Exotic Animal Experience
📍 Orlando, FL
USDA and Florida Fish & Wildlife licensed facility on 7 acres near Orlando. Saturday-only, appointment-required visits. Guests pet and hold animals including sloths, lemurs, kangaroos, spider monkeys, capybaras, and camels. Small groups only.
We went on the group experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable. For our first encounter we watched a camel and small horse chasing each other around a large field. No people involved. It was quite fun to watch as the animals seemed to be annoying each other but since it went both ways we were pretty sure it was all in fun. We also enjoyed time with a baby sloth clinging to a much larger sister sloth. The animals were friendly with us and most of them with other animals. Lots of explanations about how the animals were housed and cared for. You don’t know what you will see. But understand these are not animals in the wild and not in a zoo. We had lots of access to the animals, could pet most and feed some. We were never alone with an animal. Our 2 hour tour lasted closer to 2.5 hours. We never felt rushed and did take time out for a water break as it was a hot day.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children ages 6 and up who want genuine animal contact rather than distant viewing. The small-group format and knowledgeable owner-guides create an intimate experience that large zoos can't replicate. The baby animal encounter requires ages 10 and up.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →49 Google reviews
charlotte bark
“We went on the group experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable. For our first encounter we watched a camel and small horse chasing each other around a large field. No people involved. It was quite fun to watch as the animals seemed to be annoying each other but since it went both ways we were pretty sure it was all in fun. We also enjoyed time with a baby sloth clinging to a much larger sister sloth. The animals were friendly with us and most of them with other animals. Lots of explanations about how the animals were housed and cared for. You don’t know what you will see. But understand these are not animals in the wild and not in a zoo. We had lots of access to the animals, could pet most and feed some. We were never alone with an animal. Our 2 hour tour lasted closer to 2.5 hours. We never felt rushed and did take time out for a water break as it was a hot day.”
kimberly darling
“Love love love this place AND the owner! The animals are so well cared for and are obviously loved..they have beautiful enclosures/homes and are very friendly and hand raised. I've been several times and each time I see they have done improvements for the animals. Great place for family fun and learning !”
Petra Thompson
“Wir waren letztes Jahr im Oktober bei Exotic Animal Experience. Ein traumhaftes Erlebnis. Exotischen Tieren so nah zu kommen und sie zu berühren. Die Besitzerin und ihre Mitarbeiter waren super nett. Es wurde viel zu den Tieren erklärt. Das Wohl der Tiere steht im Mittelpunkt, nur kleine Gruppen und nur mit Termin. Der Preis ist gerechtfertigt. Die Gehege der Tiere sind top gepflegt. Ich denke euch für die tolle Erfahrung die wir bei euch machen durften. Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Exotic Animal Experience is a privately owned, 7-acre facility operating under USDA and Florida Fish & Wildlife licensing. Visits run Saturdays only by appointment, keeping group sizes small enough for genuine hands-on contact with the animals. Every animal on site has been hand-raised from infancy, making them accustomed to close human interaction. Species include sloths, ring-tailed lemurs, kangaroos, spider monkeys, owl monkeys, capybaras, wallabies, dromedary camels, and more.
