Croc Encounters image

Croc Encounters

Tourist attraction Event venue Tour operator Zoo Childrens party service Aquarium Wildlife refuge Ecological park Animal park Wildlife rescue service

Popular wildlife park boasts guided tours, education & close-up encounters with a range of reptiles. People often mention tour, guide, animals, great, experience, knowledgeable, kids, time, feeding, hold,


Address

8703 Bowles Rd, Tampa, FL 33637

Website

www.crocencounters.com

Contact

(813) 217-4400

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (992 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Sunday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Monday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Tuesday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Thursday: 8 AM to 8 PM
  • Friday: 8 AM to 8 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: tour (75) guide (59) animals (53) great (50) experience (34) knowledgeable (28) kids (27) time (23) feeding (23) hold (21)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Nethranjalie D. 2 years ago on Google
    THIS PLACE IS AWESOME!!! This wasn’t a well-planned decision and we went on a whim and we loved every minute of it. We met this awesome tour guide Dorian and he is exactly how a tour guide should be. He was friendly, approachable, knew everything about the reptiles and was aware of the crowd as well. I’m a huge fan of alligators and I had the time of life. This totally gives the real Florida feeling and I am positive I’m gonna be a regular here. I loved petting Gus. Buck, Sam, Tortuga, Sally, Mary and Barbara were fabulous (You will know them when you go there!). This place is both adult and kid friendly and everyone has something to enjoy.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael G. 6 months ago on Google • 114 reviews
    Thank you Alex for a great adventure. He was knowledgeable, helpful and when I brought the little guy back to the car to cool down, kept my oldest on the tour and stayed engaged with him the whole time. He was funny and entertaining and spoke with my 10 year old like they were on the same level. After the tour he spoke even more with him and about reptiles and farms and how to get involved in the field. My son will never forget the attention Alex gave him, and I can not say thank you enough for how you treated him. We had a amazing time, and the craziest amount of crocs and gators I've ever seen. Thank you Alex, great job.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mom & Kids D. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow. Interesting. Exceptional. Excellent tour guide. Worth the money. The kids got to feed tortoises, hold a boa, feed turtles, and hold a baby alligator without any additional fees, and get to have an alligator tooth for souvenir. The tour guide patiently answered dozen of the kids’ crazy questions. Thanks D.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tamee M. 1 year ago on Google
    Cannot say enough good things about this place. Dorian was the man so so cool, answered every question, we didn't feel rushed, and he made sure to get us a good experience while still taking good care of all the animals. We chose last minute to go here and they made sure to get us a good experience. There's not a gift shop or food or anything, but that's how we liked it. It's privately owned and funding comes from the tours they give.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tiffany P. 6 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    Great place for the kids! We had a fantastic guide who answered all of our questions. There are a lot more creatures other than crocs which was a pleasant surprise. The hour tour went by fast for our whole group. I recommend putting on bug repellent before starting the tour.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cory C. 1 month ago on Google • 45 reviews New
    We had a great tour yesterday, and we learned a lot from our guide. We got to hold a snake and a baby alligator, feed tortoises, and see some impressive reptiles. It was a neat experience and we would go back again!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alicia P. 2 years ago on Google
    We went on a whim and have zero regrets! They fit us into the tour even though we were late. Clay was a really awesome host & guide. Learned a lot about the animals and had some really cool encounters and interactions. Highly recommend this place for anyone that’s passionate about animals, especially reptiles. Thank you so much for the good time! We appreciate all the hard work you’re all doing for these animals! We will definitely visit again when we make it back to Tampa.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yifei G. 3 months ago on Google • 92 reviews New
    Got to learn so much about the crocs and allys!! Was an amazing experience especially with feeding them and petting snake, turtles and alligators had soooo much fun and our guide were amazing!!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mike k. 2 years ago on Google
    Croc Encounters is an animal rescue with their primary focus on alligators and crocodiles. Many other animals are also here, all with a similar story of having been an unwanted pet. Maddie (hope I'm spelling her name correctly) was our tour guide and she is as entertaining as she is knowledgeable about the various animals. We spent close to two hours on our tour through the refuge. What was really appreciated was that we were not rushed from one exhibit to the next; Maddie let us take our time absorbing the experience with each animal, especially at the large gator pen. We were able to hold various lizards, a small alligator and a three-foot Ball Python. I can understand why they charge $45 per person, in order to raise funds to care for the animals, but I feel it's a bit excessive for the experience. Therefore, 4☆ 's. Notwithstanding, it was an educational and unique experience.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dan H. 1 year ago on Google
    Quite the experience! Found this little gem on a Google search. You get to see the animals up close. Always remember though, these are wild animals. Maddy was a great guide, very knowledgeable and patient. Even kept her composure when a little mishap happened. The animals were active and entertaining, the boa constrictor was a little cranky this day and got a hold of my son, but it could have been worse. All in all, it was fun and worth the money.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jayson L. 7 months ago on Google • 92 reviews
    Outstanding! Super fun to feed the animals! Ryan was an excellent tour guide! So many facts I didn't know. Glad to know they keep these animals safe after being previously owned by negligent owners

