The Brevard County Zoo’s reputation preceded it when I moved to Melbourne, Florida. I heard from the locals that it was a great zoo, even in comparison to Orlando. Now, I haven’t been to Orlando’s zoo, but I have to agree that the Brevard County Zoo is pretty amazing! If you live nearby or you are visiting the area and you are looking for a place to take your kids, your partner, or yourself for some fun, I’d definitely suggest a trip to Melbourne to visit the Brevard County Zoo.
Brevard Zoo Florida
The Brevard Zoo is super cool. Brevard Zoo Melbourne FL offers lots of really unique experiences and animal encounters besides just seeing all the amazing animals.
What animals are at the Brevard Zoo?
Brevard County Zoo has everything from a petting place of farm animals, to a bird sanctuary, to jaguars, giraffes, and rhinos.
- African Rock Python
- African Spurred Tortoise
- Alligator Snapping Turtle
- Alpaca
- Amazon Tree Boa
- American Alligator
- American Crocodile
- Ankole-Watusi
- Arapaima
- Baird’s Tapir
- Bald Eagle
- Ball Python
- Bearded Dragon
- Black Howler Monkey
- Black Swan
- Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
- Black-Handed Spider Monkey
- Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
- Blue-Crowned Parakeet
- Blue-Throated Macaw
- Blue-Tongued Skink
- Bobcat
- Bolivian Gray Titi Monkey
- Brazilian Porcupine
- Burmese Python
- Cane Toad
- Capybara
- Carpet Python
- Cheetah
- Chicken
- Chilean Flamingo
- Cockatiel
- Common Box Turtle
- Common Squirrel Monkey
- Cotton-Top Tamarin
- Crested Caracara
And that is just the ABCs of the animals!
Feed Giraffes
The giraffe exhibit was definitely my favorite. I fed them crackers and snapped pictures of them sticking their giant heads into the standing area. The zoo also offers a several different attractions in addition to the animal exhibits.
Feed the Lorikeets
I also enjoyed feeding the lorikeets.
Pet The Rhinos
For a fee, there are opportunities to join the animal handlers in feeding the rhinos, where you can actually pet four thousand pounds of gray wrinkly skin and muscle.
Brevard County Zoo Train Ride
There is a kid-friendly train with an entertaining conductor that takes you back into the giraffe, camel, and horned scimitar oryx habitats. It was only via train that we saw the camels and oryx.
Brevard Zoo Kayaking Tour
There is also a kayaking tour that allows you to see the habitats from different sides. I was excited to be able to see the lemurs which I had been unable to from solid ground. Kayaking at a zoo is pretty unusual and an extra special family experience!
Tree-Top Trek Rope Adventure At The Zoo
The zoo also has a tree-top trek rope adventure and zip line course of varying levels that looked like a lot of fun. As we explored the monkey exhibits, looking up, we saw the harnessed participants walk across shaky tight ropes strung between leafy green trees. We even saw some visitors zip-lining over the alligator-inhabited pond. Talk about hanging on!
Children’s Water Park and Play Area Brevard Zoo
A recent addition at the zoo is the children’s water park and play area. It’s a great way for them (and you) to cool off after a hot day spotting animals. There is an aquarium, a few climbing areas, and a play area with provided essentials for bamboo fort building.
BOO at the ZOO
A seasonal event for the zoo that began this past weekend is their annual Halloween celebration. Every open evening from Oct 10th to the 27th, visitors can experience “BOO at the ZOO,” where the walkways are lined with orange lights. There are scary-men in the trees, tombstones by the paths, spooky-themed tents set up to give interesting animal facts, and a fun, Halloween exhibit for the kids. The gift shop even provides masks for your kid’s Halloween costume, if they feel inspired by the creatures they’ve learned about.
My favorite part of the zoo in this season is seeing all of the carved pumpkins inside the exhibits of animals that can eat them. Everyone gets a little holiday treat!
To find Brevard Zoo hours or get tickets, visit brevardzoo.org
What’s your favorite part of a family trip to the zoo?
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