Everyone loves the zoo. Whether you are 1 or 99, there is something about seeing so many animals in one place that brings out the kid in you. The Brevard County Zoo, located in Melbourne on the east coast of Florida, is one of the most unique zoos that I have visited. I have never experienced a place like that which brings you so close to nature, literally immersing you in the total animal experience. Only a 2.5-hour ride from Tampa, it has enough unique features that make it worth the ride across the state for a visit. It should be on every animal lover’s list.
The Brevard County Zoo is home to more than 900 animals and over 182 species, representing South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, and of course, Florida. Each continent’s area is immersive in the experience, offering hands-on areas with bonus encounters at an economical price, and in my opinion, what sets them apart from other zoos. While “animal encounters” cost upwards of $50 per person at many other zoos, for just $5 you can feed the kangaroos in the Outback or offer up the giraffes some lettuce in Africa. You can feed or interact with birds, sloths, stingrays and even rhinos. There are no barricades or fences, nor long lines. Instead, these animals literally eat from your hands, just inches from your face and your camera. The flora and fauna of each ecosystem is impressive, beautifully grown alongside the boardwalks that traverse the zoo, amazing in their own right. There are play areas for younger children, and of course misting stations to cool down in the hot Florida sun. An adventure course with zip lines looms over some of the habitats, beckoning those who are brave enough, and there is even a splash pad and spray ground for younger guests who need to cool off or unwind. Two refreshment areas offer a versatile menu for those looking to grab a snack or a meal.
The most unique feature of the Brevard County Zoo, and the reason we took the ride to Melbourne, is the kayak tour through the savannah. That’s right, you can kayak right through Africa, surrounded by animals in a tandem kayak, led by one of the zoo’s knowledgeable and entertaining guides. The whole tour takes about 30 minutes and only costs $12.95 per person. Kayaking tickets are available for purchase from Kayak Beach in Expedition Africa and cannot be purchased in advance online. I recommend getting there early and scheduling yourself a time slot for your party, as on our visit, the first few hours were taken up by summer camps. We visited the whole rest of the zoo and ended our day on the river. Requiring no experience, you will traverse a man-made river through the savannah with zebras, impala, giraffes, ostrich, lemurs, storks and klipspringer. The guide will narrate your tour, giving you information on all of the animals in the habitat, and the history of the zoo. She even told us that it is the only place in the United States to offer guided kayaking tours around an animal exhibit. On our visit, the giraffes were inside while we kayaked due to a thunderstorm that had just passed, but we saw every other animal promised, and mere feet away from our kayaks. Our favorite was a zebra that followed us along for quite some time before turning his sights inland. When we got off the river, we couldn’t help but smile at what we had just experienced. I could not recommend this experience more. There is also a self-guided tour around their Florida ecosystem.
If you are an animal lover, take a trip to the Brevard County Zoo for a close encounter of the animal kind. It will leave everyone in your party amazed with what Mother Nature has to offer.