  • 5/5 Jonah M. 2 months ago on Google • 9 reviews New
    Don’t miss this place in Tampa. Our tour was about 90 minutes and Andrew (tour guide) was amazing with his knowledge of the crocs and animals in the facility. Family pass is $99 and worth every Penney. You do need to call their 800 # to make a reservation before hand so there is some planning required.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ron TazMan (. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a 6 star attraction. Yes the entrance looks shady, but it is amazing and Maddy our guide was awesome. You get to feed turtles, 2 to 4 foot crocks, 4 to 10 foot crocks and the desert tortoises by hand. We were able to hold a 2 foot croc AMAZING. Most of the animals here are rescues including the big guy. This is worth a 2 hour stop.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vivek G. 9 months ago on Google
    Nice experience at this place, you get to see lot of snakes, Crocodiles and alligator. Also, You can hold snake and alligator, which was the best part of the tour. This is how exactly it go. - Waiting area have a bird and small play area for the kids. - Guide greeted us, took roll call. - Brought 2 snakes ( baby and full length ) - you can hold them and take picture. - At the beginning, Guide explain about diff. between croc. & alli. saw few birds. - Heard story about some of the alligator, will not reveal. - Then guide took another snake out of her adobe, some of us took photo and moved on. - Next was some lizards and 14 feet alligator. - Moved to turtle and tortoise area were we get to feed them. - The fed alligator ( they had their special food ) - At the end got opp. to hold baby alli. and take a photo. total tour time was approx. 90 min Guide was really knowledgeable and polite, He gave enough time to everyone.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan M. 10 months ago on Google • 11 reviews
    Went there for the first time on a Wednesday. Not busy - about 15 people total in our group. I'll admit the place has little to no curb appeal, but don't let that fool you. It's well worth going. Our tour guide Ryan was really great. The whole tour lasts about an hour and a half. We got to hold several different types of snakes, we held an alligator (or crocodile), we hand fed the large tortoises, we fed alligators and turtles. Really a great place. Highly recommend!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sally B. 2 years ago on Google
    We had a fabulous experience! Very informative and interesting! Loved feeding the turtles! Clay was the best guide! We enjoyed all his knowledge and stories. So awesome the great care they give these wonderful creatures!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dina T. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a neat place. Very personal and educational! Amazing tour guide! Kids & teens loved it! They got to feed and pet turtles, they got to feed alligators and hold a baby one. They also got to hold a snake!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zachary V. 7 months ago on Google • 20 reviews
    An excellent addition to our vacation! Our guide Ryan was friendly and passionate about the reptiles and mission of the facility. Our son loved being able to feed and pet the tortoises and turtles and even gators! The close interactions you get with the animals are wonderful. Hands down an excellent choice for our reptile and animal obsessed son and our family. Will be back if we visit the St. Pete/Tampa area again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mackenna T. 1 month ago on Google • 49 reviews New
    Read someone else’s review to book a tour and that was definitely the way to do it. Our tour guide was kind and knowledgeable. We had a great time

