Gulf Breeze Zoo: Northwest Florida's Wild Family Adventure

Sitting on 50 acres along US-98 between Gulf Breeze and Navarre, the Gulf Breeze Zoo is the go-to wildlife destination for the Pensacola region. It's home to more than 1,000 animals from nearly every continent -- gorillas, Nile hippos, rhinoceroses, reticulated giraffes, orangutans, sloths, and hundreds more -- all in a setting where you can feed a giraffe from your hand, step inside a walk-in aviary, or go behind the scenes with a keeper for a private animal encounter. Families, first-time visitors, and repeat guests all find something worth coming back for.

Whether you're making a day trip from Pensacola Beach, building it into a longer Panhandle itinerary, or looking for the best thing to do with kids along the Emerald Coast, this zoo earns the time. Here's what to know before you go.

The Animals: Who You'll Meet on the Preserve

The zoo's 30-acre open preserve is where the big personalities live. You can see many of them from the Elevated Boardwalk, a fence-free walkway that gives you unobstructed views across the landscape -- good for photography and great for spotting animals doing their thing without a barrier in the way.

Gorillas. The zoo is home to three western lowland gorillas: Babuka, a silverback male; Rwanda, a female; and Kigali, a young male. Gorillas are listed as endangered in the wild, and the zoo supports ECO-CELL, a conservation program working to protect gorilla habitat in the Congo. Spot them from the boardwalk or aboard the Safari Express train.

Nile Hippos. Kiboko and Cleopatra are the zoo's two Nile hippos, the world's third-largest land mammal. Hippos are classified as vulnerable, with an estimated 130,000 remaining in the wild. You might catch them on the Safari Express train ride, or get much closer through the Hippo Encounter (more on that below).

Rhinoceroses. The Gulf Breeze Zoo keeps two rhino species -- Greater One-Horned (Indian) Rhinos and Southern White Rhinos -- which is not something you see at every zoo. Soman is the zoo's rare male Indian Rhino, a critically endangered species. The white rhino program has been especially successful here: two calves, Katana (born 2018) and Kalibur (born 2020), were both born at the zoo. The rhinos roam the preserve and are visible from both the boardwalk and the train.

Reticulated Giraffes. Several giraffes live at the zoo, including newer arrivals Kora and Kellogg. Males of this species can reach 19 feet tall -- the world's tallest land mammals -- and their 21-inch-long black tongues are a crowd favorite up close. You can feed the herd romaine leaves from your hand, or book a Giraffe Encounter for a behind-the-scenes keeper tour.

Orangutans. Six orangutans with distinct personalities live on island habitats within the park. There's King Louie, the only adult male; Artie, known for keeping things entertaining; Artie's patient mom Maggie; the philosophical Sarah; Sarah's shy daughter Indah; and Brandee, who tends to keep the peace. They share 97% of their genetics with humans, and watching them interact on the islands from the boardwalk makes that feel entirely believable. The zoo supports the Sumatran Orangutan Society as part of its broader conservation work.

Beyond the featured five, the collection includes dozens of other species -- many viewable on the walking portions of the park and the preserve. A full breakdown is in the section below.

Get Closer: Animal Encounters and Feedings

If watching from a distance isn't enough, the zoo offers hands-on animal encounters that put you inside the habitat with a keeper. These are separate from general admission and book up, so planning ahead is worthwhile.

• Hippo Encounter -- $50/person. Daily at noon. Spend time at Kiboko Station with both hippos, learn how keepers care for and train them, and hand-feed them yourself. Ages 6 and up; ages 6-12 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
• Sloth Encounter -- $50/person. Daily at 11:15am and 1:45pm. Get up close with Blue and Zelda, the zoo's two-toed sloths. All ages welcome; children 12 and under with a paying adult.
• Indian Rhino Encounter -- $50/person. Daily at 3pm. Spend 20 minutes alongside Soman's habitat with one of his keepers. Ages 8 and up; ages 8-12 with a paying adult.
• Giraffe Encounter -- $35/person. Daily at 1pm. A behind-the-scenes tour of the giraffe house and a meet-and-greet with the herd. Ages 6 and up; ages 6-12 with a paying adult.
• American Alligator Encounter -- $40/person. Daily at 2:30pm. Hold a juvenile alligator and learn how the animal care team manages these reptiles. All ages.
• Galapagos Encounter -- $25/person. Seasonal (May through October) at 10am. Meet the zoo's resident Galapagos tortoises, the largest tortoise species in the world. All ages.

All encounters are limited to 10 participants and run weather permitting. Check in 10 minutes before your scheduled time; late arrivals aren't admitted. Encounter pricing does not include zoo admission.

