1 / 3Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
📍 Columbia, SC
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden spans 170 acres in Columbia with over 2,000 animals across habitats from African savanna to aquarium. Daily animal talks, rides, interactive exhibits, and historic South Carolina landmarks fill out the visit.
We took our 18 month old for his first trip to the zoo and it was a great experience! All the staff were super friendly, but most importantly all the animals were very well taken care of! The zoo is huge and there is so much to see. The rest rooms were clean too! We can’t wait to go back.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with children of all ages, including toddlers seeing animals for the first time. The sheer scale rewards multiple visits — allow a full day. Backstage tours suit older children and adults with a deeper interest in conservation and animal care.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →22,663 Google reviews
Charlee Ann
“We took our 18 month old for his first trip to the zoo and it was a great experience! All the staff were super friendly, but most importantly all the animals were very well taken care of! The zoo is huge and there is so much to see. The rest rooms were clean too! We can’t wait to go back.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia houses more than 2,000 animals — gorillas, koalas, penguins, sharks, and hundreds more species — across naturalistic habitats on 170 acres. Botanical gardens and historic Civil War-era ruins sit alongside modern exhibits. Daily scheduled animal talks and demonstrations add depth to the walk-through experience. The zoo also runs Riverbanks Backstage behind-the-scenes tours focused on animal care and conservation.