  • 4/5 Brittany P. 3 years ago on Google
    Lots of animals however it was a lot smaller than I was expecting. The guide was very informative and friendly. Giving 4 stars instead of 5 just because it was smaller than expected and a little overpriced for whats offered.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob F. 3 years ago on Google
    A really great place to learn more about crocodiles and alligators! They also have a large assortment of other reptiles that they take care of! If you are looking for an up close and personal experience this is the place! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about all of the animals.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hannah S. 1 year ago on Google
    Dorian did a great job being our tour guide! Friendly and knowledgeable about each animal, and he answered any questions that the group had. Best part was feeding the tortoises! Even better was that the ticket cost goes toward caring for these forfieted animals. Since my partner and I travelled from Canada, we were without cell service and the only way you can book in advance is over the phone. We kind of just showed up and they were really nice about it, and got us into the soonest tour that day!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chelsea H. 7 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Alex was our guide and was amazing! He was extremely knowledgeable. We learned so much about reptiles while on our tour! Definitely recommend it for everyone, young or old. It is all outside (obviously), and there are sporadic spots of shade, with no wind, so it can be a bit hot. You get a chance to hold a good size gator, too! As well as feed tortoises. My teen boys really enjoyed the experience! Remember to bring cash in order to tip your guide. Also, it was very easy to schedule; just call, and we were able to get in the next day (Monday).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Enrique S. 3 years ago on Google
    Very educational and informative tour. Daniel, our tour dude gave us a very amazing experience, guy knows what he’s talking about. His boss should give him a bonus. There’s a variety of alligators and crocodiles, giant lizards, turtles and tortoises, snakes, and other species. You get to hold a python snake, feed aquatic and land turtles and tortoises, and fed the alligators. We even held a baby alligator. No one should be disappointed!! 💯💯💯
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David C. 3 years ago on Google
    This place is awesome! $100 for our family of 5 and well worth it. Our tour guide was Clay and he was excellent. Very knowledgeable about every animal and very patient with questions. The tour last about 90 minutes and included multiple hands on interactions and feeding opportunities with snakes, alligators and turtles. I'd highly recommend this to anyone.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 carla p. 3 years ago on Google
    Went today and the kids loved it. Had a great guide-Clay. He was very knowledgeable and answered all the questions that we had. He was very patient with the kids. If you and or your kids like alligators, crocs, turtles etc, this is a great place to go. Tours are for your group only so there was no pushing or shoving to see and you can go at your own pace.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Phil W. 3 years ago on Google
    This place was disappointing. We spent $194 for our family to get in. It was way overpriced for what they offered. It felt run down and dumpy. The walkway has several broken and really loose boards, it makes one wonder about the integrity of the enclosures. The tour guide talked about us feeding the animals. I thought for $194 we would get to them chunks of meat or something cool, we instead threw them a dog food type substance that the gators hardly cared about. They only have outhouses as well, it seems for $194, the facilities should have been much nicer.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 gwaldo19 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place to visit! Off the path but so worth it! Destiny was very knowledgeable and made the tour interesting and fun! Privately owned zoo, obviously a bit more pricey to come but, again, worth every penny!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amber L. 3 years ago on Google
    We had a blast and an amazing tour guide! Lots of fun!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael B. 3 years ago on Google
    Croc Encounters is well worth the visit! This is a great place for kids and adults. Our tour guide, Dan, was very knowledgeable and we had interaction with some of the reptiles, such as holding a baby alligator, feeding the huge turtles, feeding numerous alligators in a pond, and petting a boa constrictor. The animals and birds are very well taken care of. It rained almost the entire time during our tour but Dan gave us big umbrellas. The rain actually made the tour a totally unique experience -- so glad we didn't reschedule! This is a very different experience than going to a zoo.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tamara V. 3 years ago on Google
