There’s no denying it: animals are one of the best parts of life! Whether it’s man’s best friend or an animal you’ve literally never heard of before, we all love learning about animals, petting them or looking at them in their natural habitats! And thankfully, Atlanta has lots of places where you can get up-close and personal with animals you might not otherwise be able to see! From Zoo Atlanta to wildlife experiences and beyond, keep scrolling to learn all about Atlanta’s zoos and animal exhibitions!
1. Zoo Atlanta
For a classic zoo experience, you’ve gotta check out Zoo Atlanta. With a high emphasis on conservation and animal research, Zoo Atlanta is a wonderful place to visit, support and donate to! They’ve got several programs that help animals worldwide. At Zoo Atlanta, you’ll see tons of animals from all over the world, like:
- African elephants
- orangutans
- gorillas
- giant otters
- giraffes
- southern white rhinos
And so, so many more!
There are so many cool events and happenings at Zoo Atlanta, too! You can even spend the night at the zoo and wake up for breakfast with the animals!
Don’t sleep on Zoo Atlanta (just sleep AT Zoo Atlanta!) Check out their website here!
2. Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary
What began as a small ranch to help rehabilitate and rescue wild animals has now transformed into a one-of-a-kind wildlife sanctuary in Gwinnett County. They say,
We purchased the Game Ranch and began envisioning what we could do to provide the resident animals with the best life possible. Major improvements to the property were top priority, the most notable was creating a two-acre bear enclosure complete with a pond, waterfall and night house. We also built strong relationships with fellow sanctuaries, Zoo Atlanta and many wonderful rehabbers.
At the sanctuary, you’ll see:
- black bears
- gray wolves
- lemurs
- coyotes
- bison
- spider monkeys
- wallabies
And many more animals!
Learn all about Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary and give it a visit here!3. Georgia Safari Conservation Park
Want to go on an African safari… without leaving Atlanta? Well, you actually can! Explore the super cool animals of Subsaharan African right here in Georgia at the Georgia Safari Conservation Park! Their park mimics a real African game drive, where you can come face-to-face with majestic African hoofstock, often found roaming the gorgeous open savannas of Africa! Oh, and you can actually book a room on the conservation and stay, just like you would in Africa!
- Giraffes
- Southern White Rhinos
- Two-toed Sloth
- Grants Zebra
- Sulcata Tortoise
- Asian Water Buffalo
- Boa Constrictor
And of course, many more animals! Get all the details and learn more here!
4. North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park
If you’re looking to connect with some adorable animals, the North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park is perfect for you! What started out as a small hobby has grown into a full on Wildlife center, and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Of course, North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park is best known for its amazing Animal Experiences, where you can interact with and sometimes even pet the adorable animals!
Some of those experiences include:
- Baby Capybara Experience
- Otter Experience
- Baby Otter Experience
- Capy Splash!
- Capybara Experience
- Capybara Meet and Greet
- Feline Experience
- Scottish Highlander Meet and Greet
And many, many more!
Learn more on their website here!5. The Georgia Aquarium
No list of animal encounters in Atlanta would be complete, of course, without the addition of the Georgia Aquarium. Here in Atlanta, we’re proud to have the largest aquarium in North America right here in the heart of our downtown. Of course, the Aquarium is known for its research, conservation and rehabilitation programs, and is a massive tourist attraction!
The Georgia Aquarium boasts:
- Whale sharks (the only ones in the country)
- otters
- hammer head sharks
- manta rays
- beluga whales
- dolphins
- seahorses
And just about everything else you can think of! Learn more about the Georgia Aquarium on their website, here!
Visit some of Atlanta’s amazing animal experiences! You’ll be glad you did!