Tucked away in Kenansville, Florida, Wild Florida Adventure Park is the kind of place that makes you feel like you have stepped into a nature documentary. From feeding a towering giraffe to holding a baby alligator in your hands, the experiences here go way beyond anything you would find at a typical zoo.
Families, wildlife lovers, and thrill-seekers all find something to love at this one-of-a-kind destination. Whether you are a Florida local or just passing through, Wild Florida is absolutely worth the trip.
The Drive-Thru Safari Experience
Forget sitting in traffic — this is the kind of drive you will actually look forward to. The Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari lets you cruise through open land where zebras, bison, camels, deer, and even a giraffe roam freely alongside your vehicle.
It feels almost unreal when a zebra trots right up to your window.
Visitors often describe it as one of the most memorable parts of the whole park. Animals are active, curious, and surprisingly close — close enough to photograph without any zoom.
The staff at the entrance walk you through everything before you head in, so you always know what to expect.
Bringing snacks and drinks for the car is a smart move, especially if you have young kids. Many families say the safari alone is worth the price of admission.
Plan to go earlier in the day when animals are most active.
Feeding Alligators Up Close
Most people only see alligators from a safe distance — maybe through a fence or across a body of water. At Wild Florida, you actually get to feed them.
Standing just feet away from a full-grown gator while it snaps at food is a rush unlike anything else.
The park offers feeding experiences with both adult and baby alligators, so even younger visitors can participate in a safe, supervised setting. Staff members are always nearby to guide you and answer questions.
Knowledgeable plaques throughout the gator area explain fascinating facts about alligator behavior, diet, and biology.
Alligators have been around for millions of years, outliving the dinosaurs — and seeing one up close makes that fact feel very real. Whether you are seven or seventy, this experience leaves a lasting impression.
Just maybe do not wear open-toed shoes that day.
Holding a Baby Gator
There is a moment when you hold a baby gator and your brain cannot quite believe what your hands are doing. It is scaly, surprisingly calm, and honestly kind of cute in a prehistoric way.
Wild Florida makes this experience accessible to almost anyone who visits the gator park.
Staff members handle the animals with obvious care and coach visitors on exactly how to hold the little guys safely. Baby gators are much calmer than you might expect, especially when properly supported.
Kids absolutely love it, and parents tend to snap approximately a hundred photos in about thirty seconds.
Beyond the thrill, it is also a genuinely educational moment. Learning about alligator growth, behavior, and conservation while holding one in your hands sticks with you far longer than reading about it in a textbook.
It is hands-on learning at its most exciting.
The Airboat Tour on the Lake
Airboats are loud, fast, and completely thrilling — and the tour at Wild Florida takes you right through the heart of real Florida wetlands. You glide across open water and weave through marsh grass while your guide points out wild gators, herons, bald eagles, turtles, and more hiding in plain sight.
Guides are genuinely knowledgeable and passionate about the ecosystem. One reviewer even compared the beauty of the wetlands to Australian scrublands, noting that what looks like “just a swamp” actually holds breathtaking natural scenery.
Tours are available in half-hour and one-hour options, so you can pick what fits your schedule.
If you visit during cooler months, bring a windbreaker — it gets breezy on the open water. Ear protection is provided, so no worries there.
The airboat tour consistently ranks as one of the top highlights among visitors, and it is easy to see why.
The Walk-Through Zoo and Animal Exhibits
Included with safari admission, the walk-through zoo at Wild Florida packs in an impressive variety of animals. From Florida panthers and bobcats to kangaroos and exotic birds, the exhibits cover a surprising range of species from around the world and right here in Florida.
What sets this zoo apart is how thoughtfully it is laid out. Informational plaques near each enclosure are detailed and genuinely interesting — not just filler text.
Visitors consistently mention how clean and well-maintained the habitats are, and the animals clearly look healthy and content.
The zoo is also fully accessible, which is a big deal for families with strollers or visitors with mobility needs. One reviewer mentioned being able to navigate the entire zoo on a mobility scooter, all the way to the airboat dock.
That kind of thoughtful design makes everyone feel welcome and included from the moment they arrive.
Live Animal Shows and Demonstrations
Wild Florida keeps things lively with rotating live animal shows that bring education and entertainment together in the best possible way. Past shows have featured armadillos, king snakes, small caimans, and of course alligators — when the weather cooperates.
Cold-blooded animals like gators take the day off when temperatures drop, which is actually a fun biology lesson in itself.
The shows are designed to be engaging for all ages, mixing real facts with crowd interaction. Staff members clearly enjoy what they do, and that enthusiasm is contagious.
You walk away knowing things you never expected to learn about Florida wildlife.
Shows are typically included with park admission, so there is no extra cost to catch one. Check the daily schedule when you arrive so you do not miss anything.
With shows happening throughout the day, there is usually at least one that fits perfectly into your visit timeline.
The VIP Animal Encounter Tour
For visitors who want to go deeper than the standard experience, the VIP Tour at Wild Florida is something truly special. A personal guide takes you through the entire park before it opens to the public, introducing you to each animal by name and sharing their individual backstories.
It transforms a fun outing into something genuinely personal.