    Love it!!!! The tour guy was great and very knowledgeable, we were a party of 7, we got there a little late, they were understanding and we still got a great tour. I was a little hesitant at first to go there since I’m not to fond of crocs but I can say it was worth it, love the big crock ( owners pet) !!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mahi G. 3 years ago on Google
    very nice, tour guide was super nice and explanatory
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Colby G. 3 years ago on Google
    100% Great Time! Clay is a wonderful tour guide.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brittany R. 3 years ago on Google
    A great experience! A good zoo that isn't going to take you all day to get through. And it offers interactive animal experiences (safe ones for both the people and the animals).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dana B. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice variety of animals on display and small enough that you don't have to spend all day there. Interesting and informative live shows that also don't last too long. Admittedly I was there to see a real flamingo but enjoyed the rest of the park as well. It did get a little confusing walking through the denser jungle area but if you just keep walking you figure it out.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TL C. 3 years ago on Google
    Sarasota Jungle Gardens was a fun and unique place to visit! Where else can you hand fed flamingos!? Petting zoo, lots of different animals, walking trails and several animal shows to check out.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Devika S. 3 years ago on Google
    A nice spot to spend 2-3 hours strolling. The best part is definitely the flamingos. They are friendly and walk right up to you so you can feed them. Be sure to pack water though, it is very humid and hot; even under the tree canopies! They have presentations of the different animal groups. But they should tell you which animals they will be showing. A snake popped up and I nearly knocked people over trying to run away.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Etay L. 3 years ago on Google
    I’ve been to a lot of zoos - but this is the first time I got to cuddle with a bunch of flamingos - incredible!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amy S. 2 years ago on Google
    The entrance needs a little work but they are under construction to expand their enclosures. Very informative guide named Clay, who was great with the animals and the people. Would definitely recommend for all ages. If we're in the area again we would love to return.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dave S. 1 year ago on Google
    Dorian Gonzalez was our guide, and he did a stellar job of informing us about the history of this wonderful reptile sanctuary. He is a true professional and understands how to be a compassionate caretaker of the animals. There were so many great animals to see, and we loved our visit to this fantastic place. Thank you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa L. 1 year ago on Google
    An amazing experience! Between the private party they did at our home to the awesome tour they did at their location we had a blast. Dorian is a fantastic tour guide as they all are and we will definitely be back. Thank you Croc Encounters for everything, truly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tizianna P. 1 year ago on Google
    Our tour guide was Clay, super knowledgeable and such a fun experience. It is definitely worth it and exciting for all ages! You get feeding and photo opportunities! Definitely recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kaitlin R. 10 months ago on Google
    This place exceeded my expectations! We had a very small group tour today which made our encounters very interactive! Our tour guide, Maddie, was amazing! These animals are so beautiful and well kept. We learned so much and enjoyed the hands on learning!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob Z. 9 months ago on Google • 4 reviews
    Absolutely amazing!!! Terrible with names and can’t remember our tour guides name but he was so great and knowledgeable. We got lucky and were the only ones on the tour! We had 2 kids 5 and 3 and he was so good with them! We went on a whim as it was only 30 min away from where we were at for vacation and don’t let it fool you when you pull in as it is very deceiving. It’s a great place and would definitely go again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua S. 9 months ago on Google
    Very fun experience went their with my family and the staff was very amicable. Great diversity of reptiles and very educational. I got to see some of my favorite crocodilians, I highly recommend this experience if you love reptiles as much as me.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 OrenjiOrange 2 months ago on Google • 23 reviews New
    Our group enjoyed the experience. Our guide, Alexander, was VERY knowledgeable about the animals kept there and he was very willing to teach and share. It was an enjoyable experience.

