Best Animal Encounters in Atlanta and Beyond

Zoo Atlanta Wild Encounter

If your child loves animals, there are plenty of ways to get up-close and personal with all kinds of creatures around Atlanta! Check out these animal experiences and behind-the-scenes tours.

Check websites for availability, advance registration, ages and other requirements.

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Zoo Atlanta

With over 1,000 animals from around the world, Zoo Atlanta is a not-to-miss destination. Visit the African Savanna and wander the Ford African Rain Forest to see elephants, zebras, gorillas, leopards and much more. Kids also love visiting the petting zoo, Treetop Trail, and KIDZone play area. Atlanta.

Rise and Dine with the Animals
Enjoy a continental breakfast, get an early-morning view of the Zoo’s residents and learn about a featured species from the animal care team. May 11 and 18, June 15 and 22; $65, includes Zoo admission.

Petting Zoo Painters
Take home a masterpiece painted by “VanGoat” or “Baahlo” and learn about positive reinforcement training. Saturdays; $75 per group of four, plus Zoo admission.

Wild Encounters
Go behind the scenes to learn about an animal’s history and feeding habits, as well as hear about conservation efforts from the Zoo’s animal care team. Hand-feed elephants, meet lemurs or warthogs, or step inside the Aldabra giant tortoise habitat. The minimum age is 4. $45-$130, plus Zoo admission.

Kids Night Out
Parents can take the night off as their kids have fun at this after-hours event, with a guided tour, games, activities, story time and pizza. Summer dates are June 15 and 29, July 13 and 27. Ages 5-11; $42.

More Not-to-Miss Programs
See what happens in the Zoo at night during Twilight Trek or Twilight Tots, sleep with the animals during a Nightcrawler or feed the giraffes at Twiga Terrace. Adults can test their crime-solving skills during a nighttime ZooDunit Mystery event.

Georgia Aquarium Beluga Encounter

Georgia Aquarium

One of the largest aquariums in the world, there’s plenty to see and do at Georgia Aquarium, from sharks and whales to jellyfish, otters, rays, eels and dolphins. Atlanta, georgiaaquarium.org

Animal Encounters
Touch, feed and talk to sea otters, help train harbor seals or dolphins, meet penguins, sea lions, sharks and rays, or belugas. Encounters are available most days. The minimum age is 7; prices range from $75-$105.99.

Journey with Gentle Giants
Don a wetsuit and snorkel or dive with whale sharks, manta rays and more. Check the calendar for dates. Participants must be 12 or older; prices range from $265.99-$374.99.

More Not to Miss Opportunities
Explore the Aquarium in a Behind the Seas tour – there are three levels to choose from. During Sleep Under the Sea, spend the night at the Aquarium and enjoy tours and special activities.

North Georgia Wildlife Park

Visitors to this safari-style park can take a drive-through tour for up-close encounters with native and exotic animals – camels, zebras, warthogs, ostriches, llamas and more. You can also take a guided wildlife walk in the zoo area. Cleveland, northgeorgiazoo.com

Splash Experiences
Visit the splash pool and interact with penguins or a capybara (ages 8 and older) or otters (ages 12 and older). Pricing ranges from $99-$350, plus admission.

Tours
During a behind-the-scenes tour, meet even more animals and take part in enrichment training. A Behind the Safari tour includes a guided walking tour of the safari park. Ages 8 and older; $74.99.

Shadow a Zookeeper
Spend time with one of the park’s zookeepers, meet animals and learn how they’re cared for during this special tour. Ages 12 and older; prices range from $225-$850.

More Animal Encounters

Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary

Yellow River’s mission is to benefit animals and educate humans. Walk the trails to see and learn about everything from bears to bison. During a sloth encounter, meet sloths Sid and Sue; you’ll hear about their lives and learn fascinating facts about sloths. The price is $75 and includes admission to the sanctuary. Lilburn.

Wild Animal Safari

Many of the residents at this wild animal park, including camels, elk, zebras, wildebeests, will greet you at your car! Learn more about animals’ habitats, behavior and conservation efforts during a reptile or sloth encounter. Ages 5 and older; $30 plus admission. Pine Mountain.

Chestatee Wildlife Preserve

Most of the animals at this preserve are rescued or orphaned. Walk the trails and see over 100 exotic and native animals, including white tigers, camels, zebras, birds, wolves, and reptiles. Register for the sloth encounter to spend time with two-toed sloths Flash and Sissi. Ages 8 and older; $100. Dahlonega.

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary

Noah’s Ark is a safe haven for more injured, abused or orphaned animals. Take a self-guided tour of the habitat and see exotic cats, birds, reptiles and primates. On a “Wow” tour, go behind the scenes and meet capuchins, Baloo the bear, Liberty the lioness and Golden the tiger. Tours are $100 per person. Locust Grove.