Past VIP guests have met capybaras, lemurs, sloths, African porcupines, and more during their tours. Guides like Haley and Eric have earned shout-outs in reviews for their warmth, patience, and encyclopedic knowledge.
The animals feel like characters you actually get to know rather than creatures behind glass.
The sloth encounter, in particular, has been described as “pure magic” by multiple visitors. Getting to gently pat a sloth while hearing about its life and habits is the kind of memory that sticks around for years.
Booking in advance is strongly recommended.
Feeding the Giraffe in the Safari
Hand-feeding a giraffe is one of those experiences that sounds almost too good to be true — until you are actually doing it. During the Wild Florida Drive-Thru Safari, visitors get the chance to offer food directly to the park’s resident giraffe, who is more than happy to lean down and accept the snack.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals on Earth, and seeing one up close puts that fact into jaw-dropping perspective. Their long, dark tongues and curious eyes make the whole encounter feel both hilarious and magnificent.
Kids and adults alike tend to dissolve into laughter and amazement at the same time.
Having your camera ready before you pull up is smart advice — the moment goes by quickly. The giraffe feeding spot is one of the most photographed moments in the entire park, and for very good reason.
Few things beat a selfie with a giraffe.
Trying Gator Food at the Cafe
Visiting a gator park and trying alligator meat for the first time is a Florida rite of passage. The cafe at Wild Florida serves up gator bites and other local-style dishes that have genuinely impressed visitors.
One reviewer described the taste as similar to chicken — a classic comparison that turns out to be surprisingly accurate.
The barbecue at the park has also earned high marks, with one family calling it “surprisingly excellent.” For visitors with dietary restrictions, the cafe has even been noted for offering vegan options and handling food preparation carefully to prevent cross-contamination. That level of thoughtfulness is not always common at tourist spots.
The fan-favorite Safari slushies come in souvenir bottles shaped like alligator heads, which basically makes them mandatory. Grabbing one while wandering through the park on a warm Florida afternoon is just the right kind of indulgence.
Save room after the airboat ride.
Capybara and Exotic Animal Encounters
Capybaras look like enormous guinea pigs, and meeting one in person at Wild Florida is a surprisingly delightful experience. These gentle, social creatures are native to South America and are the largest rodents in the world — a quirky fact that tends to get a big reaction from kids and adults alike.
Wild Florida offers hands-on encounters with capybaras as part of both the VIP tour and certain add-on experiences. Guests who have met them describe the interaction as warm and surprisingly calming.
The animals seem genuinely comfortable around people, which makes for relaxed and enjoyable photos.
Beyond capybaras, the park also hosts encounters with lemurs and African porcupines — animals that most people have never touched in their lives. Contrary to what many believe, porcupines are actually quite friendly and playful up close.
Each encounter comes with fascinating facts from guides who clearly love every animal in their care.
Spotting Wild Alligators on the Airboat
Seeing an alligator in a park enclosure is cool. Spotting one in the wild from a speeding airboat is a completely different level of awesome.
On the Wild Florida airboat tours, guides use years of experience to find gators lounging in their natural habitat — and they are remarkably good at it.
Multiple reviewers have mentioned seeing several wild gators during a single tour, along with turtles, herons, bald eagles, and even snakes along the water’s edge. The guides share detailed knowledge about the local ecosystem, making the ride both thrilling and genuinely educational.
You leave with a much deeper appreciation for Florida’s wetlands.
The one-hour tour gives you the most time on the water and the best chances of wildlife sightings. Mornings tend to offer calmer conditions and more active animal behavior.
Bring sunglasses and sunscreen — the Florida sun reflects off the water with serious intensity.
The Petting Zoo with Goats and More
Sometimes the most charming part of a big wildlife park is the smallest section. The petting zoo at Wild Florida features goats and other friendly animals that are perfect for younger visitors who want a more relaxed, hands-on moment.
There is something timeless about a kid feeding a goat that never gets old.
A majestic white turkey has also been spotted among the petting zoo residents, adding a bit of unexpected personality to the mix. The animals are well-cared-for, and the area is clean and easy to navigate even with a stroller or toddler in tow.
Grandparents taking little ones have raved about how much fun even two and four-year-olds have in this section.
The petting zoo offers a natural breather between bigger, louder experiences like the airboat ride or safari drive. It is low-key, sweet, and exactly the kind of moment that ends up being a family favorite in the photos later.
Practical Tips for Visiting Wild Florida
Wild Florida is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and is closed on Sundays. Located at 3301 Lake Cypress Rd in Kenansville, FL, it sits about an hour from Orlando — making it a perfect day-trip destination.
Arriving early gives you the best animal activity and avoids the midday heat.
Packages can include the safari, zoo, airboat tour, animal encounters, and even lunch, so checking the website at wildfloridairboats.com before you go helps you plan the right combo for your group. Booking VIP tours and special encounters in advance is highly recommended, as they fill up fast.
The park phone number is +1 407-957-3135 if you have questions.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, and if visiting in winter, pack a light jacket for the airboat ride. With a 4.7-star rating across over 7,300 reviews, Wild Florida consistently delivers.
Few places offer this much variety in a single visit.