  • 5/5 cameron b. 1 month ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    Alexander and Brad were very informative, friendly, and excellent tour guides who understood the animals and the conservation around them. Our family had a wonderful time holding and feeding several of the animals in this park. Would absolutely recommend.

  • 5/5 Lisa D. 1 month ago on Google • 7 reviews New
    Alexander was a great tour guide! He was super informative and let us hold snakes and crocs! Affordable and great activity for a family. Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Michaela F. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a great place to explore with your child, my daughter was so excited about feeding the turtles and tortoises as well as seeing Famous Amos...impressive gator! We will definitely be back!

  • 5/5 Violet X. 3 years ago on Google
    The guided tour was a great experience for the whole family. The kids enjoyed the feeding and holding snake and alligator and we all learned a lot. Our guide Stephanie is super friendly and knowledgeable.

  • 5/5 Jeremy D. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent experience! Our tour guide, Clay, was great- very knowledgable and great with kids. We stopped by Croc Encounters on our way to the airport to head home and are so glad we did. Our 2 year old and 5 year old kids loved it.

  • 5/5 Mikhail A. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic, genuine, place. The kids (2 and 5) loved feeding the tortoises and gators, and petting the tortoises baby gators. Honestly the tortoise thing was awesome for me and my wife as well. Would love to do that again.

  • 5/5 John P. 3 years ago on Google
    Was a great tour. Clay, our guide was full of knowledge and took his time answering all the kids questions.

  • 5/5 Ty S. 3 years ago on Google
    Our company took a large group here for a team building event. The tour was fun, the guide a was very knowledgeable, the animals were awesome, and we had an all around great time. 10/10 would do again!

  • 5/5 Sarah H. 3 years ago on Google
    Had great tour today. We learned a lot from our guide Clay. I enjoyed seeing and interacting with the wild life. Well, worth the time.

  • 4/5 James K. 3 years ago on Google
    Small but pretty good experience. Our guide was great and very informative. We have two small kids ages 3 and 5 and they loved hand feeding the tortoises and holding the snake and baby alligator. It's not super fancy and it isn't going to blow you away, but a good family trip if your looking for something to do outside Tampa.

  • 5/5 Karie S. 3 years ago on Google
    Sooo fun!!

  • 5/5 Sammyrose L. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place with passionate tour guides.

  • 5/5 Frank G. 3 years ago on Google
    This is really a lot of fun!

  • 5/5 Brittany L. 3 years ago on Google
    Awesome place! Destiny was our guide and she was great! Very interactive!

  • 5/5 Tony H. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place to come visit destiny did a great job as a tour guide

  • 5/5 Mrs G. 3 years ago on Google
    DO NOT miss this. Best party of our trip.

  • 5/5 Finally F. 3 years ago on Google
    This was pretty swag

  • 5/5 Gilberto L. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place!!!

  • 5/5 Lee B. 3 years ago on Google
    Make sure to make a reservation! Clay was our tour guide he was very educational and we had a great time learning about all the animals.

  • 5/5 Kelli P. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a great tour with Clay! He was so knowledgeable about all the different reptiles. He didn't rush us through and was very nice. Alot to see and it was so neat to get to hold the gator and best part was feeding the tortoise '.

  • 5/5 W P. 3 years ago on Google
    Great hidden attraction. Cody was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. Definitely would recommend

  • 1/5 Dan 3 years ago on Google
    Pulled up and walked halfway to the entrance to have a guy ask us why we were there. Then proceeded to tell us they don't do tours without reservations.

  • 5/5 Isaac G. 3 years ago on Google
    Clay was a nice, knowledgeable guide who made our experience a fun one

  • 4/5 mori c. 3 years ago on Google
    Really neat place, very educational!

  • 5/5 Mark C. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place and knowledgeable guides.

  • 5/5 Maureen H. 3 years ago on Google
    Dan our tour guide knew everything, very interesting and entertaining talk. Everyone in our group loved it. Especially the kids. Highly recommend.

  • 5/5 ralph p. 3 years ago on Google
    Must do experience in Tampa. Animals were amazing along with the guide.

  • 5/5 jasbury1000 3 years ago on Google
    The tour was great and very informative. The guide, Dan, was very knowledgeable. I think my family’s favorite pet was feeding the tortoises. Highly recommend this place.

  • 5/5 Viviana B. 3 years ago on Google
    Dan was an amazing tour guide and did his best to answer any of our questions! We all really enjoyed this part of our trip and got to hold baby crocs! I LOVED feeding the tortoises the most! They are so hilarious. Make sure to wear bug spray and sun screen on this trip and bring a bottle of water. Great priced as well! Keep taking great care of the animals dan! May not recommend for small children to hold the baby crocs so that they do not drop them if they become scared.