You don't need a full encounter to interact with the animals. Animal feedings are available throughout the park: giraffe romaine ($5/cup), alligator biscuits ($5/cup), and general animal feed ($4/cup or $12 for a bundle). Inside the Budgiery Adventure Aviary, budgie feeding sticks run $2 each or 4 for $7.

Pricing and availability are subject to change. Check the Gulf Breeze Zoo website for current rates before your visit.

Attractions for Every Age

The encounters and feedings are the headliners, but the zoo has several other experiences worth building into your day.

Safari Express Train Ride. The CP Huntington Locomotive runs a 15-minute narrated ride through the preserve, giving you close-up views of the hippos, gorillas, orangutans, and rhinos. It's a solid way to orient yourself when you first arrive and a welcome rest break mid-visit, especially with younger kids.

Elevated Boardwalk. The boardwalk runs above the 30-acre preserve with fence-free sightlines across the open landscape. You'll spot antelope, deer, and rhinos roaming below and orangutans swinging on their island habitats. The lack of barriers makes it one of the better photo spots in the park.

Budgiery Adventure Aviary. Walk inside the aviary and let the budgerigars -- also known as parakeets -- land on your hand. Feed sticks are a small add-on cost and highly recommended if you want the full experience. One note the zoo posts for visitors: check your bags before leaving, as budgies have a reputation for finding their way into backpacks and pockets.

The Farm. A petting area with goats and other farmyard animals. Younger children tend to spend more time here than anywhere else in the park.

Mining Sluice. A newer addition to the park where visitors sift through sediment to find gems and minerals. It's a hands-on activity that works well as a between-exhibits breather, especially for kids who need a change of pace.

More to Discover: The Full Animal Collection

The five featured animals get the headlines, but the Gulf Breeze Zoo's collection runs much deeper. The 20 acres of walking exhibits hold a wide range of species alongside the open preserve, and there's genuinely more to see here than a single visit covers.

On the preserve and boardwalk, you'll find free-roaming herds that include zebras, axis deer, blackbuck, blue wildebeest, greater kudu, sable antelope, and Thomson's gazelle. American flamingos and Indian peafowl add color throughout the grounds.

The walking portion of the zoo is home to American black bears, two-toed sloths, red kangaroos, capybaras, and pygmy hippos -- separate from the Nile hippos on the preserve. Big cat fans will find lions, tigers, and clouded leopards. Bird exhibits include macaws, owls, and a large walk-in aviary for budgerigars. The reptile collection features American alligators, Galapagos tortoises, leopard tortoises, ball pythons, and green iguanas.

In total, the zoo spans more than 50 species of mammals alone. Visit the featured animals page on the zoo's website for a more complete look at what's in residence.

Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Hours, and Getting There

2026 Admission (prices subject to change -- verify current rates at gbzoo.com):

Military and law enforcement receive 15% off with valid ID. Groups of 15 or more get $1 off per ticket.

Annual memberships start at $89 for an individual Adventure Member pass, $169 for a duo, and $339 for a family of up to four (with the named passholder present each visit). Memberships pay for themselves quickly if you're a local or planning to visit more than once.

2026 Hours:

• January 1 -- February 27: 9am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
• February 28 -- October 30: 9am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
• October 31 -- December 31: 9am-4pm (last entry 3pm)

Open 7 days a week. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day only.

Hours and event schedules may change. Always check the zoo's website for the most current information before your trip.

Getting There. The zoo is located at 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563. From downtown Pensacola, take I-110 South to US-98 East across the Pensacola Bay Bridge and follow US-98 for about 16 miles -- the zoo will be on your right. The drive takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic. From Destin, head west on US-98 along the Emerald Coast. The zoo sits right on the highway and is well-signed from both directions.

If you're staying on Pensacola Beach, the zoo is only a few minutes across the bridge. Navarre Beach visitors are even closer -- the zoo sits between the two communities on US-98. It pairs naturally with a beach day on either end.

Conservation at the Core

The Gulf Breeze Zoo runs active conservation programs alongside its daily operations. The zoo participates in captive breeding programs -- the white rhino breeding program alone has produced two calves born on-site -- and provides annual grant funding to international conservation organizations. Active partners include the ECO-CELL gorilla habitat program in the Congo, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, the International Rhino Foundation, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, and the Zoological Association of America's Southern White Rhino Animal Management Program.

As CEO Eric Mogensen puts it: "Guests coming to our park allow us the opportunity to make an impact on saving species globally."

Learn more at the zoo's conservation page.

Gulf Breeze Zoo is located at 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563. Call 866-620-1825 or visit gbzoo.com to buy tickets, check current hours, and book animal encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gulf Breeze Zoo