We are not currently open for tours or accepting new volunteers. We are a small facility and our first priority is the safety of our animals and our staff. Until more is known about Covid-19, we have chosen to exercise on the side of caution. We will update this information as soon as we feel it is safe to reopen.
Thank you for your interest in our wildlife center. Thank you for understanding!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We schedule tours by appointment only. They sell out quickly since space is limited. Tours must be purchased in advance. All tours are guided and take 1-1.5 hours.
SPECIAL NOTE: Access to Zooville includes a very tight turn entry way. Large vehicles may have difficulty making the turn. Campers, trailers, buses or vehicles over 20 ft. need to make alternate arrangements.Please contact us if you need to question whether or not your vehicle will make it.
TOUR FAQs
How do I get to Zooville USA
...
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
Advance purchase is required and tours do sell out quickly. To maximize your chances of getting the day that you prefer, please book well in advance! Tickets must be purchased through Zerve.
I did not book a reservation, can I just show up?
No. We do not allow entry or access to the property to anyone at any time other than to prepaid ticket holders for a scheduled tour.
Is there an age limit?
No. But if you’re children are not well-behaved you will be asked to leave without a refund. There is no running, yelling or horse play in the zoo area. This applies to children as well as adults.
What should I wear?
Zooville USA is an outdoor facility. We have an unpaved, uneven tour path that is about 1/2 a mile, and you may be walking in muddy areas. Open-toed shoes or heels are not recommended. This is Florida, home to endless biting bugs, ants, spiders,and all sorts of creepy crawlies. We recommend long pants and socks with comfortable closed-toe shoes such as tennis shoes. Bug spray is also recommended. Please check the weather before your visit, and dress appropriately for the temperature.
Can my group/organization get a special discount?
Zooville USA is a non-profit corporation that receives no corporate funding. We rely heavily on income generated through our tours to continue to offer the services and programs we do as well as to continue to grow and improve. We appreciate your understanding that we cannot offer any discounts at this time.
Will I be able to get hands on with your animals?
No. We do not allow the guests to touch or come into contact with any of our animals at any time. Safety first and foremost is something we take very seriously and anyone attempting to touch or come into contact with any animal will be immediately escorted from the property without refund.
Can I bring food or toys for the animals?
No, our diet is specific to their needs and we do not allow foods to be given to the animals that have not been approved by our vet and maintained under the most stringent quality controls. We do not give our animals toys that could cause harm if ingested so we do not permit toys from outside our own preselected vendors. However, if you would like to purchase a toy for an animal, please visit our GIVE A GIFT page and purchase your favorite critter a new toy there!
Can I take pictures during my tour?
YES! You are welcome to take photos during your tour. But for the real photo enthusiast, we recommend the shutterbug safari to get up close and personal!
Do I have to stay with the group, or can I wander?
The only way to see the animals is on a guided tour, during which we do not allow you to wander away from the group. You will be as close as 4 feet away from the animals, therefore we require that you be escorted due to the close proximity. Also, our mission focuses on education and we just love having the opportunity to teach you some very cool and fun facts about our wild family.
How much walking is involved?
Our tour path is about 1/2 a mile. If this is too far for you to walk, you may reserve a seat on our golf cart. There is a $5.00 charge per person for this service, and you must reserve it in advance. Because our golf cart is a popular option, we suggest you check on its availability for the tour you are considering before you purchase your tickets. If there is not an option for the golf cart to be reserved that means it is unavailable for that particular tour time.
Can I bring a wheelchair, walker, scooter or stroller?
No, we do not allow these inside the zoo. Most of our tour path is uneven dirt and sand, full of holes and roots, which makes for a very unpleasant ride. However, those unable to comfortably walk our pathsare welcome to reserve a seat on our golf cart. There is a $5.00 charge per person for this service, and you must reserve it in advance. Because our golf cart is a popular option, we suggest you check on its availability for the tour you are considering before you purchase your tickets. If there is not an option for the golf cart to be reserved that means it is unavailable for that particular tour time.
Will I see every animal on the tour path?
Although our tour guides make every effort to encourage our residents to greet tour groups, you may not see every animal along the tour path. We never try to force our animals to perform or show themselves to tour groups; they decide how visible they want to be. Most are happy to see visitors, but a few disappear into their den boxes at certain times of day. For example,it is highly unlikely you will see our nocturnal species (genets, palm civet, porcupines and kinkajou) during a daytime tour.
Are there restrooms?
Yes, we have several porta-potties available. If you prefer standard restrooms, there are convenience stores right around the corner on Knights Griffin, we suggest you stop there prior to arriving at Zooville. There are no facilities inside the zoo area, and we do not break once the tour has begun. Please take this into consideration before you start the tour.
What if it rains?
Our tours are offered rain or shine; we do not generally cancel for light rain. In Florida, weather is always an issue. In the summer it rains frequently, but oftenonly for a few minutes. However, in the event that a forecast is calling fordangerousweather, we will do our best to determine whether tours will be cancelled 24 hours prior to the start time. If tours are cancelled, you will receive an email and a phone call/voicemail via the contact information you provide during reservation. In the event of cancellation, you will receive a refund for the entire amount of your ticket, or you may opt to transfer your reservation to an alternate day.
Due to the unpredictability of Florida weather, it can be difficult for our staff to make adjustments when the weather forecast shifts as the day goes on. To more accurately gauge the weather, our policy is to cancel tours by 11am on the morning of your tour if conditions look unfavorable. We appreciate your understanding that you will need to keep an eye on the forecast and dress for unpredictable weather when you reserve space on any of our tours. Tours are always cancelled any time lightening is in the area.
Because the animals can be frightened by umbrellas, they are not allowed but you should bring a rain coat or poncho if it looks like rain.
Can I bring my pet?
No. We do not allow any unauthorized animals on the premises, which includes our driveway and parking lot. Please leave all dogs, cats, and other furry critters at home. If you are traveling with a pet and intend to visit our facility, please consider boarding them in a local kennel for the duration of your tour. We will not tolerate animals being left unattended inside vehicles on our property at any time of year. We thank you for your cooperation!
Is there a charge for parking?
No however parking is limited therefore we restrict the number of people we allow on a tour so that it does not become a problem.
Are you ADA compliant?
If you are unable to walk for an hour to an hour and a half, we have golf carts available for $5 extra, per person riding. Our paths are dirt and uneven, so wheel chairs are hard to push, but scooters do well. There are no seats along the tour paths.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes! Gift certificates are available and they make perfect gifts for holidays, birthdays or any other occasion! To purchase a gift certificate please click on the “Gift Certificates: Purchase” link on the Store page
Do you offer private tours?
Yes! Click here for more details.
Refund/Rescheduling Policy?
All tours are non-refundable and can be rescheduled with 24 hours’ notice.
Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded. You may reschedule your tickets (subject to availability) only if you do so at least 24 hours in advance.
Other Policies
There is no smoking allowed at Zooville USA.We do have a smoking area in the welcome area where you will be waiting for the tour guide to begin your tour. But once the tour begins, there is a strict no smoking policy in or near the animal area.
Do you sell food or drinks?
We offer bottled water for sale during tours. We also offer snowballs, dole whips, dole whip floats, snow shakes and soft-serve for sale. It is very hot most of the year and nothing beats an ice cold treat in the Florida heat!