  • 5/5 Jamie W. 3 years ago on Google
    We had a great experience on our tour today. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. It was awesome seeing gators up so close!

  • 5/5 Kristen G. 3 years ago on Google
    We drove up from Naples. It was well worth it. Theres a lot of animals to see. This place is so clean. You don't smell poop. The petting zoo area was a lot of fun. The flamingos were very vocal and fun to feed. The staff was great too. Its a really nice place to walk around. Its beautiful here.

  • 4/5 Jason A. 3 years ago on Google
    Feeding the flamingos is definitely the main attraction here. The turtles and alligators we're not really biting bit it was really fun! A very budget friendly attraction.

  • 5/5 Steph F. 3 years ago on Google
    We had so much fun here! My kids are 6 and under. Love all the walking paths, feels like you are walking in a jungle once you get in far enough. I push my double stroller through without any issues. My kids are telling everyone they see they went to Jungle Gardens, held an alligator, seen snakes, pet goats and pigs, and fed the flamingos. It felt so nice to get out and do something fun in these crazy times. We ate at the cafe. The selection for food is kinda small but our food was made fresh and it really hit the spot after walking around 🙂. The staff was very friendly. We will definitely be back, might even get the passes. We normally have the Tampa zoo pass but this is much closer to us and our kids had so much fun.

  • 5/5 Roman R. 3 years ago on Google
    Kids loved this place, especially the colorful parrots and flamingos. It took us around 2 hours to see everything. There was also a fun but short show about parrots that my kids loved to watch.

  • 5/5 Amy S. 3 years ago on Google
    This place was so fun! We loved seeing all the animals and holding the baby gators. Our favorite was the flamingos...especially when they were out freely mingling with us! One even followed us throughout the park for a bit 😂. Everyone was so nice, the place was clean, and even the little shows were great for our family!

  • 5/5 Rob D. 3 years ago on Google
    We had a great time...the kids LOVED it...especially feeding real beautiful pink flamingos! We saw an Osprey fly out with a fish in its hands (not staged by the park) baby gators, and tons for the kids to enjoy we had a blast!

  • 5/5 Trent 3 years ago on Google
    Very cool park hand feeding Flamingos was awsome. Definitely worth going price is good as well.

  • 5/5 CrazyGirlLovesLife07 3 years ago on Google
    Was a nice time for even 3 of us friends who are 40 but love animals and the outdoors! Feeding the 🦩 was a great experience!!!

  • 5/5 Ginger S. 3 years ago on Google
    A family tradition.

  • 5/5 Epic N. 3 years ago on Google
    Great experience!

  • 5/5 Barb Z. 3 years ago on Google
    Well rounded attraction with plenty of variety. A family place with level trails for strollers and wheelchairs. Good value for the ticket price.

  • 5/5 Ron M. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent place to visit!

  • 5/5 Paul A. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place for the family, fed a flamingo for the first time in my life.

  • 1/5 Lana D. 3 years ago on Google
    A lot of your animals are way under weight this is neglect the poor little pig is so skinny his ribs and back bone are showing I own a pig and mine doesn’t look like that 🤬 so sad if you can give them the proper care then give them to others that will

  • 3/5 Christine R. 3 years ago on Google
    The potbelly pigs are starved! Their ribs are sticking out and it’s so sad. I took pictures but there is no way of showing on here

  • 4/5 Betty B. 3 years ago on Google
    Animals were great!! The parrot show was fasenating and fun!!

  • 5/5 Mayra V. 3 years ago on Google
    We fed the flamingos. It was a great experience. I was surprised with the different types of animals they had

  • 5/5 Jose S. 3 years ago on Google
    Thought it was going to be a lot simpler but ended up being a great surprise. We were able to get close and up front with many animal, Unlike some zoos where many animals are hiding asleep deep in cages. Kids loved feeding the flamingos and various birds. We bought the $15’packet that includes 3 feeding bags and two pictures with animals. Great fun for family.

