The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford is one of the premier animal attractions in the Orlando area, a laid back park in the heart of Florida boasting animals aplenty.
About a 50-minute drive from Disney, the Central Florida Zoo aims to engage its visitors in appreciating the natural world that surrounds them. It features various animals from around the globe, ranging from the Amur leopards to the American alligator and the wreathed hornbill.
On weekends, the zoo holds a number of scheduled animal demonstrations and feedings open to the public. One of their highlights is the Elephant Encounter, which takes place at 2:15 p.m., an interactive behind-the-scenes tour allowing guests to get up close to two of the zoo's Asian elephants, Maude and Mary. Admission for the Elephant Encounter costs $9.50; a portion of the admission is donated to the Asian Elephant Conservation Program.
Last weekend marked the opening of the zoo's newest attraction, ZOOm Air Adventure, a zipline adventure course that gives visitors the chance to explore through the treetops, a simulation of how an animal would navigate its natural habitat. There are three zipline courses available, the Upland Course, Rainforest Course and Kid's Jungle Course; a fourth, the Swamp Course, is currently being developed.
The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10.95 for adults, $8.95 for seniors 60 and up, and $6.95 for children between 3 and 12.
Comments
Mike I love this!Next road trip me and the family are off to the Central FL Zoo.It looks and sounds like a great place to spend a day.Thanks for all the information I need to plan the trip ahead of time.Tammy
Great article. Will visit this fall on the trip down. Thanks
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