to enjoy. Then, take a break to cool off at the Ocean Voyage Splash Pad. Let them splash through the buckets of water and fountain, shoot each other with water cannons, and walk under the whale tail waterfall.
For more water fun, there are several other water features located at different spots in the zoo. You can join them too so you can all cool off on those hot Miami days. The Fiesta Fountain will drench you all, and the water spouting mushrooms by the hyenas are a cool surprise for everyone.
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Rides
The zoo also has some fantastic rides you and the kids can enjoy. Lostman’s River Ride gives you a tour through the Everglades on a slow boat where you will see surprises around every corner. Or zip through the park on the monorail where you’ll get an aerial view of the canopy while you get to where you want to go.
The Safari Tram Tour is a guided and narrated tour of the African and Asian exhibits along the walkway. This is a nice way to give your feet a break while learning some interesting zoo facts. And you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the carousel. This 36-foot carousel boasts 30 custom-made, hand-carved animals to ride on.
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Amazon and Beyond
In the northwest corner of Zoo Miami, separated into four sections, the Amazon and Beyond exhibit is 27 acres of South American flora and fauna. Each of the four sections has its own features. The Village Plaza introduces you to the unique Amazonian cultures in each fantastic section.
The Cloud Forest section is a tropical forest with an unusual feature of persistent fogginess due to the humidity in the canopy. The Atlantic Forest Pantana features floodplains with flooded grasslands and the creatures who live there. And the Atlantic Forest boasts fruit bats, howler monkeys, and giant anteaters.
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Australian Outback
If you have ever wanted to visit the outback, check out the Australian exhibit at the zoo. This area has the Pacific Islands, Oceana, and Australia sections where you can learn a bit about each area. Check out the unique and endangered tree kangaroos, which are the only real arboreal macropods on earth.
Get up close and personal with the koala bears as they chomp on native plants like eucalyptus leaves. But they sleep 20 hours a day so you may just get to watch them sleep. And don’t miss the emu exhibit. These are the second largest birds behind ostriches and have a special way of running that makes them fun to watch.
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Presentations
Do you want to learn more about the amazing zoo animals? Go to the Sami Family Amphitheater to meet some of the zoo animal ambassadors. This 800-seat outdoor theater is covered by a canopy to block the hot sun while you enjoy listening to the experts talk about their activities and the fauna in their zoo.
Or you can get a behind-the-scenes tour where you will interact with some of the cool animals that are housed there. See the kiwi birds, giraffes, crocodile breeding center, the flooded forest gallery, and the bobcat and raccoon exhibit. Meet Shango and Barney, the gorillas and the world’s largest animal, the elephants.
No matter what animal experiences you have, remember them forever by getting a special photo option at any of these exhibits. Or take your own selfies and pictures. Get some souvenirs from the gift shop too but do not miss out on the food. Nourish 305 is an indoor restaurant while Carousel Café and Oasis Grill are outdoors.