  • 5/5 Holly C. 3 years ago on Google
    Our daughter's birthday was wonderful! Our daughter basically had a private tour of the entire park. Bethany guided us throughout the day, answering all of our a questions. She was personable, very knowledgeable, and very patient when we wanted to stop and look at an animal. The show she presented was fun and informative. The convenience of having food prepared and brought to us also reduced my stress level. The chicken tenders were delicious. We couldn't have asked for a nicer day with our family. Thank you Bethany and Sarasota Jungle Gardens! The Collins Family

  • 5/5 Karen K. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this place! Where Else can you hold an alligator and feed a flamingo! Great staff!

  • 4/5 Lindsay V. 3 years ago on Google
    A great place to explore with kids. Lots of animals in a convenient place to Sarasota. Took us about 1.5 hours to see everything we wanted. Nice staff. There is a distinct smell throughout so just something to be aware of. A fun activity was feeding the flamingos.

  • 4/5 Jen W. 3 years ago on Google
    The animal expert was great! The kids had a fun time looking at all the animals and especially loved the bird show. I could do without some of the natural bog odors, though. I was surprised at the smell for it only being about 70 degrees- I couldn't imagine the smell in summer.

  • 4/5 Dennis O. 3 years ago on Google
    Getting a bit worn out, but a worthy attraction nevertheless. The parrot show is wonderful.

  • 3/5 Kathy T. 3 years ago on Google
    Kinda spendy for what you see.

  • 5/5 Sarah P. 3 years ago on Google
    One of my favorite attractions in the Bay Area. Beautiful gardens, and feeding the flamingos is an amazing experience. It’s a can’t miss attraction.

  • 5/5 Olichka T. 3 years ago on Google
    Petting flamingo was amazing!

  • 1/5 Sandy S. 3 years ago on Google
    What a joke!! Definitely not worth the cost of entering. Had been here many years ago and what a sore disappointment from back then!! Could never recommend to anyone, unless you basically want a walk through the fauna! Wouldn’t even give it a star if I didn’t have to. 😣

  • 5/5 Olaf O. 3 years ago on Google
    I really enjoyed the couple hours I spent at jungle gardens. I went with the family learned about the different animals and walked around the nature preserve they had there. It was peaceful and educational.

  • 5/5 Tammy J B. 3 years ago on Google
    Everyone needs to see. Beautiful

  • 2/5 Irina M. 3 years ago on Google
    Disappointing. Overpriced. Looks shabby and dusty. Poor animals. Won't bring any of my guests here.

  • 5/5 Yuliya K. 3 years ago on Google
    Fun place

  • 5/5 Savannah P. 3 years ago on Google
    Took my 12 month old because he loves birds, he loved the flamingos and the staff was very kind!

  • 2/5 Natali B. 3 years ago on Google
    I liked to be able to be close to flamingos. But, we bought food to feed turtles and alligators and it was a waste of money. One of the worst things is that the tanks were so dirty and full of old food and I could tell that maintaining the tanks is something they barely do. Especially the turtles' tank, even if algae does not do harm to them, they look awful and abandoned...

  • 5/5 Sandy B. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice family-owned business. A great day, a great place to walk around and view the animals. Sure, zoos have more but a relaxing smaller scale was so comfortable. And most visitors wore masks, and encouraged by signage everywhere. GReat gift shop too.

  • 5/5 Liudmyla M. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Impressions are gained in a fluid, global, diffused way (Original) Впечатления зашкаливают

  • 4/5 Josh 3 years ago on Google
    Pretty neat!

  • 4/5 XxGacha_ M. 3 years ago on Google
    Jungle Gardens was a really pretty place, as they had really fun things to do. I have on problem though. They didn't have ketchup.

  • 3/5 Karesa S. 3 years ago on Google
    Flamingos were cool! Also the 500 lb turtles. The place could use a good cleaning. Animals have algae all over them. Especially the turtles. You could barely see them. No one was wearing masks beside the staff.

  • 5/5 J S. 3 years ago on Google
    Fun place to take the kids.

  • 5/5 David S. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a great time with the kids flamingos alligators all sorts of great animals

  • 4/5 Bianca R. 2 years ago on Google
    I took my toddler who is 3 & He loved all of the animals. He was able to feed the tortoises, pet a snake, a baby alligator. It was exciting to learn about all of the animals too, they provide a summary of where the animals originated and how long they typically stay alive. *** do make your appointment beforehand. U have to call the number or do it online. They don’t take payments at the location.

  • 5/5 Evelina P. 2 years ago on Google
    We went on a group tour today guided by Clay. We were able to see reptiles up close and the feeding experiences are one of a kind, not to mention getting to hold a baby alligator. So educational and fun! Croc encounters is doing good work sheltering and caring for the many reptiles and other animals it takes in. Worth every penny!!!

  • 5/5 Emily M. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is simply amazing! We had a guided tour and our guide was insanely knowledgeable and created such a wonderful, interactive experience. I appreciate how all entry fees go right back in to maintaining the park and critter care. You can definitely tell they love what they do here and don't consider this just a "job". This is definitely NOT a shady Joe Exotic type park. It may be small but it is for sure top notch. Can't say enough great things about this place and the people that operate it!

  • 5/5 Brandon G. 1 year ago on Google
    Was worth it all the way around in price. Price is high but they are a small family owned business so it was worth the money. Our tour Guide was maddy and she was funny and very well educated and knew ALOT about the all the animals they had. My kids loved I recommend it for sure.

  • 5/5 Mermaid Aerial P. 1 year ago on Google
    Where should a mermaid take her nephew who loves snakes? Croc Encounters!! Our guide, Dorian, introduced us to several snakes and then gave us a very educational and informative tour around the property showing us all the alligators, crocodiles, snakes & other animals. It was MERmazing!! I was impressed with how safe and clean it all was. There were tons of interaction with “safe” animal & warnings about the “cranky” ones (Nile Crocodile!!). I had the best time and so did my nephew. Now he wants a little “Banana” snake for a pet. They are a refuge for nuisance & ex “pet” gators who have nowhere else to to. This place gets a 10 out of 10. It was an Mermaid Adventure that won’t be forgotten. I 100% recommend checking them out.

  • 5/5 Valentine D. 11 months ago on Google
    I was visiting Tampa area and was looking for a wait to safely see alligators. I am SO HAPPY to have found Croc Encounters! The guide was awesome, very informative, answered all of our questions, and was very very respectful of my snake phobia! The tour was very hands-on too as we were able to hold a young alligator, feed tortoises, and feed alligators! I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area, and would go back again with friends and family members if I am back in Tampa!!

  • 2/5 Jose T. 11 months ago on Google
    My wife found this place online and made the reservations during our recent trip to the Tampa area. The tour itself was a nice little adventure and the tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. The person who took our reservations and credit card information over the phone told us the tour would be one amount but then overcharged us substantially. Had the tour cost what they said it would I would recommend it. Unfortunately, since we were overcharged I would definitely not trust or recommend this business to anyone. If you intend on visiting this business please check your credit card activity immediately after payment has been made to ensure you were not overcharged as well.

  • 4/5 Amit P. 9 months ago on Google
    We started our summer vacation with some small adventure for my adventure kid. We really had a nice time at Croc Encounters for an hour and half. Couple of things to note - Keep your water bottles handy to keep hydrated (no food) and book your tour guide before making an adventure hunt (pre-booking is a must). They have more space to expand but using its minimal area as they are still growing. Personally I found this experience little expensive paying around $99 for family of 3. The tour guide Alex was very knowledgeable & humble to go person for providing the right info about alligators/ crocodile🐊. They have different species of alligator/crocodile (cayman, Cuban, Nile crocodile), many turtles 🐢 , some lizard species & one or two birds 🐦 . You will definitely encounter around 32 baby alligators 🐊 for sure. You can feed baby alligators and turtles too. Prime part is to get your adventures DPs for social media post with one of the social animal (turtle). Finally your tour ends with an adventurous pic with you holding a baby alligator 🐊.

  • 5/5 Bronson 8 months ago on Google
    This place was a GREAT find!! We took the grandkids 2, 2, & 6. Our guide even made it fun and interesting for the little ones!! Go as group of 4 or more and save some CA$H on your tickets!! We HIGHLY recommend a visit!


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